Mineral Point Road — Ouray to Poughkeepsie Gulch via Engineer Mountain Divide
Poughkeepsie Gulch doesn't forgive bad rigs.
Drop out of Ouray on Engineer Road and within a few miles the world gets steep and mean. Mineral Point Road peels off toward Poughkeepsie Gulch through some of the most punishing talus shelves in the San Juans — wheel-sized boulders, off-camber shelf road above 500-foot drops, and creek crossings that run cold even in August. The old mining roads here pre-date motor vehicles; they were cut by men who needed ore out of the mountain at any cost, and the road hasn’t softened much since. Poughkeepsie Gulch itself is a tight, rocky canyon that has eaten differentials and knocked bumpers clean off lesser rigs.
This is Expert-level terrain. A quality-built short-wheelbase 4×4 with lockers, skid plates, and at minimum 35-inch tires is the floor here — not the ceiling. Long-wheelbase rigs have been stuck in Poughkeepsie for days. Best run July through September when snow is clear of the high passes; check CDOT and local outfitter reports before committing. Fuel in Ouray. Water from creek sources — treat it. No permits required, but let someone know your itinerary. What you get is a full-on San Juan circuit that earns every view.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Expert |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Mixed, Rock |
| Features | High Altitude, Historic, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 18 mi / 29 km |
| Duration | 1 day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 13020 ft |
| Best season | July-September |
| Minimum vehicle | Locked 4x4 with 35-inch tires and skid plates |
| Nearest town | Ouray, Colorado |
| Land manager | BLM Uncompahgre Field Office / USFS Uncompahgre National Forest |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | blm.gov |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Jeep Wrangler or 4Runner handle Mineral Point Road and Poughkeepsie Gulch?
No. Stock rigs get hurt here. You need lockers front and rear, 35-inch tires minimum, and full skid plate coverage — the talus fields and ledge rock in Poughkeepsie Gulch will destroy unprotected underbellies. A stock Rubicon is borderline; anything softer than that stays home.
When does this trail typically open and close for the season?
July through September is the reliable window. Snowpack above 12,000 feet can linger into late June and return fast in October — the passes near Engineer Mountain Divide have been snowed in on both ends of that window. Check current conditions with the BLM Uncompahgre Field Office before you go.
Do I need a permit to run Mineral Point Road or camp along it?
No permit required to drive the trail. Dispersed camping is allowed under BLM and USFS rules — 14-day stay limit, pack out everything, no campfires during fire restrictions. Verify current fire restrictions with the Uncompahgre Field Office before leaving Ouray.
What's the hardest section and what exactly makes it dangerous?
Poughkeepsie Gulch itself is the crux — a narrow, boulder-choked canyon with no room to turn around, significant shelf exposure, and rock ledges that demand precise line selection. One bad move can flip or high-center a rig with no easy recovery option. Run it with at least one other vehicle and recovery gear rigged and ready before you drop in.
Is there any place to fuel up or get water along the 18-mile route?
There is nothing — no services, no potable water sources, and zero cell service for the entire route. Tank up and top off water in Ouray before you leave. Water crossings exist on trail but treat anything you pull from them; giardia is real at this elevation.
Trail track
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