At a Glance
- From Ouray: ~2 hours drive
- Region: Elk Mountains / Crested Butte
- Difficulty: Strenuous
- Character: Alpine — above treeline
- Best Season: July – September
- Combine With: Crested Butte visit
Expanding Beyond the San Juans
Ouray's central position in the San Juans also makes it a reasonable base for day trips into adjacent mountain ranges. Treasury Mountain, near Crested Butte in the Elk Mountains, is a strenuous alpine objective about two hours from The Lumberyard via US 50 and the Gunnison drainage. For visitors making a longer Ouray stay who want to sample the Elk Mountains, Treasury is a worthwhile target.
The Crested Butte area itself is worth the drive independently — the town retains much of its Victorian mining character and has a thriving mountain biking and hiking culture in summer.
A Full-Day Excursion
A Treasury Mountain day from Ouray requires an early start — leave The Lumberyard by 6am, arrive at the trailhead by 8am, summit and return by early afternoon, drive back to Ouray for dinner. The full day covers diverse terrain: the open sage country of the Gunnison basin, the forested approach to Crested Butte, and the stark alpine environment of the Elk Mountains summit.