Ouray earned its nickname, the Switzerland of America, honestly: this tiny Victorian town sits at about 7,800 feet in a bowl of sheer red and gray cliffs, with waterfalls on three sides, steaming hot springs, and one of the world’s most famous ice climbing parks.

Ouray was incorporated in 1876, which makes 2026 its 150th anniversary, and it is named for Chief Ouray, the Ute leader known for seeking peace with the newcomers. Silver and gold built the town, and its Main Street is still lined with brick and stone buildings from the mining era, now home to shops, restaurants and historic hotels. Ouray is the northern gateway to the Million Dollar Highway, the cliff-hugging stretch of U.S. 550 that climbs over Red Mountain Pass to Silverton.

The town’s natural wonders are steps from downtown. At Box Cañon Falls Park, Canyon Creek thunders 285 feet through a narrow quartzite slot, with walls rising nearly 100 feet over the falls; a 500-foot trail leads into the roaring canyon, and the half-mile High Bridge Trail crosses above it. Look for black swifts, a rare bird that nests behind the spray. The Ouray Perimeter Trail circles the whole town in a 5.6-mile loop with about 1,800 feet of climbing, four waterfalls and six bridges. To finish the day, soak at the Ouray Hot Springs Pool. In winter, the frozen walls of the Uncompahgre Gorge become the Ouray Ice Park, usually open from mid-December into March.

Insider tip: Hike the Perimeter Trail early in the day and allow four to five hours, then reward yourself with a soak. In November, many trails are quiet and the cliffs often wear a dusting of snow, but check conditions since the higher trails can be icy.

Ouray is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2026. Box Cañon Falls Park is closed for the season from November through April. The Ouray Visitors Center keeps winter hours of 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily from November 1 to April 30, and the Ouray Ice Park usually opens in mid-December, depending on ice conditions. See visitouray.com for events.