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In the shadows of the Uncompaghre Gorge, Sonya Wilson carefully swung her ice axe and kicked her crampons up a frosty pitch. Hooked into belayers watc...

January 8, 2025

News

Blasting project resumes above Ouray

Blasting for a private homeowner’s garage project resumed Tuesday in the side of a mountain above Ouray, with operations paused for the upcoming Ouray...

January 8, 2025

News

Governments playing waiting game for housing dollars

Ouray County’s local governments and developers are still working to draw from the state’s first stream of dedicated affordable housing dollars mainly...

January 8, 2025

News

Ice Park on precipice of fundraising goal

More than two years after securing conditional rights to access water from Canyon Creek, the Ouray Ice Park is about $200,000 away from finishing its ...

January 8, 2025

News

Top story of 2024: What will become of Red Mountain reservoir?

The future of Crystal Reservoir, the shallow body of water atop Red Mountain Pass prized for its scenic values and water rights, is very much up in th...

January 1, 2025

News

Top story of 2024: Record rain triggers destructive flooding

Record August rainfall caused extensive countywide destruction, at least $5 million in damages and triggered emergency disaster declarations at the lo...

January 1, 2025

News

Top story of 2024: With housing, progress for some, uncertainty for others

Gains in planning and constructing deed-restricted housing in 2024 were matched by struggles to preserve one of Ouray County’s largest existing afford...

January 1, 2025

News

Top story of 2024: Feds affirm plan to limit hikers, campers

Hikers and campers will need permits to visit Blue Lakes southwest of Ridgway as soon as the summer of 2025 as part of a larger wilderness management ...

January 1, 2025

News

Ouray business owner touts benefits of work visa program

For the past five high-tourism seasons, university students from Brazil to Malaysia came to work at Ouray Grocery on work exchange visas.Owner Tom Fed...

December 25, 2024

Feature

New wine bar invites sipping, snacking

Chloe’s Charcuterie & Wine is bringing an elevated tasting and snacking experience to the former Provisions Cafe in Ridgway. Owner Holly Kintz was...

December 25, 2024

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Evacuations ordered near Cutler Creek as rain pummels burn scar

Oak Street closed due to mud, flooding

By Mike

July 29, 2026

UPDATE, 9:45 p.m. U.S. Highway 550 reopened between Ridgway and Ouray Wednesday night, authorities announced at 9:15 p.m. Emergency officials encouraged motorists to be cautions when driving through a...

Main, News...

Rain on burn scar triggers flooding, evacuation

Hydrologist: Above-average rain forecast through September

By Chart Riggall

July 29, 2026

Heavy rainfall over scorched soil sent flash floods raging down Cutler Creek on Sunday night, spilling mud down through Ponderosa Village and briefly shuttering U.S. Highway 550. The torrent of water ...

Main, News...

Fire scorches bottom lines

Reliant on summer tourism, reeling businesses running out of time to claw back lost revenue

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

July 29, 2026

It didn’t take but a spark and a stiff breeze to turn Justin Mitchell’s summer upside down. During the first few hours of the Gold Mountain Fire, Mitchell — who runs a horseback guiding outfit in the ...

News

Governments team up on flood mitigation

City, nonprofits pitch in $165,000, while financially pinched county searches for more funding

By Mike Wiggins and Erin McIntyre mike@ouraynews.com erin@ouraynews.com

July 29, 2026

Government agencies and nonprofit organizations have begun stepping up to help Ouray County pay to protect homes and roads from flooding and mudslides in the aftermath of the Gold Mountain Fire. The O...

Feature

Ridgway-area homes featured on Home Trust tour

By Plaindealer Staff Report Plaindealer@ouraynews.com

July 29, 2026

An eclectic mix of Ridgway-area houses are on the Home Trust of Ouray County's tour this weekend, with homeowners opening their homes to participants to help raise funds for affordable housing. This y...

Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines