Ouray is a small mountain town in a box canyon in the San Juan Mountains, surrounded on three sides by peaks that rise more than 13,000 feet - a setting so dramatically beautiful that it has been called the Switzerland of America since the 19th century. The landscape draws landscape painters and photographers from across the country, and Ouray's compact gallery district reflects that tradition in a concentrated form: studios and galleries operating out of Victorian-era commercial buildings, showing work that takes the San Juan Mountains as its primary subject. Ouray's winter ice climbing festival and summer jeep touring season bring visitors who discover the gallery scene while exploring the surrounding wilderness, making the town's small size surprisingly effective at reaching a diverse art-interested audience.
Find hotels, inns, and vacation rentals near Ouray's galleries and cultural venues.
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