Established in 1881, Ophir, Colorado was a former mining town and current community of outdoor enthusiasts. It’s located 12 miles south of Telluride and 2 miles east of the Ames Hydroelectric Generating Plant.
The Ames Plant was the first hydroelectric plant on earth to give alternating current electricity for industrial purposes. It was used in mining. The town took its name from a place called Ophir in the Hebrew Bible. There was a post office in Ophir as early as 1878.
Situated in San Miguel County at around 9,695 feet, the town of Ophir is a Home Rule Municipality governed by a general assembly. The population was only 197 residents in 2020.
Once a busy mining village, Ophir is now a quiet mountain getaway filled with families and adventure seekers. The high alpine community is surrounded by 13,000 peaks, making it a stunning place to live. Telluride is a scenic 20-minute drive south on CO-145.
Recreation
Camping: Read about the camping near Telluride, Ophir and Rico.
Activities near Ophir
Federal Lands:
- Alta Lakes (9mi)
- Lizard Head Wilderness
- Mount Sneffels Wilderness
- Priest Lake (5mi)
- San Juan National Forest
- Trout Lake (6mi)
- Uncompahgre National Forest
Scenic Drives:
- Lizard Head Pass (7mi)
- Ophir Pass 4×4 (3mi)
- San Juan Skyway
Towns:
- Ames (3mi)
- Cortez (67mi)
- Dolores (56mi)
- Mountain Village (9mi)
- Norwood (39mi)
- Ouray (55mi)
- Placerville (21mi)
- Rico (19mi)
- Ridgway (45mi)
- Sawpit (18mi)
- Telluride (12mi)
Transportation:
View the town’s official website.