Imogene Pass

Announced as closed for the season per San Miguel County.

Per Ouray County, snow and icy conditions may exist. Travel on the 4x4 roads this time of year is not recommended. Expect winter weather at high elevations. https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sanjuan/maps-pubs/?cid=fsbdev3_002300

Snow is beginning to fall making for hazardous conditions for the high country passes in the San Juans. Imogene Pass is listed as "OPEN/ CAUTION" but it is doubtful that travel will be safe past this point.

A great family trail with some amazing views. This will take you back in time as you pass many mines and areas where miners established themselves. Very busy though!

First Trail that I did twice, At least for this year. This is just beautiful pass. Definitely put it on your list.

Dry, dusty and lots of traffic. Beautiful day in the mountains.

Ran the trail today in a rented stock Rubicon and it went great! With a bit of careful tire placement we didn't even bump the skid plate. Saw several near stock looking Tacomas and 4-runners out on the trail as well. They might have had slightly oversize tires and skid plates but no crazy mods. Trail was beautiful and fall colors were at peak on the telluride side! Highly recommend!

Ran Imogene from Telluride to Ouray today. Over 4.5 hours to the Camp Bird Intersection via the Northern Access. And that was with zero stops on the Ouray side, except for 4 checks for lines to take around obstacles in the first half mile after the summit. Road is incredibly battered, technical. Looks like a sharp rock moonscape for at least 10 of the 11+miles. Had to run a 25psi to prevent punctures. Didn't prevent me from losing my mind on the unending carpet-bombed road surface. Also, downhill traffic on my uphill portion was abhorrent. Which, normally is what it is, except rarely does anyone default to uphill traffic having the right of way. That all said, with as bad as the rest was, the views on the way up, with the aspens in full explosion this week made it worth it, but it's not a trail I'll ever choose to run again... I don't have the mental bandwidth... Which is a shame for a truly gorgeous trail that I expected to love and came out so frustrated with.

The views are amazing with this trail. We are novice offroaders and ran this in an 07 sahara wrangler with 35s but did it with no real problems. Towards to summit, the trail gets difficult and we needed to stop a few times to check lines. We definitely picked the wrong line a few times and had to back down and pick a new one. It was pretty heavily trafficked, so we were able to follow a trail of vehicles for most of the way. It was roughly 4 hours all the way through. I would probably do this trail again.

This trail was amazing! I stopped every couple minutes because there were more pictures I had to take. I was in a 4Runner with a 2” lift and that was helpful. The trail was moderately technical and a decent challenge, it would have definitely been more challenging at stock height.

Stunning scenery. The trail isn't overly difficult but the sharp, long drops and traffic warrant some focus on the driver's part. Be cautious and enjoy the views! Photos here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/73617693@N06/albums/72157716644885802

Bridge repairs are finished and Imogene Pass is back open per San Miguel County Road and Bridge.

We drove this trail East to West from the connection at Yankee Boy Basin. Beautiful views at the Summit! When we began driving the trail was still closed due to bridge repairs on the West/Telluride side. But, luckily we learned the bridge was repaired around 2 PM and made it down to Telluride. Would recommend!

Ran this trail on Sunday 9/6/2020 from Telluride to Uray. I was able to make it over the broken bridge (which I didn't know was broken until I drove up to it.) Climbed under it and there was still (8) 8x8 beams. My tacoma was narrow enough to make it over with additional room. I wouldn't suggest a full size truck until repaired.

My wife's favorite trail this trip. Camped along the end of it right next to a creek and of course had a great night sky.

Per San Miguel County Road & Bridge: Attention: Effective immediately CR K68, Tomboy Road, FSR 869, Imogene Pass will be closed to through traffic until repair to a damaged bridge can be made. The closure will impact the portion of road between the Smuggler Tram Ruins to the Town of Tomboy. Motorists or visitors planning on traveling CR K68 between Telluride and Ouray will be required to turn around at the following locations: Vehicles traveling from the Town of Telluride vehicles will have to turn around at the Smuggler Tramp Ruins. Vehicles traveling from Ouray County will have to turn around at the Town of Tomboy. We estimate repairs to be completed by the middle of next week. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience while we make the necessary repairs.

Wow. I watched YouTube videos and looked at pictures before my trip and being there in person was incredible. The trail itself is pretty easy on the Telluride side but the Ouray side is where things can get a little sketchy. On top of the already challenging terrain, I did Imogene in the pouring rain so all of the rock faces were slick as snot. Luckily, I started in Ouray so I was able to go UP the rock rather than down (idk about you guys but I prefer ascending obstacles, not descending haha). Sadly, I didn’t get to see any views at the top because I was up in the clouds but the scenery before and after reaching the top was awesome! The Ouray side is a lot of fun at the bottom of the mountain as the rock obstacles are challenging enough to be fun but no so challenging that they’re sketchy. Will definitely do again!

Great trail and lots to see.

Amazing views. Fairly Moderate. Nothing too extreme. However make no mistakes, this could end up your life :)

One of my favorites to drive. Probably wouldn't want to be a passenger! Great views and the narrow shelf feels like living back in the mining days.

Great trail was a bit rainy when we did it so that made for a little mud and slippery rock. I think this trail is harder going Ouray to Telluride but i think alot of people do this trail in both directions in one day. We did this as a follow up to Ophir and Black Bear. Nothing to difficult here some technical stair steps and shelf roads. Beautiful views especially from the summit.

This is my favorite trail of all time. I'm already planning a return trip next summer. Black Bear Pass gets all the glory, but in my opinion, this is a much more demanding trail. There are more challenges, more narrow shelf road, two-way traffic (YIKES!), and more distracting scenery. This is an absolutely iconic trail that I am looking forward to seeing again.

I’ve heard so much about this trail and I can certainly say it didn’t disappoint!

Ran Yankee Boy and Imogene Pass in my 2019 4Runner TRD Pro on 7/30. Imogene was great for the most part. Some off-camber stuff which always makes me nervous. Came too close to rolling it at one point - biggest scare I've had to date. Definitely on the high side of "Moderate" and into the "Difficult" range a few times. The payoff is big, though. The view from the top are incredible!

Ran this Saturday afternoon and we only saw a couple vehicles the entire way. Raining most of the time but the stock ZR2 pretty much just auto-piloted the entire trail with no slipping or anything. I've seen all the pictures on nice days but have to admit the clouds and rain were pretty awesome.

Ran the trail in a Tundra on 35's, no issues whatsoever. Ran from the Yankee Boy Basin side, no issues with off-camber portions either. Just pick your line carefully and you'll be golden. I will say it is VERY busy, lots of the typical instagram-ers stopping for pictures which really slows down trail traffic both ways, so be prepared. Good thing the scenery is beautiful!

Beautiful views as always and trail was full of people! Amazed by some of the vehicles making their way up this trail. Full-sized trucks, a Grand Cherokee and a Chevy Tahoe for starters. Didn't see any issues and with careful placement of tires there really shouldn't be. It's raining most afternoons this time of the year and that gave us some issues making some of the rocks slick and mud around the corners causing some people to slide. Nothing major but if you're coming up in anything less than AT tires I'd take that into consideration.

Pretty sweet! I saw several lifted full size pickups up here, so under ideal conditions I guess that is not a problem. Busy, but we had no problem with lines. There is some camping along the creeks on the Ouray side. Difficulty rating is correct.

This is one of my all-time favorite trails for the views and the old mine ruins. No snow at all on the trail. It was pretty busy, but at no point were we ever in a pickle in terms of oncoming traffic. There are plenty of places to get by.

Great trail that actually lives up to the hype. There are good obstacles, really steep sections, and killer views. 2000 Frontier, 33's, 2" lift, no lockers, and a 2004 4Runner, 32's, 2" lift, no lockers. No real clearance issues. There are generally easier lines if you can't make a bigger obstacle. That said, there are definitely some spots where you have no other options and you have to commit to a slightly technical line. Ran from Ouray to Telluride.

Geat Trail. Awesome views. No snow on the road. Crowded. Saw 4 tour trucks and at least 6-8 other vehicles during our 4 hour run of the trail. Moderate to Difficult rating was accurate. A ton of fun. Some narrow sections might be an understatement, if heights bother you or a member of your party consider this trail carefully before setting out.

Ran Imogene on June 24th. Open all the way thru.

Listed as OPEN today per Ouray County Road and Bridge.

Went from the Ouray side to Telluride on 6/19. Road is clear, a little bit of mud and snow about 12,500 on the Ouray side, nothing bad. Telluride side is dry and good. Great drive, fantastic views.

Crews have opened Imogene on the San Miguel County side to the Tomboy Townsite. They will continue working next week to reach the summit.

High Country Roads Opening Priority May 12, 2020 Update Crews will begin work May 18, 2020 with the goal to have all High Country Roads open by the July 4th weekend. Please note: some services may be unavailable or slow to respond due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please be respectful of local Public Health Orders and restrictions. Visit https://ouraycountyco.gov/396/Coronavirus-COVID-19-Updates-and-Resourc to check current orders and for more information. (Note – Crew 1 and Crew 2 work concurrently) Crew 1: Yankee Boy (Depending on snowfall, anticipated time to reach the Outhouses is 4 days.) Crew 2: Red Mountain Town – Open the Main Loop Crew 1: Corkscrew Crew 2: Engineer Crew 1: Imogene Crew 2: Crews will move to help open Imogene after the completion of Engineer Updates will be posted periodically on the Ouray County Website (www.ouraycountyco.gov) and on the Road and Bridge Facebook page. ***Subject to change due to weather and emergencies***

Currently, San Juan County has issued CLOSURES on all their backcountry passes. San Miguel, Hinsdale, and Ouray County issued a travel at your own risk advisory. https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sanjuan/maps-pubs/?cid=fsbdev3_002300

I have not been to Imogene to verify, but according to San Miguel County Imogene is open. Be cautious with changing weather conditions as this could change at a moments notice but I will do my best to update the trail guides in this area as soon as the county announces their closures for the season. https://www.sanmiguelcountyco.gov/406/Road-Conditions

I attempted to cross the pass this morning in my Rubicon with 37” tires and 4” lift. Aired down to 10psi, I was foiled by 2’ snow drifts about 800 feet from the summit, traveling from Telluride. I suppose it is possible that someone traveling from Ouray might have made it today. More snow predicted for tomorrow.

Great scenery, fun trail! It was open, no snow or ice. A bit cold when the wind starts but nothing to keep from calling it a great day! A note, there is no staging area if you're riding OHV's.

Fair bit of ice and snow on the east side of the pass coming from Ouray to Telluride. Went up on Friday morning and just a single set of UTV tracks ahead of us. Dead other than that. Started in Ouray at 8 and was drinking a beer in Telluride by 12:30 with a 20 min summit stop to take in the views and let a family in a rental Suburban climb the last push from the Telluride side. I expect the trail to be closed in a week or two because of the weather. Not super hard, just pick the right lines if you have no spotter.

Ran this pass from Ouray to Telluride started out in Ouray on the trail to Yankee boy basin then turned off into Imogene pass. This pass was moderate with some shelf road before you get to the top of the pass at 13,114 ft. Going on the back side down to telluride, was amazing, we saw black bear pass before entering into telluride

If my review sounds like I'm complaining, I'm really not because this was a cool drive, but I want you to be aware of how busy this trail can be, and that can really hamper your fun. Extremely busy, and probably the busiest road I've driven. Jeeps, SxS's, dirt bikes, ATVs, trucks, tour guides, rentals, you name it and it was driving on this road. I got caught behind several large groups of anywhere from 5 to 20 Jeeps at a time. At one point on the way down the Ouray side, an old truck had about 10 vehicles stuck behind it because they were barely making it down the road and also refusing to pull over. At the same time while waiting for the truck to finally yield to all of us, a couple dirt bikes come out of the blue and pass on the extremely narrow shoulder. This road was a complete zoo at times. Also, because I had to make this an out and back type of drive, I had to cut off the last portion of my drive towards the bottom on the Telluride side due to the next group of almost 20 Jeeps coming up. Sure wasnt going to risk getting stuck behind that (again). Also tried a few times to get my picture with the Imogene Pass Summit sign and that wasn't happening. Way too many people at the summit trying to do the same thing both times I summited. The old mine ruins and awesome views were worth it though. Road was also somewhat challenging, but very fun. A special shout out to all the wonderful drivers who did allow others to pass, and who did know the right of way rules. Thanks!

Took the pass starting from Telluride and ending in Ouray. By far the most scenic trail that I have ever done. Very dangerous shelf roads along the pass. Did not need any traction control, but did have it in 4-low for a lot of the pass. Pay attention to the road, but plan the time to stop and take in the views!

Best trail I've ever been on. I've wanted to do this trail ever since my dad did it in a rental Kia Sorento. Was able to easily complete this trail in a stock 2019 Tacoma Off-Road. We started in Ouray and did the trail backwards according to the way points. This trail is less likely to cause body damage but you have a higher chance of flipping. Just take your time and spot out obstacles. Going on labor day weekend meant there would be a lot of traffic. The cliffs on the Telluride side were a little sketchy. Make sure you know where your tires are and take it slow. Absolutely amazing trail. Nothing else like it. Highly recommend.

Best trail I’ve ever done. I’m already planning my trip back next year. I found the rocky sections on the east side between upper camp bird and camp bird to be the most challenging. There are a lot of off camber sections that are a little spooky if you’re not used to it.

Great trail. Ran this as part of the 2019 Unlimited LJ Adventure. The views were not as good as usual due to smoke from a nearby prescribed burn. It was very thick at times. There are no longer bathrooms along any parts of the trail, so don't rely on that.

Amazing views! Imogene Pass has a little bit of everything for each type of vehicle. Was a busy trail but nothing to complain about really. There's plenty of places to pull off and take in the beautiful views. We ran the trail in both directions and both ways offer different obstacles and scenic views. I highly recommend Imogene Pass, you can make it in a stock Wrangler. But take extra care on some of the narrow parts of the road. The few days we were in the area there was a couple accidents on the trail from people sliding off the side.

Imogene was great fun and scenic as always maybe even more than usual because of the interesting year we've had. It was open all the way despite there still being a small sign on the Telluride end saying it was closed. Ran in my stock full size Chevy with no issues.

Great trail, probably the highlight of our Ouray/Telluride trip. So much cool mining history, great views, varied terrain. Snow banks still exist up high, saw some fresh new dustings of overnight snow - thank you to the road crews for the insurmountable task of opening this trail this year. For a group of slightly modified rigs it was perfect, a challenge here or there but nothing that made me feel uncomfortable having a 2-yr old in tow. Took about 5 hours to soak in all the sights, absolutely recommend making a loop with Ophir (or Black Bear if it's open and you are more adventurous) .

Per Ouray County Road an Bridge Department Imogene Pass is now OPEN on both sides from Ouray to Telluride. Be aware that snowy road conditions may still exist and be cautious in the narrow areas for oncoming traffic.

Imogene Pass Update Ouray County has their side open - the San Miguel County side is to remain closed until mid-week. There is a section of road that slid off that needs repaired before it can be opened. There will be a dozer parked at the top so that jeepers coming up from the Ouray side cannot try to go down and not be able to get back over the ice to return.

Imogene Pass is closed on the Telluride side until approximately July 31st. “There is a portion of the road that slid near the top of the pass that will be repaired before the pass can be safely opened. The Ouray side is open to the top.”

Wow! If you are new to trail riding, this trail is doable but will certainly take you to the fringe of your comfort zone. The scenery is literally and figuratively breathtaking. Recommend taking the trail from Ouray to Telluride. This will give you the option to take Ophir Pass trail or the highway back to Ouray. Getting an early start will ensure you can stop in Telluride for lunch.

(Note – Crew 1 and Crew 2 work concurrently) Crew 1: Yankee Boy -- OPEN Crew 2: Red Mountain Town Open the Main Loop-- OPEN Crew 1: Corkscrew -- OPEN Crew 2: Engineer Pass (in progress) Crew 1 & 2: Imogene (in progress, began 7/9) Updates will be posted periodically on the Ouray County Website (www.ouraycountyco.gov) and on the Road and Bridge Facebook page.

Due to the heavy, late snows San Miguel County is not going to be able to start clearing the high mountain passes as early as usual. Plans are to begin Ophir Pass mid-June, followed by Imogene and then Black Bear. Updates will be posted on the County Web Page www.sanmiguelcountyco.gov

Ouray County has announced that plowing operations have begun for these trails. From the county:

High Country Roads Opening Priority

May 6, 2019 Update

Crews will begin work May 6, 2019 with the goal to have all High Country Roads open by the July 4th weekend.

***Please be aware: Southwestern Colorado received an exceptional amount of snow during the 2018-2019 winter. Roads may be cleared later than usual, and dangers like avalanches may still exist into the summer months. Please use caution when venturing into these areas.***

(Note – Crew 1 and Crew 2 work concurrently)

Crew 1: Yankee Boy (Depending on snowfall, anticipated time to reach the Outhouses is 4 days.)

Crew 2: Red Mountain Town – Open the Main Loop

Crew 1: Corkscrew

Crew 2: Engineer

Crew 1: Imogene

Crew 2: Crews will move to help open Imogene after the completion of Engineer

Did the trail from telluride to ouray in a 2015 Ford f150 2.7l EcoBoost. While it's not truly built for off roading it adds a challenge to the trail. The top of the pass was snowy and slippery on the way down to ouray (there was some uncomfortable times sliding). The trees were beautiful and there was a large shelf towards the end of the trail that scraped my undercarriage a little (long vehicle problems). Over all I'd do it again but in a jeep or shorter vehicle earlier in the season.

Beautiful Trail and is in great condition other than the last 100 or so feet near the summit of Imogene Pass. The summit was very slick with snow starting to accumulate (1-2 inches) and tracks icing over. Coming down was very sketchy and slow but doable. We ended up sliding about 20-30 feet when descending the Ouray side. Be aware and cautious this time of year. I would recommend chains or waiting till next year.

Ran the trail from Telluride to Ouray in a 2005 Xterra with 2" lift and 33's. The trail never felt too difficult and I imagine a skilled driver in a stock high clearance vehicle should have no problem. A few obstacles bypasses were still somewhat technical so don't run this expecting to have an easy way around difficult terrain.

Imogene will be closed 9/8/2018 from early morning until mid afternoon.

I drove Imogene from Tellluride to Ouray on Tuesday (September 4th). The weather became stormy (mixed rain and hail) before reaching the summit, so conditions were cold and wet. Our small group of three included all stock rigs--me in an '88 Isuzu Trooper, Kyle in a '70 Land Cruiser FJ40, and Chera in a '17 Wrangler JK Sport. We had no problems, but I think the road is rougher than it was one year ago--the ledges and ruts seem to be eroded more--so choose your line over/through them with care.

Ran it from Ouray to Telluride in my 80 series, it was rainy and slick on the Ouray side but overall the conditions were decent. We had beautiful views and had a great time! I'm not sure if its because we're at the end of season and things are a little rougher or we just missed the bypasses, but the "3" rating is a little misleading (maybe its easier going Telluride -> Ouray). There were definitely a few obstacles that required retries and even hit sliders and diff cover (probably user error) on the trail. If you're new to wheeling, I'd recommend going with someone experienced, the pucker factor is still pretty high on this trail.

Started in the Morning from Ouray. Stunning views, great water crossings. The day was nice and clear. During the weekday there was still light to moderate traffic in some places maybe a quarter way into it was big rock feature. Ive seen the photo online with vehicles up on it. It was dry so I didn't think I would have much of a problem. Some parts can be longer and tedious. With breaks and snack stops with pets expect 4-6 hours, maybe longer with pictures A must when you visit the area and don't forget poser point

Had a blast! Great weather, water levels were low crossing streams. Completed in a stock 2006 Land Rover LR3 and a lifted Toyota FJ62. We went from Ouray to Telluride and I believe that direction is more adventurous (fun!!), as all the technical terrain is on the Ouray side of the pass, while going uphill.

Trail was announced as reopened late last night. Imogene is clear all the way through today.

The county has reported that the trail is closed on the Telluride side due to a rockslide though the rest of the trail remains open. Crews are working to clear it all the way through.

Officially open ber San Miguel and Ouray Counties: https://www.sanmiguelcountyco.gov/AlertCenter.aspx?AID=34

Officially closed for the winter per San Miguel County, CO. https://www.sanmiguelcountyco.gov/AlertCenter.aspx?AID=34

Per San Miguel County, CO, Imogene Pass is not recommended for travel from the Telluride side: Imogene Pass- Telluride to Tomboy is passable, a few small patches of snow in shady areas. Tomboy to the countyline, travel not recommended. Road is extremely snow packed and icy. http://www.sanmiguelcountyco.gov/AlertCenter.aspx?AID=44

Announcement. The trail is closed on September 9th for the annual marathon run there and should reopen to traffic on Sunday. Read more about the race here: http://live-raceresults.com/imogene/

Came over Imogene from Telluride after starting the day on Black Bear Pass. We had fantastic weather all day and by the time we started the trail about 3pm, most of the traffic was on its way down the hill, including the tour jeeps. The first 3 miles of the drive are narrow and definitely make it hard to squeeze by vehicles. Yes there are spots, but it's just a pain with the amount of traffic both ways. Luckily the traffic didn't last too long and we were on the trail pretty much all alone after a little while. On the north side of the pass, between waypoints 10 & 11, don't miss the opportunity to drive up the short spur to an awesome overlook of Ptarmigan Lake. At the top of the ridge, the road to the lake is blocked off, but there is a very large parking area and views from there are gorgeous. You can also see highway 550 from that vantage point. If waterfalls are your thing, just before waypoint 17 you will see a sign that reads, "Recommended. High clearance four wheel drive short wheel base". Across the road from that sign you will see a small waterfall. You can also take the spur road to the south of this sign parallel to the main trail where you will quickly find another awesome waterfall on Imogene Creek.

Imogene Pass is a stunning 4WD route from Telluride to Ouray, or visa versa. The cliffs do create a lot of exposure where there is little room for error, so it's not for the squeamish. Just ensure you're vehicle is in good working order before heading up and that you're aware of your surroundings at all times. Along the way, keep an eye out for traffic coming from the other direction, as the trail is a two-way road. The juice is certainly worth the squeeze. - At over 12,000' at the pass, the view is tremendous in every direction. Pictures below are in chronological order, but are in reverse. The last picture is the very beginning of the trail in Telluride. You can drive it in either direction though. Instagram: @overland_pajero

This trip was done in an original Swiss Army Pinzgeuar. 6 wheel drive and 3 locking diffs (see pics). Roughest ride I have had in my life. I had to ride in the back so the wife got the front seat. The trip went up Yankee Boy basin, then to Imogene pass trail and then up a more rugged road to a ski in/out being built on a peak. Couldn't see a lot out of the back, even with the side open, but the stops were beautiful. This vehicle climbs hills like a cat.