Ophir Pass/CO BDR 7.14.2025

[MacNobody]

I'll be leaving out of Telluride on 7/14 and want to take the section from Telluride to Lake City over the passes. I see the BDR route organizers have changed the rating on that section from Main to Alt/Hard due to side by side and Jeep traffic making it harder for dual sport and ADV bikes.

Has anyone been on this section recently and can report on the suitability for driving safely through to Lake City?

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[Sweetums]

We did it about a year ago and found Ophir to be one of the easier passes to drive, it's not a technical road but requires attention.

It's a high-consequence road, like most in the area. I'm also told my internal metric for shelf road pucker factor is broken, social media loves to freak out over roads like this or the Schafer Switchbacks in Moab, but those roads don't bother me.

 

[MacNobody]

We did it about a year ago and found Ophir to be one of the easier passes to drive, it's not a technical road but requires attention.

It's a high-consequence road, like most in the area. I'm also told my internal metric for shelf road pucker factor is broken, social media loves to freak out over roads like this or the Schafer Switchbacks in Moab, but those roads don't bother me.

I did it on my motorcycle last summer but this trip will be in the Gladiator and my wife will be on the downhill side

Her pucker factor for things like this is rated extreme.

 

[Sweetums]

There are some switchbacks, and the cliff shelf-road section is pretty short. Honestly, a Subaru could drive it.

 

[MacNobody]

That was my experience last year on 2 wheels

I wonder what caused the route organizers to change the rating then.

 

[ALT2870]

I think quite a few guides changed their ratings based on eastwards travel which for several less offroad type vehicles can be a challenge but I see it as mostly overzealous. Heck, a box truck made it halfway up a few years back.

Have ran thr pass both directions and no issues. Drop it into 4H and you'll be fine.

Now you mention you are going onto Lake City and that involves more passes not just Ophir. Ophir Pass drops you out just north of Silverton on Hwy 550. Easiest and fastest route would be through Silverton up CR-2 to Animas Forks. Alternatively a slightly tougher though more then doable in the Gladiator is go over Red Mountain Pass and take either Mineral Creek (closer to Ouray) or Corkscrew/Hurricane/California (starts at Ironton just north of the summit) passes to Animas Forks. From Animas Forks you can cruise easily over Cinammon Pass if in a hurry or Engineer if you want the views. Engineer has some slightly tricky spots but nothing crazy, and they redid the Lake City side a few years back so easier cruising just more miles. Cinnamon is a cake walk and you can pretty easily get even a Subaru over it if you are smart about it.

 

[Sweetums]

Of all of those, Mineral Creek is the most sketchy that I've done. There were some tippy sections last time I drove it due to having two sxs lines but no real good full size line.

I did it on 33" stock tires with a 2.5 lift and OE Rubicon armor. It was puckery enough that a less experienced group in a 100 series slept on the trail just above the Poughkeepsie Gultch trailhead.

It seemed easier going down than up. We ended up taking Poughkeepsie Gultch up and Mineral Creek down.

 

[MacNobody]

Of all of those, Mineral Creek is the most sketchy that I've done. There were some tippy sections last time I drove it due to having two sxs lines but no real good full size line.

I did it on 33" stock tires with a 2.5 lift and OE Rubicon armor. It was puckery enough that a less experienced group in a 100 series slept on the trail just above the Poughkeepsie Gultch trailhead.

It seemed easier going down than up. We ended up taking Poughkeepsie Gultch up and Mineral Creek down.

How was Poughkeepsie? I think I'm going to spend an extra day in that area just playing around.

 

[Sweetums]

It was last year, but it wasn't bad at all. We took the bypass around The Wall but got a Tacoma with a slide-in camper through it. There were a couple spots I scouted on foot to get my wheel placement right, but it was very driveable with 2.5" of lift as the only real mod.

Now that I'm on 35" tires, I'd probably give The Wall a go. I'd absolutely try it in the LJ with long arms, 4.5" and 35"s.

It's the only trail in the area I'd rate above "easy".

 

[MacNobody]

I have 2.5" and 315s, if there is someone there to spot me I'll try the Wall, but I'm not too proud to take the go-around.

I'm excited for this trip!

 

[Sweetums]

I have 2.5" and 315s, if there is someone there to spot me I'll try the Wall, but I'm not too proud to take the go-around.

I'm excited for this trip!

The bypass is a snaking loose scrabble, but it looks worse than it is. If you have a winch you will get up The Wall, it's just about whether you want to use it. I believe there's a winch anchor at the top.

Don't leave the truck parked on the mountain overnight, the marmots will feast on the wires and hoses.

 

[ALT2870]

Of all of those, Mineral Creek is the most sketchy that I've done. There were some tippy sections last time I drove it due to having two sxs lines but no real good full size line.

I did it on 33" stock tires with a 2.5 lift and OE Rubicon armor. It was puckery enough that a less experienced group in a 100 series slept on the trail just above the Poughkeepsie Gultch trailhead.
Creek down.

I know exactly what spot you are talking about. We ended up behind a few others and took the same line. In reality it's not the worst angle I've been at but can certainly induce a good clinch. I wasn't worried once I saw the Tacoma go through it.

The Wall really isn't that bad if you take the line up the middle. I've watch a few videos and vehicles much less then the Gladiator have made it up no issues. Spotter definitely helps and speed.

 

[Sweetums]

I know exactly what spot you are talking about. We ended up behind a few others and took the same line. In reality it's not the worst angle I've been at but can certainly induce a good clinch. I wasn't worried once I saw the Tacoma go through it.

The Wall really isn't that bad if you take the line up the middle. I've watch a few videos and vehicles much less then the Gladiator have made it up no issues. Spotter definitely helps and speed.

Connecting the anti-sway bar on the tippy bits sure helped the truck feel more planted.

 

[ALT2870]

Pretty sure I had it connected at the time, can't recall exactly. Most memorable part of that trip was finding a couple a half mile or so up from the shelf road with a blown tire. Sidewall completely destroyed. The vehicle you ask? Some basic Lexus crossover with paper thin tires, not at all suited for offroading. They were trying to get to Lake City and asked me if it got worse. I hadn't done the trail but figured it would get worse (it did) and they probably should go back down. Honestly was shocked they made it as far as they did.

And yes, bypass looks horrific and the snow to the right side going up can cause some issues but made it back up no problem after going down.

 

[Viper]

I'll be leaving out of Telluride on 7/14 and want to take the section from Telluride to Lake City over the passes. I see the BDR route organizers have changed the rating on that section from Main to Alt/Hard due to side by side and Jeep traffic making it harder for dual sport and ADV bikes.

Has anyone been on this section recently and can report on the suitability for driving safely through to Lake City?

We have ran it many times and we too are headed there tomorrow O-dark thirty. Just be watchful of who is coming down from the switchback on the shale road. If I see folks coming down I will wait at the pull out on the uphill side and letem by.

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