Ophir Pass - Colorado Adventure

In this video Hope and I head from Ouray over Ophir Pass into the town of Ophir and then out close to Telluride and our campsite near Alta Lakes Campground. From Ouray, Ophir pass is a scenic and easy trail with great views of the valley. Once at the top, it leads out onto a narrow shelf road cut into the side of the rocky mountain which makes for a hair raising experience as the traffic is still two way. When visiting the area, this is one Colorado adventure you don't want to miss!

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This product is meant for entertainment purposes only. Your mileage may vary. Do not try this at home. Void where prohibited. Some assembly required. For off-road use only. Slippery when wet. Batteries not included. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle, heavy equipment, cherokee XJ, wrangler TJ, wrangler JK, or any Jeep vehicle, especially the newer Fiat ones. How-to videos may be too intense for some viewers and children under 30 years of age. Please remain seated until the 4x4 ride has come to a complete stop. Studies have shown viewing these videos causes increased cancer risks in laboratory test people. I am not a professional, I have no training, I'm not even particularly good at horse whispering. Don't believe everything that you know. Please keep your hands in the vehicle at all times. Do not tap on glass. Do not eat anything that has been on the floor for more than 3 days. Keep your hands to yourself. Not to be taken internally. Reproduction strictly prohibited. Driver does not carry cash. Objects in Bleepinjeep mirrors may be farther than they appear.

[@Matt43]

I love that you stopped to appreciate the scenery and wildlife around you (and showcased it after editing)... that is what these trips are all about!

[@larrycox3290]

I know, watching old stuff, for the first time. Loving it Matt and Hope. Thank you, from this old man.

[@MichaelGalletly]

Ouray is pronounced "your-Aye". I grew up near there. And it's Oh-fur pass. And thanks for this memory of my old home.

[@davmar9923]

I've lived in the Four Corners for twenty years. The locals all pronounce Ouray as You-ray.

[@lindaingallsobrien4217]

@@davmar9923 thank you for the correct pronunciation it is not oh-fear pass my ex husband lived in oh-fur for years! Colorado 4-corners resident since 20 yrs. turning 60 feb. 2021!

[@lindaingallsobrien4217]

thank you 4 the correct pronunciation!

[@vdub5818]

Ophir(pronounced O-fur) is always our first trail when we get into town. A great warmup route so to say. Ophir Pass and then Last Dollar Rd and back to the family land in Montrose. Love the content guys. Makes me miss being out there so bad!

[@bleepinjeep]

Thanks, next one is almost a killer 🙄

[@jdgreens9268]

In the first week of June we took Last Dollar road to a campsite right above the Telluride airport, the next day we took Ophir over to Corkscrew trailhead so we could camp off the tral and explore the region from there. Love that area! Try to go at least once a summer.

[@vdub5818]

@@jdgreens9268 last dollar has some really prime camping spots with incredible vista's near where the aspen trees are. However last dollar rd is impassable when it rains. Turns to soupy mud and they close the road down.

[@amkamk3129]

Tried Ophir pass this past May. What an experience. Glad you enjoy the home some of us call Colorado 💛

[@justbe1451]

Aw, your video chatter seems so natural, like I'm the third wheel in your trip! Thank you for taking me along. Liked, Shared, & subscribed. This is my kind of reality TV. ❤

[@piebear49]

Love the whistle pig. Also known as a marmot.

[@TheKajunkat]

Matt what you are looking for in the those pine trees is at the very center and the root of the branches. It is deep red in color and smells like turpentine when you cut into it. It is known as heart wood, pine knot, fat wood, pitch pine, lighter pine and probably a lot more stuff. You were just in the punky (half rotted) part of the tree. Another good place to look for it is the rotted remains of old pine stumps that were logged. it will be like a shaft of wood stuck in the ground. great stuff to light a fire and it really doesn't matter if it is wet, especially with a lighter.

[@longjohn2155]

I used to live in Telluride. In years with good snow fall the town of Ophir regularly gets cut off by avalanches. These hearty folks just strap on some skins and hike the pass in order to ski down into Telluride for work. Good times, good memories. Cheers! :-)

[@bleepinjeep]

So we were wondering... who lives in ophir? Is it mostly ski instructors or vacation homes, or retired people or? Its pretty out there!

[@longjohn2155]

@@bleepinjeep Couldn't really speak to who all lives there, but I worked with a guy in facilities maintenance who lived there year round with his wife and kids. I'd imagine some of them commute to Silverton or down the San Miguel to whatever that other town is. Ophir is considerably cheaper than any of the properties in Telluride or Mountain Village. Most ski instructors and seasonal workers live in employee housing in mountain village, located mid mountain, otherwise known as "middle earth" lol.

[@jerenisch74]

We call them Whistle Pigs. Nice footage!

[@themidnightrambler4865]

I believe that furry little critter, you saw in the pass, is a Marmot.

[@notreallyme425]

I saw that little guy in that same spot when I was last there!

[@phintze]

Nice marmot!

[@73challenger86]

it is a Hoary Marmot

[@JoeGarofaloII]

hmmm where im from we call em ground hogs or wood chucks

[@Prairie7777]

Also called Woodchuck. And, for survival, you CAN eat them! Yummmm!

[@raybarrebel4355]

Im from Dallas tx and a few years back i was invited to spend 4 days in Bayfield Colorado, 20 miles outside of Durango. we stayed in a Yurt on top of a Mountain and the views were absolutely incredible. America the Beautiful is an understatement, i want to go back and never leave, i felt that i belong there and Colorado is calling me everyday to come home. I envy what you do and i also thank you for what you bring us. I enjoy your videos and i pray untill i can step foot on Colorado land again i can continue to see you and Hope bring us the Colorado skies. Thank you once again for bringing us such incredible moments of such an incredible place. May the mud be beneath your wheels and your head high in the clouds.

[@bleepinjeep]

Ha, thanks man, I like Colorado too but its too cold for me to be there too long!

[@mikerobbins5049]

We’ve done Ophir Pass several times over the years. In snow and rain but never a rain storm like that at the end. Love Ouray/Silverton area and have done just about every trail except.... Black Bear. Thanks for sharing your adventure as we didnt get to go in 2019 or this year and we miss it.

[@717UT]

Matt's gal pal is just as funny as he is! Great trip and video

[@mathewkorn5008]

2:17 it’s a snow shed in a avalanche stricken area. Million dollar hwy in snow storms is extremely fun!!!! Take experience though

[@TomCrosman]

Mathew Korn ditto. Went from Gunnison one winter to a ski race near Durango. White out...

[@mathewkorn5008]

Tom Crosman LOL ! Were your knuckles white when you arrived?

[@robertbeda959]

WSC Ski Team?

[@GoatOffroad]

Beautiful! Awesome to see Hope and you enjoying some one-on-one time.... with 🦟mosquitoes 🤣❤️🐞

[@mclarenscca]

Great content guys, and thank you!

[@unkierich]

It's nice to see they got the road back open @2:09 last time I was jeeping up there it was down to one lane because a bolder had taken out the outside lane. This is really bringing back memories, I was in a red Wrangler at the time so the dashcam footage is really taking me back.

[@stlouisarch2162]

When I wad a kid, my mom got several of the giant dandelions, hair sprayed them, and packed them so we'll they finished the camping trip and made it back to Texas. Stayed in her arrangements for years.

[@bleepinjeep]

haha, thats a good idea

[@absmith001]

Awesome. Can't wait to make my way out there.

[@flyingviking2149]

You need the middle of the dead tree towards the bottom. It will be very hard and will smell like pinesol. It’s called fat wood or lighter knots. They will burn very easy even wet. If you shave it with a knife a spark will light it.

[@middleway1885]

Boop Love the way you two are soo adorable and how hilarious things can unfold... To more Blissful moment!

[@caseyjohnson6200]

Can’t wait for the next post! That looked nasty!!!

[@wesbullock1233]

Those odd looking atvs are called a coot they can go on land and in water. There is also a newer version called the coot 2.

[@animassatellite2916]

Funny a friend just send me this I was hauling the coots from Montrose to Durango that was right after we loaded them lol

[@williamwalker1277]

Well, I see you are from my neck of the woods.glad to see you guys having a great time.

[@timmyswinford5342]

Glad to see JLO doing some off roading!!

[@LordAikido]

Nice to see you in our part of the woods, here in Colorado.

[@marklafollett6266]

I’m going to Colorado on the 19th. Can’t wait. Love your adventures. Your wife is adorable with her big smile and laughter. I wish I could follow you through those trails. I’m going to have the butt pucker I think!!!

[@andrewrambeck5322]

I live in delta about 20 miles from Montrose I love this pass beautiful views

[@zenrider_9622]

The small motorized looking karts are for mines I believe. I could be wrong but I have seen them in a mine before.

[@mbiker345]

Lots of great toyotas out there!

[@tadcraig3162]

I grew up in T-Ride jeeping w my mom as a kid and riding mt bikes on the mt roads & passes. Having been gone for awhile nice to see my okd stomping grounds

[@briennerowe6040]

We did Ophir a little over a week later on Dual Sport motorcycles! It was no joke. But thank goodness the weather was better! Appreciate the great video!

[@4x4_travel]

You guys are great! Would love to catch you at a campground some day. Happy Trails!

[@gilbertarnold8666]

Great video thank you!

[@miniwolverine6227]

You two are awesome together! Reminds me of me and my wife so much! And hello btw from an XJ dude from WV! 👋🏻

[@carterdavis2467]

It was fun meeting you hope to see you next year

[@hopeulikenudes]

I live in Wisconsin and I'm definitely putting Ophir Pass on my bucket. You and your wife work great together I also really enjoyed the video and music...

[@jackpotvmc]

Ouray is my favorite place on earth.

[@Dutch1951x]

Excellent Jeep building skills apparently do not transfer over to wood cutting skills! LOL 😄😄😄

[@hgj2019]

Chris VanOsdol sadly, he missed the whole concept of “heart-wood”. That soft outer wood is like a sponge, soaked with moisture.

[@mericanfreedom8347]

H Gj yeah you really want the “fat wood” found around the knots. I usually cut it with a saw

[@curtiswolftriplett9754]

when you asked what those things are i said out loud i dont know but i want one right before you did that was great haha

[@paulkaufman4901]

Great video! You make my least favorite pass look wonderful. You really do nice work. I also really enjoyed the music😊

[@arko424]

Glad to see you having adventure time with the wife. Scenery was pretty. I live in New Jersey and its way too flat. I was envious of you even with the mosquitoes. Lots of love for the videos, keep them coming.

[@bleepinjeep]

Next one is awesome

[@Stephenja]

G'day guys, I am Australian. Love the channel and the Vista's you are posting. We have some mountain ranges ,. But nothing like there

[@promaster185]

That is me and my wifes favorite place to go. We are from Ft Worth Texas. if it wasnt so cold there in the winter i would live in that area.

[@Matt-fw3xw]

We were up there at trout lake just south of Alta lakes, two weeks before you were! Been there several times! It’s our family’s favorite camp spot!

[@drobb6715]

I was at that pass in the mid 80's in July. Where he was putting the sticker on the sign, there was several feet of snow. People were walking up toward the top and skiing down. But strangely, there was not snow on the road.

[@deplorablemexican150]

Was there two weekends ago. Epic area.

[@Bostonaholic]

"Is that rubber cement?" "Yeah, it's rubber" lmfao from the start of the vid!

[@tonyb2086]

Looks like good fun👍🇺🇸 Cool show Bolt in the tire happens, i'm always thinking "who put this bolt in my tire??!!???!?!" I've had that happen a few times...new tires seem to pick up bolts and nails and junk better than worn out old tires. Thats just my opinion though🍻

[@davidwhisman6683]

Look like a fun adventure

[@nicfilz4083]

Your channel just popped on my feed. WELCOME to CO! 2020 has been a weird weather year out in Western CO.

[@mikehoffman3690]

Great vid 😎

[@bcivic88racer]

Lol thats one way to do the switch backs

[@jburritt426]

I have pulled a 5th wheel and a toy behind on Red mountain. That is a beautiful area. My husband's grandfather had a gold claim up there on Ophir Pass.

[@user-hw2er1vg2q]

Шикарно, виды красивые, спасибо за видео, всё на позитиве, удачи :)))

[@dalejohnson9342]

I am really enjoying your videos of the different passes. I am going to rebuild my 78 Suburban when I get back to the states (as much as I can with the limited income from my disability). I will then have to put it back into storage when I come back to my wife in Thailand. I then hope to bring her to the states and cover some of the areas that I have seen and will enjoy seeing like the pass on this video.

[@bcivic88racer]

Looking forward to the Black Bear video. I know what day you were up there, glad you made it off the mountain safe. That was a crazy day.

[@vdub5818]

Was that the day of the rockslides?

[@bcivic88racer]

@@vdub5818 yeah we had like 3 different rockslides around the area that day

[@vdub5818]

@@bcivic88racer I'm on the San Juan mountain trail group on FB and saw it all. Crazy day! Especially since we were there just a week or so prior and it was so dry and dusty everywhere. Although I guess that leads to slides when a hard rain finally happens. I absolutely love it out there. We have some family land in Montrose and I really just want to sell our place here in GA and build a house up there. Although I hate the cold and the fires are quite worrying.

[@bcivic88racer]

@@vdub5818 yeah its back to being dry and dust again. we are getting some rain sprinkles right now which is basically the only rain we've had since that week. The fires are concerning, but no matter where you live you have something to be worried about. Tornados, earthquakes, extreme cold, riots what have you its just something you are aware of and know it can happen.

[@bleepinjeep]

Tennessee is fairly disaster free

[@joerivs80]

I enjoyed Ophir Pass.

[@TheShop.]

I like that music. Well, and the video too.

[@dhkitson1]

The cement cover you went under was mainly for avalanche protection in winter

[@austincableguy]

You must have been there the same time as us. The mud slides that hit Monday the 27th, we were on Engineer when all that came in, talk about some serious rain and sleet.

[@GATORADDAM]

Small world. I did Ophir on the 22cd, Black Bear on the 23rd and Engineer on Sunday the 26th., camped just below the mine and finished it on the 27th.

[@zenrider_9622]

And I rode that highway during a blizzard in the middle of June last year. Literally 4°F and hail as well as lighting all along the pass. But was epic.

[@bleepinjeep]

Thats sounds rad!

[@bcivic88racer]

I usually end up having to drive highway 550 in blizzards, because that generally when people fall off the road

[@zenrider_9622]

@@bleepinjeep most epic adventure on a motorcycle i have ever done.

[@zenrider_9622]

@@bcivic88racer its wild seeing old rusted cars at the bottom of some of those areas. I have been told its because no one can literally get to them, which makes sense.

[@markprice2338]

Great music thanks

[@howardblair1664]

The vehicles on the trailer are called COOTS and they were made in the late 60s early 70s. Some were four wheel steer others were front wheel steer. All were 4 wheel drive and articulated. They were powered by a 8 to12 hp industrial Wisconsin engines. For more info See a KZbin vlog "Coot walk a round"

[@paddlesouth]

Those little cars on the trailer transported miners and gear through the mine. Look way past retired. 👍

[@pedrowatkins6167]

I need a transfer case in my yj.remember I talked to you at the Jeep invasion.lol

[@nahavandi89]

Lord how beautiful is the work of your hands, Colorado = Paradise 😍

[@1776WeThePeopleUSA]

The orange cart things look to be the carts they use for mining to hall away and rocks and dirt and so on.

[@paulbelden1466]

Matt for info on those little “atv’s on that trailer. Search Coot atv on the interweb. They were amphibious articulating atv’s from the late 60’s early 70’s. Very cool my neighbor had one about 20 years ago.

[@jasonmoore6448]

Beautiful footage! I have been looking for a Colorado pass to visit in my 2wd F150, off-road tires, with plenty of ground clearance and locking rear-diff. Do you guys think this Ophir Pass is doable for this truck?

[@zmotorsports62]

I don’t know where you found the rain this year. We were there from August 15-22, 2020 and of the past 13 years my wife and I have been going to Ouray in August it was hands down the driest and warmest yet. Usually we have 2-3 various days of the week’s stay with some moisture but none last week. We stay at an RV park just north of Ouray a few miles so close to the trails but we have many of our friends that stay at Centennial RV park in Montrose and drive to Ouray each day. Looks like you and your wife had a good time. Ouray is awesome and the scenery can’t be beat. Great video. Mike

[@bleepinjeep]

Thanks Mike, ya it was wet the entire time

[@sidewithwerewolves]

You should build your cheap zj to do the stuff in Canada thays on 4lowBC. All long arms and camping set up

[@OldGrowthRedwood]

“Take me on Down” 👍

[@consaka1]

Pine sap is not only flammable but it is a preservative too. That part of the wood will not rot for a very long time.

[@consaka1]

@Joseph Smith Same is true for a fir tree or spruce tree or even cedar tree.

[@consaka1]

@Joseph Smith Yeah Lots of it on occasion.

[@sequoia4567]

Headed up there next week. Going over opher than back over Imogen

[@piebear49]

I have a lunch date up Tomboy in 2 weeks.

[@ronnietyndal2940]

The 3 small 4x4 look like military mules . They were used at military installations for moving cargo around Muddy Terrain.

[@seanbeard5470]

Your sticker on the sign post was already covered in two weeks LOL

[@latemcire8387]

Mr Marmot and the sap filled wood is called fat wood. Fat wood collects most in the stump and in the knots.

[@Vehiclesupportedtravel]

The wood you chopped was probably super hard. Here in Florida we call it lighter knot and after chopping it you should be able to smell the sap on it

[@PureVikingPowers]

3:32 Looked like a deer over his finger 🤣🤣

[@joshclawson4337]

BleepinJeep, How do you like those KO2's? How's the traction snow, loose dirt, light mud?

[@tomenglezos6985]

What 2-way radio were you using?

[@beforedeath4855]

Nice bro

[@gogerwi]

I'll be waiting on the Black Bear Pass vid.

[@rob3531]

Not a Cherokee....LOL!!! What mounts do you have on your dashboard?

[@dphotonic]

Weird, I was just up on Ophir pass the other day, in my Kia Sportage.

[@firstnameanonymous9374]

I just did engineer, cinnamon and ophir and never needed 4wd.

[@Ravenhawk35]

Also beleive Ophir is pronounced Opher like gopher without the g.

[@aqua.scape69]

Great video bud. Looked like a great trip. What was the song at the end? Thanks for sharing.

[@Vacublaster1]

I reckon it might have been a Woodchuck however, Marmot's, Woodchuck's and Gophers are all very similar. Also, I think that when you were chopping the tree, your hammer needed a sharper edge...lol

[@adamjohnston376]

Matt I feel compelled to help, since you've helped me with all your videos over the years. The town of Ouray is pronounced UR-A. Haha. Great video. Colorado is one of a kind and always home.

[@bcivic88racer]

He been informed lol I think he enjoys using his pronunciation

[@madman9004]

Those rigs on the trailer are called a coot

[@dumbass3770]

Anybody ever roll of the edge, did you get any mud slides?

[@Georgia4Low]

Can Black Bear Pass, Ophir, and Alpine Loop each be done in a single day? Meaning completing one trail per day. Thanks,

[@bleepinjeep]

yes, we did ophir in an about 45 minutes when we werent filming just going from point a to b, then id say black bear is about 4 hours if you stop and take in the scenery a bit. then alpine loop is two trails together but can be done in a day if you are quick, its about 65 miles total.

[@Georgia4Low]

BleepinJeep thanks, I’m planning a trip out there. In which order should the trails be done? Which one 1st, 2nd, 3rd?

[@JA-ux7dd]

Took a RAM 3500 6.7 4X over. The most difficult part was those flat stones with snow bank on one side.

[@consaka1]

7:09 I expected him to say "ALAN". lol

[@alsmith1025]

i LOVE that area in Colorado. check out Cindybread in Tellurude. awesome breakfast.

[@dennisodson4572]

They look like boss buggies. Used in underground hard rock mining for the supervisors to drive around on.

[@BG-vq9fd]

Studded tires for ice?

[@JA-ux7dd]

There are some excellent battery powered chain saws.