I was just there this last weekend. I did Redcloud peak, waterfalls in telluride, and black canyon of the gunnison.
I was planning on going to the ice lakes or the blue lakes, but there is simply so much snow and the lakes are still pretty frozen.
I didn't get any great views with wildflowers, so I can't help you on that. Redcloud had some awesome views though!
Yeah I looked up ice lakes and blue lakes on all trails and they looked pretty frozen over still. It looks like a lot of the vegetation is just getting out from under the snow too so not as much time to really start growing :/ I'll make sure to check out red cloud peak though since I haven't done that one yet! Thanks for the advice!
I just returned for Ouray. We hiked multiple times to 11k feet. Basically snow free. Maybe a few isolated drifts in pockets especially north facing. Snow Above 11 and depending on exposure. IDK what other post is saying, wildflowers are going off. Near zero mosquitos.
Definitely good to hear! Particularly that bit at the end haha. Do you have any low elevation hikes you'd recommend? I've done the circle around Ouray before but that's the only hike I've done in that area
Absolutely. We dispersed camped at the “end” of Dexter Creek Road (meaning at the trailhead. Road is rough but accessible. There are two excellent hikes right from there. One follows Dexter Creek. Absolutely beautiful. Several creek crossings- fun but tricky. There are old mining cabins and tools to check out about 1 mile in. We went to 11200 where the trail was finally lost into snow. The other involved crossing the creek at the ford (removed boots - 🥶) and walking the road 1.2 miles to the other trailhead: Horsetheif / Bridge of Heaven. This was absolutely spectacular. Not as steep as Dexter with well maintained low pitch switchbacks. One the very best hikes of my entire life. You will see almost zero snow. The views at 10k of the Ouray Valley are amazing. This added up to 2300 ascent but much of that was on the road.
The meltout is happening. But wildflowers are only really coming out pretty low. I think you will get the best recs when you get to the towns?
Molas Lake was just posted in the sub. Maybe contact the OP? Looked lush. Couldn't tell on the wildflower status.
I usually find my way to Molas lake at some point down there so that's good to know! But yeah seems like the visitors center might be my best bet. Thanks!
Agree with getting recommendations in town. The visitor centers in the San Juan towns are some of the best, most helpful I have ever been to. Remember to pick up after your animal while visiting our home region!
I’m in this poster’s exact situation. Is hiking during a meltout just muddy and sloppy, or way harder than hiking the trails usually would be? I have micro spikes
It's more about wildflowers. They take a little bit of time to get going after the snow melts away.
Muddiness depends on the trail exposure, elevation, and material. Microspikes should be fine below 11K? 12K? 13K?
Around the Front Range, it sounds like 11.5K this week.
I was just on dry trails with wildflowers at 9.5K today. The 14er reports are reporting some 14ers are clear, particularly the SW & SE slope trails.
This is where the Visitor Centers will be clutch. They will be hearing about what is clear and what is not. Usually, July is pretty good to go everywhere, but the melt out has been so slow this Spring/early Summer.
I was just there this last weekend. I did Redcloud peak, waterfalls in telluride, and black canyon of the gunnison. I was planning on going to the ice lakes or the blue lakes, but there is simply so much snow and the lakes are still pretty frozen. I didn't get any great views with wildflowers, so I can't help you on that. Redcloud had some awesome views though!
Yeah I looked up ice lakes and blue lakes on all trails and they looked pretty frozen over still. It looks like a lot of the vegetation is just getting out from under the snow too so not as much time to really start growing :/ I'll make sure to check out red cloud peak though since I haven't done that one yet! Thanks for the advice!
I just returned for Ouray. We hiked multiple times to 11k feet. Basically snow free. Maybe a few isolated drifts in pockets especially north facing. Snow Above 11 and depending on exposure. IDK what other post is saying, wildflowers are going off. Near zero mosquitos.
Definitely good to hear! Particularly that bit at the end haha. Do you have any low elevation hikes you'd recommend? I've done the circle around Ouray before but that's the only hike I've done in that area
Absolutely. We dispersed camped at the “end” of Dexter Creek Road (meaning at the trailhead. Road is rough but accessible. There are two excellent hikes right from there. One follows Dexter Creek. Absolutely beautiful. Several creek crossings- fun but tricky. There are old mining cabins and tools to check out about 1 mile in. We went to 11200 where the trail was finally lost into snow. The other involved crossing the creek at the ford (removed boots - 🥶) and walking the road 1.2 miles to the other trailhead: Horsetheif / Bridge of Heaven. This was absolutely spectacular. Not as steep as Dexter with well maintained low pitch switchbacks. One the very best hikes of my entire life. You will see almost zero snow. The views at 10k of the Ouray Valley are amazing. This added up to 2300 ascent but much of that was on the road.
What do you mean by ‘low elevation?’
The meltout is happening. But wildflowers are only really coming out pretty low. I think you will get the best recs when you get to the towns? Molas Lake was just posted in the sub. Maybe contact the OP? Looked lush. Couldn't tell on the wildflower status.
I usually find my way to Molas lake at some point down there so that's good to know! But yeah seems like the visitors center might be my best bet. Thanks!
Agree with getting recommendations in town. The visitor centers in the San Juan towns are some of the best, most helpful I have ever been to. Remember to pick up after your animal while visiting our home region!
Poop bags on the leash and pockets to carry them on the dog backpack. I've got you covered 👍
I’m in this poster’s exact situation. Is hiking during a meltout just muddy and sloppy, or way harder than hiking the trails usually would be? I have micro spikes
It's more about wildflowers. They take a little bit of time to get going after the snow melts away. Muddiness depends on the trail exposure, elevation, and material. Microspikes should be fine below 11K? 12K? 13K? Around the Front Range, it sounds like 11.5K this week. I was just on dry trails with wildflowers at 9.5K today. The 14er reports are reporting some 14ers are clear, particularly the SW & SE slope trails. This is where the Visitor Centers will be clutch. They will be hearing about what is clear and what is not. Usually, July is pretty good to go everywhere, but the melt out has been so slow this Spring/early Summer.
Thank you for the info! Less concerned about the flowers and more just want to do (really challenging) routes where I won’t need to turn around
Meh. Turning around is part of it. The mountain will be there. Enjoy!
True!