Yankee Boy Basin 4x4 Road, Colorado

Overview: One of the most popular destinations in the Ouray area due to its stunning natural beauty, rich history and colorful wildflowers. At the height of spring color, photographers flock to the area. Popular landmarks include the Drinking Cup, Twin Falls, Atlas Mill, Camp Bird Mine and the rock overhang. Because the area is used so heavily, camping is restricted to designated areas and a fee is charged to camp. High Point 12,400 ft., Best time to go: Mid July-Sept. Located in Uncompahgre ational Forest. For current conditions call Ouray Ranger District (970) 240-5300.

Rating:

Moderate. The lower portion of the trail is easy. Beyond the toilet, the trail gets rocky, narrow and steep, but is suitable for aggressive, high-clearance, stock SUVs. A gate for the upper portion of the trail is closed until the snow melts, usually in late June or early July.

This trail is one of 100 trails from the book Guide to Colorado Backroads & 4WD Trails by FunTreks Publishing, available at http://www.funtreks.com

Tips: Yankee Boy Basin is famous for its incredible wildflower displays. Photographers flock to the area and traffic can be very heavy in June and July. Do NOT pick the wildflowers under any circumstances. It is a federal crime to remove mining debris and historic artifacts.

For more challenging trails, look for the FunTreks eGuides for Imogene Pass and Governor Basin.

Trail conditions can change without notice. FunTreks, Inc. and its owner and employees are not responsible for injury, death, or vehicle damage as a result of using this guide. The content of this guide is the property of FunTreks, Inc. and is made available to the user pursuant to EveryTrail’s Terms of Service (http://www.everytrail.com/tos.php).