Yankee Boy Basin
Ouray County, Colorado
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Nearby Towns: Ouray
Nearby Trails: Imogene Pass, Governor Basin
Trail Length: 2.5 miles
Elevation: 12,463 feet

A very popular trail, this one can't be missed if you find yourself in the area. It is short and not particularly difficult and you get to see some gorgeous sites.

It intersects with Imogene Pass, Governor Basin and basically is the end of road 361 out of Ouray. It starts with the Torpedo Eclipse Mill on your right and the Ruby Trust Mine on your left. A little further up the trail and you can see the Atlas Mill on the left.

At this point you will come to a fork in the road. The right fork takes you up the hill to the top of the overlook above Yankee Boy Basin. The left fork takes you down to the Governor Basin trail. Take the right-most fork.

The first highlight is a big one and there is parking on the left. Hike down to see an amazing waterfall on Sneffels Creek. This is supposedly the waterfall used by Coors in their advertising, and it is amazing. On a nice day you can play in the water at the bottom.

A little further and you'll see a modern pit toilet and more parking on your left. The Yankee Boy Mine is on your right. It is past this point that the trail becomes a bit rockier and more challenging.

You will climb fairly quickly on a one-lane trail, though not on a shelf road. You reach an overlook and there is a large turnaround where you must turn to go back the way you came. The views here are amazing and you can see Mount Sneffels towering over you.

The Blue Lake hiking trail begins here and is a popular one. It goes down into the basin, then up over Blue Lake pass at 13,000 feet. You come down the other side of the pass to find the Blue Lakes below at 11,800 feet.

Information last updated on May 11th, 2008.

Member Reports

• August 21, 2004: ran by Aaron N., Bob R., Bob S., Brian E., Jon G., Ladd, Mike C., Mike S. and Monica

Driving Directions

From Ouray head south on highway 550 and immediately outside of town turn right on County Road 361, also marked Camp Bird Road. Travel down this smooth gravel road for 5.9 miles until you continue straight past the turnoff for Imogene Pass.

Meeting Places

Meet at the Hot S
prings Pool parking lot on Main Street in Ouray.

Additional Information

• Ouray Trail Conditions