On top of the world with Alpine Scenic Tours

With snow falling in the high country, the scenic tours season will quickly be coming to an end, so I’m going to write another blog post about our adventure with Alpine Scenic Tours in Ouray early next spring as this company will be part of the HeidiTown Festival package in May.

However, I do want to share a little about our experience on this trip as well as some of the fabulous photos that we managed to snap whilst riding to the top of the world.

I had no idea what to expect when I was booked on a scenic alpine 4-wheel drive tour while in Ouray, Colorado earlier this month. I’d never gone on such an excursion and of course, my fear of heights niggled the back of my brain.

Heading out with Alpine Scenic Tours in Ouray, Colorado. HeidiTown.com

Alpine Scenic Tours is a brand new tour company in Ouray, but never fear, owner Michael Lane has many years of experience driving for other tour companies in the area. He decided to start running his own businesses earlier this year because he wanted to give his clients a top-of-the-line experience. His modified Dodge Ram is equipped with 8 comfy open air suspension seats that not only hug the passengers, but are also equipped with seat warmers, something that came in handy on our fall excursion.

On the day of our outing there were six of us in the truck and the morning was cool. Michael picked us up in front of our hotel, The Matterhorn Inn, and we were off for a day of exploring the back country around Ouray and we were going to get high – real high. Michael was taking us to the top of Imogene Pass, the second highest drivable pass in Colorado at 13,114 feet above sea level.

As we turned off the pave road and onto the gravel road, the truck began to climb. Michael continually turned the truck onto “roads” that didn’t appear to me to be roads at all, but no matter the size of the boulder the truck clamored over our ride was surprisingly smooth, and while some of the insane drop offs gave me chills I felt secure

Waterfall on the way to the top of Imogene Pass with Alpine Scenic Tours out of Ouray, Colorado. HeidiTown.com

Posing with a waterfall on the way to the top of Imogene Pass with Alpine Scenic Tours out of Ouray, Colorado. HeidiTown.com

As we climbed the air smelled like pine trees, a scent that always reminds me of camping, and the breeze took on a clean, crisp smell as the truck rumbled beyond the tree line.

Imogene Pass with Alpine Scenic Tours in Ouray, Colorado. HeidiTown.com

At the top we were treated to 360 degree views. We could see the Telluride airport and then, in the far distance, the canyon lands of Utah.

The view from Imogene Pass. Alpine Scenic Tours, Ouray, Colorado. HeidiTown.com

Alpine Scenic Tours at the top of Imogene Pass outside of Ouray, Colorado. HeidiTown.com

Top of Imogene Pass outside of Ouray, Colorado. Alpine Scenic Tours. HeidiTown.com

The experience was fabulous. We stopped several times; once to admire an amazing waterfall, another time to explore an old mine shaft and again when I asked to take photos of some of the season’s left over wildflowers.

Last of the wildflowers on Imogene Pass in September 2013. Alpine Scenic Tours, Ouray, Colorado. HeidiTown.com

An excursion like this one is a wonderful opportunity to see back country that many people would never get to see otherwise. And if you do it with Alpine Scenic Tours, you will get a top notch, luxury experience.

a view of the Red Mountains from atop Imogene Pass outside of Ouray, Colorado. A 4-wheel drive excursion with Alpine Scenic Tours. HeidiTown.com

Thank you to Ouray, Colorado for hosting us on this trip and setting up our tour with Alpine Scenic Tours.

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