The
Yankee Boy Basin & Governor Basin 4WD trails were rated a 2-3 on a 4 scale
for ALL 4 FUN. We found the trails to be fairly easy which was very
convenient as it allowed more opportunity to take in the fantastic scenery.by The Flatlander for
Please visit our Sponsor, CLICK on the Banner above
The
Yankee Boy Basin & Governor Basin 4WD trails were rated a 2-3 on a 4 scale
for ALL 4 FUN. We found the trails to be fairly easy which was very
convenient as it allowed more opportunity to take in the fantastic scenery.
The trailhead is almost in Ouray so we had a nice 20 mile drive
down the "million dollar highway" (550) from Silverton to Ouray.
Tom Allen led us off the pavement just before entering Ouray. We aired
down and Sharon guided the 4X4NOW
TJ up the dirt road. After 6 miles of dirt road we turned right at the
fork just past the old mine to start the climb up Yankee Boy.
 Sunshine and wildflowers added splendor to the scenery |
 Sharon looks over the view from the top of Yankee Boy |
 Our trail leader's well built Toyota dominates the overlook at the top |
The trip to the top is about three miles of exquisite scenery. The trip back down the same trail provides a welcome opportunity to view the same scenery from the other direction.
 |
 |
 |
Back at the "Y" near the old mine a hard right started us up the Governor Basin Trail. We thought this 2 mile trail was at least as scenic as the Yankee Boy and had the fringe benefit of having much less traffic.
 |
 There's still snow in the San Juans even in August |
 Lunch Time ALL 4 FUN 4-wheelers are friendly and prepared to relax |
We had lunch on top of some old mine tailings in the basin at the top. This area has lots of side trails with signs of old mining operations in every direction. One could easily spend the afternoon just exploring Governor Basin.
 The 4WD Hardware TJ enjoys the views on the way back down |
 The trail to Governor Basin affords some spectacular views of Yankee Boy Basin looking over colorful wildflowers |
 The old mine on the north side of the dirt road is just before the fork to the Yankee Boy Basin and Governor Basin 4WD trails. |
Unless you do some hiking and exploring both trails can be done in a few hours. Those wishing to do more 4-wheeling will turn north on the dirt road about a mile down from the Yankee Boy / Governor "Y" onto the Imogene Pass 4WD Trail.
We couldn't have asked for better weather, scenery or companionship.
1998 ALL-4-FUN Index Page
Yankee Boy Basin & Governor Basin | Alpine
Loop - Engineer Pass, Cinnamon Pass, Carson City | Camp
Fun and Vendor's Show
Other San Juan Mountain Jeep Trails
Black Bear | Poughkeepsie
Gulch
Colorado Trail Guidebooks, Trail Maps, and Trail Videos
| 4X4
BOOKS
.
com World's Best Selection of 4X4, Jeep, & Offroad Handbooks, Trail Guides, Videos, Maps, GPS and More |
4X4NOW
Feature Page
4X4NOW
Trail Reports | Moab
4WD Trails
4X4NOW
"How-To" | 4X4NOW
Buildups
4X4BOOKS
| MAPNOW
get Garmin at
GPSNOW
- Order by 5pm and have it Tomorrow!
Choosing |
for Laptop/Pocket PC | Basic
| Handheld Mapping | 2-way
Radio | Automotive | Motorcycle
| RV/Truck/Bus | Land & Water
Accessories
eTrex H | Legend
| Vista | Venture
HC | Summit HC | Legend
HCx | Vista HCx
GPS 18
DLX | 60
Mobile 10 | Mobile
10 for smartphones
GPSMAP 60 | 60Cx
| 60CSx | 76S
| 76Cx | 76CSx
| 276C | 376C
| 378 | 478
MapSource City Navigator
North America | US Topo | BlueChart
nüvi
200 | 270
| 350 | 360
| 370 | 650
| 660
| 670 | 680
Quest | Quest 2
Rino 110 | 120
| 130 | 520
| 530 | 520HCx
| 530HCx
StreetPilot 2820 | 7200/7500
| c330
| c340 | c530
| c550 | c580
Astro GPS dog tracking system
zūmo 450 / 550
© 4X4NOW