Is Yankee Boy Basin open?
Ouray ↔ Yankee Boy Basin · 12,300′ · Challenging 4WD. Typically open June 28 to October 15.
The Camp Bird road blasted into the cliffs of Canyon Creek — including the famous overhanging rock 'tunnel' — leads to one of Colorado's premier wildflower basins below Mt. Sneffels. Lower road is easy; the last miles to the upper basin are rocky and narrow.
Highlights
- Peak wildflowers mid-July to early August
- Twin Falls (featured in old Coors ads)
- Trailhead for Mt. Sneffels (14,150′)
History & lore
- The Camp Bird Mine here made Thomas Walsh a multimillionaire; his daughter, Evalyn Walsh McLean, later owned the Hope Diamond.
- The road's overhanging rock 'tunnel' and Twin Falls appeared in classic Coors beer commercials.
Live status, recent trail reports, the interactive map, and elevation profile load below.