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Office: Ouray County OEM – (970) 325-7000 | ouraycountyco.gov
Alert System: CO-WARN; CodeRED; NOAA Weather Radio
Shelter Info: Ouray Community Center; Ridgway school facilities; contact OEM
FEMA Region: Region 8
Notes: Southwestern Colorado San Juan Mountain county; Ouray is county seat; avalanche risk (EXTREME – Ouray County has some of the most severe avalanche terrain in Colorado; the San Juan Mountains above Ouray regularly produce massive avalanche slides; US-550 – the “Million Dollar Highway” – passes through some of the most avalanche-prone highway terrain in North America; slides regularly close the highway in winter); wildfire risk; flooding (Uncompahgre River); severe winter weather; Box Canyon/Black Canyon accessible from Ouray; Imogene Pass and other extreme 4WD routes
Notes: US-550 (the Million Dollar Highway – Silverton to Ouray section is one of the most dramatic and terrifying highway segments in the US; sheer cliff faces, no guardrails in many sections, avalanche chutes crossing the road; road closures frequent in winter); SR-62 (Ridgway to Telluride via Dallas Divide – beautiful scenic route); Ouray is about 24 miles from Silverton and 30 miles from Montrose; US-550 through the Million Dollar Highway creates extreme winter emergency management challenges
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Ouray County Planning – (970) 325-7000
Services: County permits; Ouray city (separate – very active for tourism development), Ridgway separate
Notes: Resort development in both Ouray and Ridgway; Ridgway’s growing appeal as an affordable Telluride alternative; vacation property construction; hot springs resort development in Ouray; limited by mountain terrain
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Ouray County Veterans Services – (970) 325-7000
VA Medical: VA Grand Junction (about 70 miles north via US-550 and US-50); telehealth important
Services: Benefits claims; Grand Junction VA accessible
Notes: Remote county; Grand Junction VA accessible but the drive via Million Dollar Highway has significant winter hazards; telehealth is important for this isolated community
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Ouray Public Library – (970) 325-4616
Address: Ouray
Services: Books, public computers, Wi-Fi, children’s programs; San Juan Mountain heritage; ice climbing culture; hot springs heritage; mining history
Notes: Small library in a genuinely spectacular mountain setting; Ouray’s Victorian mining town heritage and world-famous ice climbing are reflected in collections; the library serves both the permanent community and the significant tourist population
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Ouray Hot Springs Pool (Ouray – large natural hot springs pool in an extraordinary mountain setting; the pool is surrounded by sheer 2,000-foot walls on three sides; one of Colorado’s finest hot springs experiences); Ouray Ice Park (the world’s most famous ice climbing venue – the Uncompahgre Gorge is artificially irrigated in winter to create hundreds of ice climbing routes from beginner to the world’s most difficult; the Ouray Ice Festival is one of the world’s premier ice climbing events; climbers from 30+ countries attend annually); Box Canyon Falls Park (Ouray – the Uncompahgre River drops through a narrow slot canyon creating spectacular falls; a local institution); Million Dollar Highway (US-550 – Silverton to Ridgway section; Colorado’s most dramatic highway; sheer cliffs, extreme switchbacks, no guardrails, avalanche chutes crossing the road; the views of the San Juan Mountains are extraordinary; this is the most awe-inspiring and terrifying highway driving experience in Colorado – most of it is legal to drive a passenger car and the experience is extraordinary); Alpine Loop/Engineer Pass/Imogene Pass (4WD access to 12,000-13,000 ft passes through spectacular San Juan Mountain scenery; connects to Lake City and Telluride); Bear Creek National Recreation Trail (trail above Ouray through spectacular canyon with incredible exposure); Yankee Boy Basin (Jeep road – ouray’s finest summer wildflower destination; Camp Bird Mine road)
Notes: Ouray is called “Switzerland of America” and the comparison is apt – the town sits in a box canyon with 2,000-foot walls on three sides; the hot springs in this setting (pool heated by geothermal springs at the base of sheer mountain walls) is extraordinary; the Ouray Ice Park’s creation of hundreds of ice climbing routes in the Uncompahgre Gorge by artificial irrigation has made it the world’s premier ice climbing venue; the Ouray Ice Festival draws elite climbers from around the world; the Million Dollar Highway experience (driving through avalanche chutes with sheer drops to one side and sheer walls on the other, with no guardrails) is genuinely terrifying and unforgettable
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Ouray County GIS – ouraycountyco.gov; Colorado Avalanche Information Center maps; US-550 avalanche zone maps; USFS Uncompahgre NF maps; Alpine Loop 4WD route maps
Notes: County GIS; avalanche zone mapping is critical for the entire county; Million Dollar Highway closure and hazard monitoring maps; Bear Creek gorge geological maps; Ice Park route maps
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Ouray County Animal Control – (970) 325-7000
Notes: Small mountain county; wildlife (mountain goats in the canyon walls above Ouray – one of the most accessible mountain goat viewing sites in Colorado; bighorn sheep; black bears; mountain lions; mule deer; elk); the mountain goat population in Ouray’s canyon walls is visible from within the city – a remarkable urban wildlife experience
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Ouray County – limited; transfer station
Environmental: Colorado DPHE; Uncompahgre River watershed; Bureau of Land Management; USFS (Uncompahgre NF); DRMS (historical mining reclamation – Camp Bird Mine; other historic gold and silver mines above Ouray); avalanche snow management
Notes: Historical gold and silver mining above Ouray (Camp Bird Mine – one of Colorado’s most productive gold mines; several others) has left legacy mine drainage affecting the upper Uncompahgre River; acid mine drainage from the mines creates heavy metal contamination; Colorado DRMS and the Uncompahgre Waterway Protection District work to treat and manage mine drainage; the Uncompahgre River’s water quality improvement (from severe mining contamination to a functional trout fishery in some sections) reflects decades of work; avalanche control on the Million Dollar Highway is managed by CDOT with explosive mitigation and careful monitoring – it is one of the most intensive avalanche management programs on a US highway
About Ouray County County
Ouray County is the Switzerland of America and the world’s ice climbing capital – the box canyon city surrounded by 13,000-foot peaks and the Ouray Ice Park’s frozen gorge that draws elite climbers worldwide define one of the most scenically and recreationally extraordinary small counties in the entire American West.
Ouray (the county seat, population ~1,000) is Ouray County’s governmental hub, a Victorian silver mining city in a San Juan Mountain box canyon whose hot springs, ice climbing, and Million Dollar Highway access make it one of Colorado’s most beloved mountain destinations.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Ouray County Assessor at 541 4th Street, Ouray, CO 81427, phone 970-325-4961. CO assessed at percentage of actual value.
Courts & Legal
Ouray County District Court at 541 4th Street, Ouray, CO 81427, phone 970-325-4487, handles probate.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
CLERK & RECORDER (Deeds, Marriage Licenses, Elections)
541 4th St., Ouray, CO 81427
(970) 325-4405
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Ouray County District Court (marriage licenses, will and estate case files – see Probate section above)
Local societies
No dedicated Ouray County genealogical society was confirmed in available directories.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Ouray County Courthouse – District Court (Probate Division) 541 4th Street, P.O. Box 643, Ouray, CO 81427 (970) 325-4405 Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
Colorado follows the Uniform Probate Code, one of the more streamlined, less court-intensive systems in the country.
Small Estate Affidavit (personal property) – for estates where personal property totals less than roughly $86,000 (twice the “exempt property” amount under C.R.S. § 15-11-403, which adjusts annually for inflation – always confirm the current year’s figure with the court). Available starting 10 days after the death. No court filing required; present the affidavit (Form JDF 999) directly to whoever holds the property.
Summary Administration for small real property – a separate, roughly parallel threshold applies to real property equity. This route does require a court filing.
Informal Probate – the standard path for most estates with a will or clear heirs and no disputes. Handled largely by the court Registrar with minimal hearings.
Formal Probate – required for contested wills, disputed appointments, or complicated estates.
If using the small estate affidavit (personal property)
Wait at least 10 days after the death.
Confirm the fair market value of the decedent’s property (less liens) doesn’t exceed the current statutory threshold, and that no probate has already been opened.
Complete Form JDF 999, Collection of Personal Property by Affidavit.
Present it, along with a certified death certificate, to the bank or institution holding the property – no court filing needed.
If filing for informal or formal probate
File the appropriate application with the Ouray County District Court: Form JDF 910 (with a will) or JDF 908 (without one). For formal probate, file JDF 920 or the intestate equivalent. Filing fee is $199.
The court (or Registrar, for informal cases) appoints a personal representative and issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
In informal probate, the personal representative then manages the estate largely independently.
Creditors have 4 months from first publication of notice to file claims.
The estate closes once debts are paid and assets are distributed.
What it costs
Small estate affidavit: no court filing fee.
Informal or formal probate filing fee: $199.
Personal representative compensation: “reasonable compensation” – no fixed statutory percentage.
No Colorado state estate tax or inheritance tax.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
Ouray, CO 81427
(970) 325-7272
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
CLERK & RECORDER (Deeds, Marriage Licenses, Elections)
541 4th St., Ouray, CO 81427
(970) 325-4405
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Health/Human Services
Ouray, CO 81427
(970) 325-4405
CO Benefits / PEAK
(800) 536-5298
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Ouray County Public Health – (970) 325-7000
Services: Basic public health; immunizations; vital records; behavioral health; avalanche and outdoor recreation injury preparedness
Hospital: Ouray County Emergency Medical Services; Montrose Regional Health (about 40 miles north); no local hospital; helicopter evacuation for serious emergencies
Notes: No local hospital; Montrose serves as the primary hospital; avalanche and outdoor recreation injuries are a significant concern; the San Juan Mountain extreme terrain attracts adventure sports participants; behavioral health in isolated mountain community; seasonal worker behavioral health
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Ouray
Population: 5,000
Area: 542 sq mi
Established: 1877
Public Records
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