Governor Basin

4.8/5 (22 reviews)
Ouray, Colorado (Ouray County)
Last Updated: 10/23/2022

Trail Information

Highlights

Offering gorgeous vistas of the jagged St. Sophia Ridge and beautiful wildflowers in late July, Governor Basin is a great route for travelers who wish to have the beautiful scenery that it's sister trail, Yankee Boy Basin has to offer, without the vehicle traffic that sometimes occurs. This route leads through stunning evergreen forest and ends high above timberline at the well preserved Mountain Top Mine.

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Navigation

Trail Reviews

4.8/5 (22)
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 03/05/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Easier

A quick little jog off of the Yankee Boy trail, and my personal favorite this side of Imogene. Not because it is particularly challenging, although it might get sketchy in a couple places if you have to back up due to the narrowness of the trail, but rather because I don't think there is another place in the continental US that looks like this. Road is bumpy but flat. There are a couple of sections with steep drop offs that are wide enough for only one vehicle. So go slow around the corners. Except for those couple of sections, I would rate this as easier.
Official Crew
27400
Impassable
Visited: 10/23/2022

A recent winter storm in the Ouray/ Silverton area has dropped a measurable amount of snow and high winds have been in the area. Some high country routes in the area may be passable but high country travel is not recommended.
Official Crew
27400
Open
Visited: 09/14/2022

Operations to clear the vehicle from the Drinking Cup area of Camp Bird Rd should be completed. Please be aware that emergency vehicles may still be present in the area.
Official Crew
27400
Temporary Closure
Visited: 09/13/2022

Per Ouray County Road and Bridge: Ouray County is closing. Camp Bird Road for vehicle recovery on 9/13/22 from 6am-4pm This will impact travel on Imogene Pass. Vehicles on the Telluride side will be required to turn around at the Ouray County line. Updates will be posted if conditions change.
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 08/30/2022
Difficulty Accuracy: Easier

I would rate the difficulty of this trail a 2-3, not sure if it was graded or what but certainly isnt a 4-5 anymore. It was pretty busy and the people watching was like none I've ever seen before on any trail. Tons of rental side by sides with first time drivers and clearly not given any training by the rental company. I watched one rental unknowingly start driving up the very narrow shelf for Sydney Basin before realizing how nasty it is and then having to back down it while off camber and tight. It was pretty nerve wrecking to watch but he made it down. After that I watched another rental SxS driving very slowly up Governor Basin in high gear, only to get hung up on a very small rock because the engine clearly needed to be in low gear, or given a lot more gas to bump that rock in high gear. After that a full size truck with street tires comes up the trail and asks me where this goes. While I am glad to provide information to someone, it makes me nervous about the people on this trail being novice drivers and/or having no idea where they are going or what the trail entails. Also note that at the end of the trail as TrailsOffroad has marked, there is a trail that continues upward and makes a loop. However I wouldnt personally recommend it since it has some intense off camber in a loose, narrow, sandy shelf. Definitely wouldnt drive that myself.

From the Community

Start a free trial and get this level of detail on every trail guide
Start Free Trial