Hi gang, I am going on my first real off road or trails in Ouray next week and have been preparing my 2012 JKUR for the trip. I started with a 2 1/2" JKS lift, Barricade winch and bumpers with a 6 speed manual transmission. I have replaced much of my suspension elements, new shocks, control arms, installed front truss and gussets with geometry correction brackets, new front drive shaft, and JW Speaker head lights. I have an air compressor, battery jump start system, recovery stops and gear for the winch, CB radio, tool kit, spare bottle jack with two sets of 2x6 boards screwed together for footing if needed. I am ADD when it comes to preparedness, anything I am missing here? Other than the obvious skill set, which I believe I have, plus my adult son traveling with me. I have followed this forum for some time and know there are very knowledgeable folks contributing, anything you see, let me know. Thank you in advance.

For the most part, the trails in Ouray are not much more than gravel roads. Poughkipsee and a few others are the exceptions. The shelf roads are the challenge. Our first year there, the roads looked about 3 feet wide. They seem to get wider each year as you get used to driving shelf roads. The scenery is what you go to Ouray for. Unbeatable. Have a great trip.

Thanks jeepers29, I am hoping to get Imogene Pass and Engineer Pass as a minimum. Black Bear maybe. Just getting out of the heat for awhile will be a nice change.

I carry one of these when we go off-road out of cell service range in Moab and Ouray:
ACR PLB-375 ResQLink+ 406 Buoyant Personal Locator Beacon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006JXY0CQ..._Si5EDbYSQ6511

Also get Charles Wells book and accompanying FunTreks app for navigation and planning. An external Bluetooth gps antennae is also helpful when you’re far from cell towers. I have this one:
Dual Electronics XGPS160... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E65TNYE...p_mob_ap_share

From only a year and a half experience offroading in the northeast:

Fire extinguisher (A,B,C)
First aid kit
Tools: I go around my Jeep and find whatever I think I could fix and include that in my tool bag. I do NOT bring my entire workshop with me. I also can rely on other club members when I'm out.
Water: Bring more than you could possibly drink.
Valves for wheels. The entire pull through valve. Rocks can sheer these off (I've seen it happen right in front of me). And a tool that can pull through the valve.
Air gauge.
Bag of Ruffles. It's become THE snack I bring, so it's on my list.
Make sure your same size spare is good to go.
Bug repelant and bee spray! We once had a bees nest inside the pipes of the gate to the property we were about to wheel. In the sun, sun tan lotion (high spf).
Hat, sun glasses
A quart of oil. Zip ties. Duct tape.

I find that a check list is really, really helpful to make for before the run. I sometimes forget something but since it's on the list, I don't actually forget it.

+1 on water in the Rockies.
A good camera for the scenery
Trip to the ice cream store in Silverton for Huckleberry ice cream

I have done those trails this summer for the first time and would say that your Jeep is more than capable. The Funtreks book is great for trail info and to figure out where
you are. If you use Google maps on your phone download the map of the area before
you go so that you can see your location without cell service.

Those trails are fantastic. I'm doing Cinnamon Pass today....

@RamblinMan , I second the FunTreks book recommendation. Unless you already know the area, I can't imagine going there and not having the book. It is very useful, and will help you get the most out of your time there.
As mentioned, Ouray is not about hard core wheeling but rather amazing scenery. The shelf roads can be scary, but they really aren't hard. You do need to take driving out there seriously, as vertical disparity like that can be dangerous. But mostly just enjoy the scenery.

I know Utah had already had some snow. Ouray is pretty high. Some of those passes may be getting close to closing.

Your rig sounds more like its prepped for the Darian Gap! You are ready for some serious adventure. You'll be fine.

If you want a primer road with lots of shelf experience, do Ophir. Great pass to get your feet wet. You'll learn negotiating steeper descents on 12" rock trail way, dirt, mud, shallow'ish water crossings, sharing the road with motorcycles and more. Great way to learn about your vehicle before heading out to more difficult climbs.

Black Bear nearly made me puke. We don't have heights like that in the East. And we have trees along the trail.
I'd need a Xanex to do it again...
We were on a moto, btw. 2-up.


good song

Personally a good wipe down cleaning of everything before you go and check the trq on all the bolts for that lift kit if it was recently installed.
Its always a good idea to do a once over on everything and if its covered in dirt its hard to see any issues.
My neighbors always comment how clean my Jeep always is, as living in an apartment I need to use an offsite car wash so it is normally always clean by the time I get home.
What they don't see is the mess I leave at the car washes.
And don't forget a set of camp chairs, I leave a set in my Jeep all the time

Have a bite to eat at Maggie's Kitchen in Ouray. The 420 burger is pretty good.

You have the basics for the Jeep covered. If I had to add simple stuff to your kit it would be fuses, a few feet of 5/16" and 3/8" fuel line, a few assorted size hose clamps, good bailing wire, duct tape, a couple different gauges of wire and a basic kit to cut and splice wire. We may drive computerized space shuttles but the basics can still save you sometimes. If you don't have a good tire repair kit get one.

You should put some thought into recovering yourself if needed. We always carry packs designed for 72 hours of survival. Carry water, then add more water. Carry a basic med kit. Carry some form of calories. If you're not wearing clothing and boots made for rugged terrain at least keep a set in the Jeep.

Ouray area is pretty heavily populated and more than likely if you break down you see someone pass by pretty quick. You need to be prepared for a night in the mountains or prepared for a long hike just in case.

Your setup sounds great! I did a good portion of the Alpine Loop in 2009 in a rental stock JK and had no issues. I'm not sure how much it's changed. But it's more about the adventure, the towns, the scenery, than rock crawling. It's what Jeeps are made for - taking you on adventures. Enjoy!

Your set for the area. Take things slow and enjoy. The first time I did it in a stock rental. Now my jeep is modified but the trails here are not hard. Some can be scary. As far as I know, poukippse gulch is closed. I'm hoping to be in Silverton next week for several days.

Last I checked, Imogene was still closed (those mountains got hammered this last winter). That is from the Ouray county roads website.

We were there last week. All the passes are open the only thing that was closed was Poughkeepsie Gulch from avalanche damage and it will be for a while maybe years. There is lots and lots of snow still, but we had a great time.

If you do Black Bear and are afraid of heights, bring some clean under shorts and maybe some butt wipes...............just sayin'.

You will do fine and the colors are changing however start checking on the weather this time of year for that area, the NOAA site is pretty good and will give specific forecasts. We have had snow already in the higher elevations. It was 41 at the house yesterday morning.

Oh its so good. Served on a five gallon bucket lid. We've been there twice, both times my wife has asked if I think I can eat all of that. Each time I've taken that to be a challenge, so yeh, I'm gonna eat all of it.

Does it come with an AED and some nitro tablets?

We ran Poyghkeepsie on Aug 6th. We herd it was closed and we herd it was open. We headed that was and the gate was unlocked. Hit a large swampy muddy snow bank with a fairly difficult bypass. Only had to winch the 2 door jeep in our group up. We also helped winch a side by side up. When we got to the big rock there was 3 jeeps waiting and staring at it. We went up and then helped spot them and off we went. Ophier and Imogene make a nice loop and you will see a lot of snow damage on Ophier.

Do what you are comfortable with and enjoy the scenery. Yankeyboy is a good one for scenery and LOTS of wildflowers.

Get the Jeep badge of honor app and log in when you do the trails and they send you a 'badge'

Unfortunately no, but it does come with a side of satisfaction when you're done.

I'll be brief and, trust me, I don't judge. I survive. And the nuns at the hospital told me I had to tell people...
I was at this event the day before my 6th and nearly fatal heart attack in 2007 (age 44, 127 total cholesterol, 9% bodyfat).
The Big Pig Jig ? Big Pig Jig

It really isn't funny and really isn't food.

We were there September 6th and the gate was locked.

Heading to Silverton on Wednesday. Will be there for 3 days. It's only a 3.5 hour drive for me. Looking forward to see the damage and enjoy the trails. Will be camping in Silverton.

What a bummer. The sign said the gate was locked but as we were deciding on what to do instead a UTV came down the trail. Chatting with him he said he came down from the top and the trail gates were open. Off we went and ….yep, the gate was locked in the open position. We just guessed they forgot to change the sign. Check the county website also for a trail report of what trails are open. It did not have it listed as closed the day we went.

https://www.ouraycolorado.com/things-to-do/4x4