Camp Bird Road
The narrow, picturesque mountain road up to Camp Bird traverses a variety of montane habitats and can be good for a number of species including Dusky Flycatcher, Western Tanager, Pine Grosbeak, Red Crossbill, and much more. Incredible cliffs and mountain scenery add to the mix. Keep an eye out for Black Swifts, which can sometimes be seen feeding high over the mountains here. Yellow-bellied marmots will announce your presence with their extraordinarily loud ‘chip’ noises. The road beyond Camp Bird becomes passable only to four-wheel-drive, high-clearance vehicles.
Restrictions: Road closed during the winter months
County: Ouray
Attractions: Box Canyon Falls is accessed at the base of Camp Bird Road.
Directions: Go south from Ouray on US 550 to the first hairpin turn above town to FR 853, also known as Camp Bird Road and Ouray CR 361. Turn right and follow the road as long as you wish. After getting beyond the first stretch, in which most of the surrounding land is privately owned, feel free to wander around in the forest service lands.
Alternate Directions: From Ouray, drive south from the center of town, around the first hairpin turn, and turn right onto CR 361 (Box Canyon Road). This road becomes the Camp Bird Road and is passable to passenger cars for about 7 miles.
Habitat: Mixed Conifer Forest, Aspen Grove
Dates of Access: The first 3-4 miles are open year round. The rest, marked by a winter gate, is only open during the summer months.
Hours: Any
Ownership: US Forest Service
Admission or Fees: Free
Parking: Roadside
Lodging: Primitive camping and two forest service campgrounds, Thistledown and Angel Creek.
Handicapped: No
Handicapped Access: None
Delorme: 76 A4
ROC: 115 D4
Latitude: 38.00318
Longitude: -107.692273
Contact Information
Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest
2250 South Main St
Delta, Colorado 81416
(970) 874-6600
Additional Resources
Learn more about birds reported at this location at eBird:
https://ebird.org/hotspot/L1209807