Distance
~12 mi one-way
Time
1.5–2 hours
Difficulty
Moderate
A high San Juan crossing linking Telluride and Silverton over an 11,789-ft summit. The route climbs out of the Ophir townsite through evergreen forest, then breaks above treeline onto a rocky shelf road carved across talus slopes. The east side (descending toward Silverton) is the narrowest section — single-lane with limited pullouts and downhill traffic generally yields. One of the more scenic and accessible high passes in the region.
Highlights
- •11,789-ft alpine summit between Telluride and Silverton
- •Historic Ophir townsite and Ophir Loop trestle remnants
- •Above-treeline talus shelf with big views toward US Grant Peak
- •Pairs naturally with Black Bear or Imogene for a Silverton loop
- •One of the easier high passes — good intro to the area
Access & Permits
No permit required — Forest Service road, free access. Typically open July through October.