Download the high-resolution JPG originals for this Ouray County Map together in the ZIP below. The county is organized around two prominent communities, Ridgway in the north-central valley and Ouray farther south in a narrower mountain corridor. The four supplied maps make it possible to compare roads and county boundaries, the relative position of the two towns, the Uncompahgre River and Ridgway Reservoir, and an elevation range of roughly 1,927 to 4,284 meters.
A practical way to understand the county is to begin with the north-south valley between Ridgway and Ouray. U.S. 550 follows this general corridor, while smaller roads branch toward surrounding mountain valleys. Ridgway sits near a wider section of the valley and close to Ridgway Reservoir, whereas the terrain closes in noticeably around Ouray. Colorado Parks and Wildlife describes Ridgway State Park as lying in the Uncompahgre River Valley at the foot of the San Juan Mountains, which matches the geography visible on the supplied maps.
Table of Contents
Ridgway and Ouray provide the clearest reference points for the county road map
The county map places Ridgway slightly north of center and Ouray farther south. U.S. 550 connects the two areas and continues through the southern end of the county. Around Ridgway, more roads spread toward nearby places such as Loghill Village and Portland, while Colona appears near the northern edge. The road network becomes more constrained by mountain valleys as it approaches Ouray.
The county boundary itself is irregular, especially on the western side, where several step-like changes create a shape very different from a rectangular plains county. On the eastern and southern sides, the boundary runs through much more rugged terrain. This matters when using the map because a place that looks close in straight-line terms may still be separated by steep ridges or a limited number of road corridors.
This map is most useful for broad orientation rather than street-level navigation. It helps show where the main named places sit within the county, how the larger roads are arranged, and why the central valley is the easiest feature to follow. For current road closures, winter conditions, or exact driving directions, a live transportation source should be used in addition to this static map.
The city map reduces the county to two major settlement points along the same mountain corridor
The supplied city map ranks two major cities: Ridgway first and Ouray second. Its value is not the small numeric index printed beside each name, which should not be treated as a current population figure. Instead, the map makes the separation between the two communities easy to see without the distraction of the full road network.
Ridgway occupies the broader north-central part of the county, while Ouray lies farther south where the surrounding relief is much steeper. There are few other major city labels inside the county boundary, so these two places function as the main visual anchors for the rest of the map set. Once their positions are clear, the water and elevation maps become much easier to compare.
The official Ouray County website also provides direct links to the Town of Ridgway and the City of Ouray. On the supplied map, the two communities do not sit on a broad open plain. Their connection is shaped by the same mountain valley that carries the main road and river system through the center of the county.
Ridgway Reservoir and the Uncompahgre River organize the central water system
The terrain and water map is dominated by the Uncompahgre River running through the central portion of the county and by Ridgway Reservoir farther north. The reservoir is large enough to stand out immediately from the smaller mountain lakes. Colorado Parks and Wildlife identifies it as a central feature of Ridgway State Park and describes the park as extending through the Uncompahgre River Valley.
Several tributaries and smaller water features branch into the main valley. McKenzie Creek and Fisher Creek appear west of the reservoir, while Pleasant Valley Creek extends across the western side of the county. Farther south, Cottonwood Creek, East Fork Dallas Creek, Beaver Creek, and Cow Creek occupy narrower mountain valleys. Lake Otonawanda, Lake Lenore, and Crystal Lake add smaller water bodies at different elevations.
The shaded relief makes the relationship between water and terrain especially clear. Streams follow lower corridors between ridges rather than crossing the mountains in straight lines. The southern and eastern parts of the county contain tightly packed relief and many narrow drainage paths, while the area around Ridgway Reservoir opens into a broader valley.
This water map is intended for geographic reference. It does not show flood zones, water depth, water quality, property boundaries, or whether a stream or lake is open for a particular activity. Anyone planning field access, boating, fishing, or water management work should check the appropriate current agency information.
An elevation range of about 1,927 to 4,284 meters separates the valley floor from high mountain ridges
The elevation map lists an actual county range of about 1,927 to 4,284 meters, with a mean near 2,749 meters. That spread exceeds 2,300 meters, so the county contains very different terrain within a relatively compact area. Lower valleys are shown in greener tones, while higher ridges and peaks shift toward yellow, orange, and brown.
Ridgway lies within a broader lower-elevation area compared with the steep terrain to the south and east. Moving toward Ouray, the central valley narrows and the surrounding slopes rise quickly. The strongest high-elevation colors cluster along the southern end and the eastern mountain boundary, which helps explain why the road and river network is so concentrated in valleys.
This map is suitable for comparing broad differences in height across the county, not for survey-grade measurements. It should not be used to determine the exact elevation of a building site, road project, parcel corner, or engineering feature. Those uses require original elevation data or professional field measurements.
Choose the map by whether you need roads, settlements, water, or terrain
Use the county map when the main goal is to compare Ridgway, Ouray, U.S. 550, other roads, and the county boundary. The city map is the quickest choice for seeing only the relative positions of Ridgway and Ouray. The terrain and water map is better for locating the Uncompahgre River, Ridgway Reservoir, creeks, and mountain lakes. The elevation map provides the clearest comparison between the lower central valley and the high southern and eastern terrain.
The WebP versions on this page are optimized for on-screen viewing. For printing, close inspection, or offline storage, the original JPG files are more useful. The ZIP below contains the high-resolution JPG originals corresponding to the county, city, terrain-and-water, and elevation maps shown on this page. Each JPG is 3,638 × 2,572 pixels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which map is best for comparing Ridgway and Ouray?
The city map gives the simplest comparison because it shows the two major settlement points without the full road network. Ridgway appears in the north-central part of the county and Ouray farther south. Use the county map as a second reference when you also need U.S. 550 and other roads.
Where can I see Ridgway Reservoir and the Uncompahgre River?
The terrain and water map is the best choice. It shows Ridgway Reservoir, the Uncompahgre River, several named creeks, and smaller mountain lakes together with shaded relief. It is a geographic reference map and should not be used as a flood, depth, or navigation product.
Can the 1,927 to 4,284 meter elevation range be used for surveying?
No. The elevation map is designed to compare broad differences between valleys and high mountain terrain across Ouray County. Exact site elevations for construction, road design, engineering, or parcel surveying require original elevation data or professional measurements.
Map File Information
This ZIP contains the high-resolution JPG originals for the county, city, terrain-and-water, and elevation maps used on the Ouray County page.
- Included Files: 4 high-resolution JPG maps
- Printable Size: 3,638 × 2,572 pixels per JPG
Related Maps
Sources and references
- Ouray County official website – official county information and links for Ridgway and Ouray.
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Ridgway State Park – official information about Ridgway Reservoir, the Uncompahgre River Valley, and the surrounding San Juan Mountains.
- U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line Shapefiles – official reference data for county boundaries, roads, and named places.
- USGS National Hydrography – official hydrography reference for rivers, creeks, lakes, and reservoirs.
- USGS 3D Elevation Program – official reference for elevation and terrain data.
Green Map creates custom-edited map images using open geographic data sources such as geoBoundaries, Natural Earth, OpenStreetMap, and government open data.
These maps are edited visual materials, not raw data files, and are provided for education, documents, presentations, and graphic reference.
