High Country Trails
Columbine/Ruby Lakes
Ruby Drainage Traverse runs at and above the trees, so you can see the valley.
Around 1.5 miles in, it climbs out of the Ruby Creek drainage.
- Length
- 8.1 Miles
- Climb
- 1588 Feet
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- From Durango
- 56 Miles
Getting there
Columbine/Ruby Lakes Parking From Durango, travel north on 550 for approximately 52 miles, then turn left on Forest Rd 679. From this route, you would not need a high clearance 4×4 vehicle to access the trailhead. The trailhead can also be accessed from the west, over Ophir Pass, however you would need a high clearance 4×4 from this side. The turn for the road to the trailhead is just below the parking for OPUS Hut. Follow the an unnamed dead-end road east. You can park along the road near the trailhead.