Ouray KOA Journey — San Juan Mountains Gateway Camp

Ouray is the Switzerland of the Rockies and the KOA here is where the serious rigs stage up before hitting Imogene Pass, Black Bear Pass, Engineer, or the entire Alpine Loop. You get pull-through sites with full hookups, tent sites, a camp store, showers, and laundry — the kind of reset that matters when you’ve been running high-clearance dirt for a week. It sits right on the Uncompahgre River at the south end of town, walking distance to the Ouray Hot Springs pool. Capacity is solid — around 100 sites — and it fills fast on summer weekends. Book ahead from late June through Labor Day.

Ouray itself is a full resupply hub — fuel, groceries, gear shops, and several solid mechanics familiar with trail-beat rigs. The KOA is paved-access, drive-right-in. Season typically runs late May through early October depending on snowpack. Cell service is good in town, spotty up on the passes above.

Hot showers before Black Bear Pass beats you up.