Rid'n With Gordon
Riding with gordon
Near Ophir, CO
Images and location summary by Tim Wier
Trail Difficulty - MODERATE TO CHALLENGING
I would rate the difficulty of this trail 3 on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being the most difficult). The location of the shot is directly from the road (Ophir Pass). However, getting to the location required driving up to the summit of the Ophir Pass. You can get to the summit by driving east from the small community of Ophir or west by driving US HW 550 (Million Dollar Highway). Either direction requires a 4x4 vehicle. The drive from US 550 is much easier as the road is a well-maintained forest road.
The Ophir Pass is a single-lane dirt/rocky/shale road that is not for the faint of heart!!! It is non-technical and does not have rocks or boulders to climb over - however, it just has some places with deadly drop-offs and challenging inclines. If you have a good 4x4 vehicle with good 4x4 driving skills, the road to the summit from the west is not overly taxing. However, even with a 4x4 vehicle - if you are not an experienced off-road driver, this location may not be for you.
GPS Coordinates & Elevation
11,790 Ft. Elevation
Downloads
View In Google earth
Directions
CLICK HERE to get driving directions to the location of the shot
From Ridgway - drive on US HWY 550 (Million Dollar Highway) south for 28 miles until you come to a turnoff on your right with a sign that reads "National Forest Access - Ophir Pass" (Forest Road 670 or 630). From the turnoff of US HWY 550, travel up the Ophir Pass for 4.2 miles.
The location of the shot is directly on the road facing west.
The location of the shot is directly on the road facing west.
Photography Tips
The shot above is made possible by the late afternoon clouds that produced the "God rays." There is no guarantee this phenomenon will happen when you travel to this location. However, it happens more often than you think. Also, traveling west over the Ophir Pass summit and looking down on Ophir can produce some great photo opportunities in the late afternoon as well as morning.
Afternoon view on the East side of the Ophir Pass summit
Taken about 5 min before Riding With Gordon was taken
Best Time of Day to Shoot
The shot above happen in the late afternoon (6:27 pm on a day the stated sunset was 6:57).
Best Time of Year
The sun is only in position for this shot in late September to early October.
Lens(es) Needed
The image above was taken at 60mm.
Birds-Eye View
Permits
No permits are required at this location.
Direction of the Shot
The direction of your shot is west around 270°.
Equipment Needed
No special equipment is needed.
Number of Other Photographers to Expect
This location is way off the beaten path, and you will likely not see many other people there.
Weather
This location is over 11,500 in elevation, which can get colder than most other locations around Ridgway or Telluride.
Cell Service
I use Verizon, and there was NO cell service for most of the drive up the Ophir Pass.
Nearby Restaurants
The closest town is Telluride – a wealthy rancher and ski/tourist town with a good variety of restaurants (for both locals and tourists). Enjoy a good meal at La Cocina de Luz or sit at Smugglers Brewpub after a long day of hiking and shooting.
Nearby Restaurants - click on the restaurant below for yelp review
123 E Colorado Ave Telluride, CO
225 S Pine St, Telluride, CO
Area Guides and Workshops
None