Owl Creek Pass Road (CR 10 / FR 858) — Uncompahgre National Forest Dispersed Camping

Owl Creek Pass Road leaves the Ridgway area as Ouray County Road 10, climbs through ranch country and hits Uncompahgre National Forest. From there it’s aspen groves, open meadows, and the Cimarron Range sitting right in front of you. If you’ve just run Last Dollar and want to get off the Telluride side of the map, this is a solid place to land. There’s no campground and no fee. You pick a pullout or an old camp scar on national forest land, set up, and leave it cleaner than you found it. Weekends in summer and the fall color run bring company, but it’s usually a lot quieter than the Telluride and Ouray corridors.

Watch the land boundaries on the lower stretch. The county road crosses private ranch land before the forest begins, so don’t camp until you’re clearly on USFS ground. The road is graded dirt and holds up for most vehicles when dry, but it turns slick and rutted after storms. Higher up, snow lingers into early summer. Standard Forest Service dispersed rules apply, including stay limits and fire restrictions. Check with the Uncompahgre Ranger District and verify current conditions before you go.

Aspen meadows above Ridgway, no fee, no fuss.