Questions about Ouray area

[b407driver]

Hello everyone I'm playing a trip to the Ouray/Durango/Silverton areas in mid July. For those of you that have been there around this time of year I had a few questions:

1. How crowded are the trails. I know this is the busy time of year. I am looking at light to moderate trails like Engineer Pass. I mainly want scenic routes and explore old mining areas and nothing extremely technical.
2. How does the LC handle high elevation?
3. For easy trails do I even need to use 4Lo?
4. Do I need to worry about lack of gas stations in the area?

1. Depends on the day, but everywhere is now crowded since the pandemic. Don't miss Corkscrew Gulch.
2. Perfectly (turbos and hybrid assist are useful for that).
3. Maybe not physically, but using 4-Low for long steep climbs can reduce transmission fluid temps. Certainly physically necessary on steep descents, and the LC's lack of engine braking is notable.
4. Not really. Ouray, Silverton, Ridgway, Lake City all have gas.

Here's some pics of the area you're heading to:

Trip #2 in the LC: Collegiate Peaks and San Juans

My second offroad excursion with the Land Cruiser was a whirlwind for some fall leaves, and although I thought I might be a bit early, the leaves were scorching in central CO. This 4-day trip would have me traverse: Weston Pass Independence Pass (to Grizzly Lake) Cottonwood Pass Kebler Pass...

www.landcruiserforum.com

 

[handy]

I tried 4LO down Old Priest Grade outside Yosemite, and it still wasn't enough to keep it down enough and had to brake way more than I'd like to

Did you also go in manual shift mode? That's what I do besides DAC for descents.

 

[derek]

Did you also go in manual shift mode? That's what I do besides DAC for descents.

yes, and even in 1st gear in 4LO, it was running away from me. old priest grade is just super steep

 

[handy]

Wow

 

[McCloud_Rainbow]

yes, and even in 1st gear in 4LO, it was running away from me. old priest grade is just super steep

For those who don’t know Old Priest Grade…here are some stats. It is on one of the main routes into Yosemite. They built a new road that isn’t as steep, but it is WAY longer and Old Priest can shave 15-30 minutes off your travel time.

 

[Paul2660]

Last year in the last week of September, the I found the trails in Ouray to be moderate in regards to crowds. The loop of Engineer and Cinnamon was much more crowded. The roads IMO are in becoming pretty torn up I believe due to the massive number of OHVs on them now. I drove the loop in 2008 in a 2WD Honda Pilot, I would not try that now. Cinnamon was in pretty harsh shape, full of potholes. There was also some work being done on it.

The Ouray roads were in much better shape IMO. The day I drove to Telluride, there was a huge crowd on the Black Bear road, (below the One way spot), so I just hiked up.

Yankee Boy Basin above the last gate, I stopped. That road is really not a road anymore, just a passage along huge rocks. I would rent a jeep before I try that again. It’s the last 1/2 mile. Governor basin was in great shape. The rest of the Yankee Boy road is well worth the drive, as you go by the drinking cup, and other areas that offer excellent photo opportunities.

Corkscrew gulch is very tight in spots and very muddy, so if you are attempting it after a heavy rain or period of rain, I would not want to be on it.

The issue I have had the last two years, is the un-written rule, or maybe written, those going downhill must yield to those going uphill. I lost count of OHV drivers that would not yield and expected me to back down and there are many places where this is dangerous. Note, if you don’t have much practice with the backup camera in your truck, practice. I don’t like the screen on the LC250 as much as on a jeep.

Scenery is excellent this time of year (late September) and you can expect a snow at higher altitude.

Paul

 

[WookieBait]

Try using DAC. Much more control going downhill. Almost like cruise control for low speed downhill crawling.

Dac just uses your brakes, gonna be the same thing..

 

[WookieBait]

Last year in the last week of September, the I found the trails in Ouray to be moderate in regards to crowds. The loop of Engineer and Cinnamon was much more crowded. The roads IMO are in becoming pretty torn up I believe due to the massive number of OHVs on them now. I drove the loop in 2008 in a 2WD Honda Pilot, I would not try that now. Cinnamon was in pretty harsh shape, full of potholes. There was also some work being done on it.

The Ouray roads were in much better shape IMO. The day I drove to Telluride, there was a huge crowd on the Black Bear road, (below the One way spot), so I just hiked up.

Yankee Boy Basin above the last gate, I stopped. That road is really not a road anymore, just a passage along huge rocks. I would rent a jeep before I try that again. It’s the last 1/2 mile. Governor basin was in great shape. The rest of the Yankee Boy road is well worth the drive, as you go by the drinking cup, and other areas that offer excellent photo opportunities.

Corkscrew gulch is very tight in spots and very muddy, so if you are attempting it after a heavy rain or period of rain, I would not want to be on it.

The issue I have had the last two years, is the in-written rule, or maybe written, those going downhill must yield to those going uphill. I lost count of OHV drivers that would not yield and expected me to back down and there are many places where this is dangerous. Note, if you don’t have much practice with the backup camera in your truck, practice. I don’t like the screen on the LC250 as much as on a jeep.

Scenery is excellent this time of year (late September) and you can expect a snow at higher altitude.

Paul

It's definitely the rule, I've experienced it quite a bit lately as well unfortunately. A lot of new off-roaders which is great but just inexperienced or ignorance.

 

[BMFS33]

Dac just uses your brakes, gonna be the same thing..

The brakes don't "light up" on the dash. When you use the brakes, the break lights illuminate on the dash. Interesting. I didn't know that. I'm generally in L4 using manual shifting, which does give me the engine braking. Engine braking on the LC isn't the strongest, though, especially when not in L4. It's truly the least effective engine braking on any vehicle that I've owned.

 

[b407driver]

...Engine braking on the LC isn't the strongest, though, especially when not in L4. It's truly the least effective engine braking on any vehicle that I've owned.

That's an understatement. Curious what would happen in 4L 1st gear if it ran up on red line, which could easily happen off-road without applying brakes? Wonder if it would know enough to apply brakes, even without DAC active?

 

[WookieBait]

That's an understatement. Curious what would happen in 4L 1st gear if it ran up on red line, which could easily happen off-road without applying brakes? Wonder if it would know enough to apply brakes, even without DAC active?

It runs right to redline done it many times unfortunately behavior isn't much different than in 4h

 

[b407driver]

It runs right to redline done it many times unfortunately behavior isn't much different than in 4h

I know it goes right up to redline (I should have said 'over', not 'up on'), I'm curious what would happen if one did not apply the brakes as it did so. Would it allow pulling the engine RPMs above redline, or is there some sort of throttle governor that would cut power, thus allowing a quick (gravity-fueled) acceleration? My guess is that it would apply brakes, but that is just a WAG on my part. But nevertheless, it could easily happen with this vehicle, outcome unknown.

 

[MSINAL]

I know it goes right up to redline (I should have said 'over', not 'up on'), I'm curious what would happen if one did not apply the brakes as it did so. Would it allow pulling the engine RPMs above redline, or is there some sort of throttle governor that would cut power, thus allowing a quick (gravity-fueled) acceleration? My guess is that it would apply brakes, but that is just a WAG on my part. But nevertheless, it could easily happen with this vehicle, outcome unknown.

Typically an autotrans will shift up or down to prevent damage to engine, regardless of manual shift mode selection. I dont think im going to test that theory with my own, at least intentionally.

 

[MSINAL]

The brakes don't "light up" on the dash. When you use the brakes, the break lights illuminate on the dash. Interesting. I didn't know that. I'm generally in L4 using manual shifting, which does give me the engine braking. Engine braking on the LC isn't the strongest, though, especially when not in L4. It's truly the least effective engine braking on any vehicle that I've owned.

Weight of vehicle vs engine displacement and rotating mass effectively determines resistance to rotation (engine braking). Gasoline engine brake uses vacuum of cylinders vs diesel using compression. V8 is what we need!

 

[ivancook]

I've done most of the alpine loop in a Jeep (TJ), 4Runner (3rd gen), Land Cruiser (100 Series), and various OHVs. Given the amount of traffic these days, I'd probably rent an OHV. It's gotten pretty congested, IMO.

 

[MSINAL]

Well, I'm retired finally and we're headed that way with the camper. Plan is to leave camper in RV parks for now. I do want to do one easy trail (dirt road) with the camper and spend the night in bfe, but only after I've driven it without first. I brought way too much crap for a 1 month trip, so at or over the load limits of everything, wash board and drop offs will end in tears. Plus my ground clearance is compromised.
Missing the coil spring airbags our jeep has for sure.

 

[mrock]

Owl Creek Pass is passenger car easy. Lots of people haul small campers over it also. Spectacular scenery and SilverJack reservoir. You can access it east of Montrose via Highway 50, or north of Ridgway/Ouray via Highway 550. Last Dollar Road is also an alternative. I have not driven it this year, but it is pretty easy.

 

[Blue Bear]

Well, I'm retired finally and we're headed that way with the camper. Plan is to leave camper in RV parks for now. I do want to do one easy trail (dirt road) with the camper and spend the night in bfe, but only after I've driven it without first. I brought way too much crap for a 1 month trip, so at or over the load limits of everything, wash board and drop offs will end in tears. Plus my ground clearance is compromised.
Missing the coil spring airbags our jeep has for sure.

Consider taking the camper up to the Molas Lake Pass Campground - only open until 30 September! Easy to get your camper to the campground and plenty of easier trails to do nearby without the trail. You could also check Little Molas Lake Campground for availability. Red Mountain Pass is rated 4/10, but it felt pretty easy in the LC. I did not encounter anything where I felt like the LC would have difficulty. IMHO, that's a great trail to familiarize yourself with the area and get ready to do something a little more challenging.