The views are so spectacular that professional photographers from around the world are lured to Ouray year round.

The photographers come for the wild flowers. Around the middle to end of April, the hills turn a light shade of green as the aspen and oak produce their new leaves. And then, in early June to late August, the mountain valleys and meadows fill with a rainbow of flowers that will take your breath away.

In addition to the state flower, the blue columbine, you will see Indian paintbrush, Texas blue bonnet, alpine sunflowers, rose crown, and the Rocky Mountain iris.

In the Fall, photographers come to Ouray for the color. The San Juans, that surround Ouray, are spectacular with gold and orange groves of aspen among the spruce trees, burnt orange scrub oak, and other deciduous trees. The hills look like they are covered with a patchwork quilt preparing for winter.

The San Juan mountains themselves are amazing due to natural beauty. The San Juans are the youngest and steepest range of the Rockies with peaks between 13,000 and 14,000 feet.

But before you use up all your film, be sure to venture into the mountains to tour old mines. You can really get a sense of what it must have been like to work the mountain years ago. Mine tours are available from Bachelor-Syracuse Mine Tour and Old Hundred Gold Mine Tour.

And while you are up in the hills, enjoy the Spring waterfalls with their heavy flow around the first week of June. The Million Dollar Highway, which runs 70 miles from Silverton to Ouray, offers several points to view the spectacular waterfalls.

One waterfall to see in town is in the Box Canyon. A short and easy walk, this fall continuously feeds the Uncompahgre River.

Don't put your camera away too quickly because back in Ouray, just next to your townhouse, you can often see deer peacefully strolling through town and bighorn sheep grazing near the hot spring pool. Just outside of town, herds of elk can be seen grazing.