Frequently Asked Questions

Check out the link below for more information: Ouray County Trail Conditions

We offer a unique experience..there is a difference between our tours and our competitors.

Our group tour trucks are the best the industry has to offer. Our competitors load up to 12 passengers per truck on bench seats. Alpine takes up to 9 guests per truck in comfortable individual bucket seats, giving everyone their own space and room to stretch out. Other companies will give you a rain jacket (maybe) if it showers. We cover the whole passenger compartment with a rain fly to keep you dry.

Our private tour trucks are customized Jeep Gladiators. Yes, other companies use Jeeps for private tours but only Alpine equips our Jeep with a fully convertible passenger compartment and 2 signature bucket seats in the truck bed. The truck bed is equipped with a full roll cage for safety as well as a rain fly to keep you warm and dry in case it rains.

Our philosophy. “go higher, see more.” We prefer to give you info over a PA system while we drive, and allow you to see more sights. Other companies do a lot of talking on the side of the road, as we drive higher. There are plenty of stops to get out, ask questions, and see the mountains up close. We also give you a choice of tours. Some companies decide for you.

Our guides. Alpine employs only the most experienced and friendly guides around. We are knowledgable on local history, geology etc. Most of our guides are CDL holders and drive year round as a profession. You are in the best hands with Alpine!​

In a small backpack, be sure to bring a water bottle and warm layers of clothing! Feel free to bring snacks as well. Also suggested are a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, chapstick, and don’t forget to pack your camera!

We recommend closed toed shoes, long pants, and LAYERS – no matter what time of year you are touring with us. In our high alpine environment, the weather can change quickly. It is best to come prepared for drastic changes in weather!

Yes. Just click the “book now” button and you will be walked through the booking process. It is quick, easy, and secure. It is the best way to collect your booking info in the most accurate fashion.

That just depends on your preference of views. The Yankee Boy Basin Bonus Tour has slightly lower elevations (11-12,000′) and features waterfalls, mining ruins and terrific wildflowers. You will see more visitors as it is very popular. We take various side roads for the bonus section of your tour to get to tree line and escape the mid summer crowds. Corkscrew Pass takes you to higher elevations (13,000) with 360 degree views and features secluded lakes, mining ruins and wildflowers. Not as busy as Yankee Boy and a bit more exposed on the climb up the pass. Either way you will not go wrong. They are just different views. We suggest taking both tours to see the best of the San Juans.

Feel free to give us a call. Sometimes we have last minute cancellations or can possibly add a trip. It never hurts to ask.

Yes. If safety is an issue, we do not go out. It is rare for rain or thunderstorms to last for more than an hour in the San Juan Mountains. All vehicles have a great rain cover, wind/rain screens to keep you dry. We have blankets and ponchos on hand as well. If visibility is limited at higher elevations, we tour various locations down low so you can see. We keep you warm and dry.

Yes. There are several different locations on both of our group tours.
Imogene Pass does NOT have restrooms. Please try to “go” before your trip!

Yes. Your guide stops at many locations for photos, but we also go for short walks to get close looks at waterfalls, wildflowers or mining ruins. During wildflower season guests sometimes like to take all in for a bit, so we allocate some time for that too.

Due to the open air seating area, guests rarely get motion sickness. Some do get a little hard of breath hiking around, but our walks are short, slow, and relatively flat. Most folks handle it just fine. Many guests know their limitations and elect to stay on/near the vehicle during an excursion – which is totally fine.

Yep, there sure are, but not everywhere and not all of the time. Some guests like the middle seat to limit exposure to these areas. There are not any areas where the vehicle is forced to be right on the edge of a road. There is plenty of room to navigate on all of our routes. Some guests start out a little nervous and end up saying that things were not as scary as they thought. Our guides are experienced and we often get many compliments about their driving skills. If you have questions – feel free to call us at 970-318-6513 to get a better idea of what your tour will be like.

Our small office is located at 929 Main Street in the KJ Wood Distillery building in downtown Ouray, Colorado.

Sure! Our bucket seats accommodate car seats and booster seats. Some parents prefer a private tour in one of our Jeeps for children under 3. Our Jeeps have an elevated rear seat for kids or smaller folks to give them a great view.

We ask for a minimum of 48 hours if you need to cancel or change your trip. However, we realize things come up and will work with you if your plans change. As mentioned above trips go out rain or shine, however, if your guide or management determines that conditions are unsafe, your trip fare will be fully refunded. If you must cancel your trip with less than 48 hours notice, you will be charged half of your tour charge. No shows or less than 24 hour cancellations are charged the full trip fee.

Sometimes, yes. We can only accommodate small, well mannered lap dogs on our group tours. Please call ahead to inquire about this. We do allow one dog of up to 65 lbs on our private tours. We can set up a dog bed in the rear compartment of the Jeep to keep them comfy. Please call us first to get approval for your pet, prior to booking.​

Yes! At Alpine Scenic, our guides are paid a living wage. However, if you enjoyed your tour feel free to ‘show them some love’ in the form of a cash tip!