Oak Creek Overlook

About

Brave this part of the Oak Creek Trail and its 2,500 feet of elevation gain, and you'll find yourself rewarded with sweeping views of Ouray, Lower Cascade Falls, the Amphitheater, and Box Canyon Falls. So close to downtown Ouray, this is one trail that's not to be missed. Starting out on Pinecrest Drive, where the Oak Creek Trail shares its trailhead with the Twin Peaks Trail, the route climbs over one thousand feet in a steep series of switchbacks. One mile in, keep left to continue on up to the overlook, as the right fork branches off towards Twin Peaks. At about 9,500 feet, the trail then crosses its namesake creek at the crest of a waterfall. The trail parallels Oak Creek’s opposite bank for about .75 miles until it draws away into an overgrown meadow. As the elevation climbs, route-finding grows increasingly difficult, but in its final ascent toward the overlook, the trail comes back full force, soon ending at a rock fin at the 10,500 foot overlook. From here, the view stretches all the way from the Amphitheater in the north to the lesser-known Darley Mountain in the south. Look to the west, and Whitehouse Mountain and a high waterfall along Oak Creek stand prominently against the horizon.

Elevation Profile

Trail Points