Ames, CO resides in the beautiful, secluded Illium Valley about twenty minutes drive south of the Telluride. The unincorporated community has a small mix of permanent residents and vacation homes.
The Ames Hydroelectric Generating Plant brings some notoriety to the tiny town. It was the world’s first generating station to produce and transmit alternating current. Ames is part of San Miguel County, resting at 8,720 feet in elevation.
Recreation
Camping: Read about the camping near Telluride, Ophir and Rico.
Activities near Ames
Federal Lands:
- Alta Lakes (8mi)
- Lizard Head Wilderness
- Mount Sneffels Wilderness
- Priest Lake (4mi)
- San Juan National Forest
- Uncompahgre National Forest
Scenic Drives:
Towns:
- Cortez (66mi)
- Dolores (55mi)
- Mountain Village (8mi)
- Norwood (38mi)
- Ophir (3mi)
- Placerville (20mi)
- Rico (18mi)
- Ridgway (44mi)
- Sawpit (17mi)
- Telluride (11mi)