Living in Ophir, Colorado
High-Alpine Seclusion
Why Ophir?
Ophir is a tiny town in San Miguel County, Colorado, set at about 9,700 feet on the high road between Telluride and Lizard Head Pass. With a population in the low hundreds, it is one of the smallest incorporated towns in the region and one of the most dramatically situated.
Ophir grew as a silver mining camp in the 1870s and 1880s and nearly emptied when the mines closed, before being revived by residents drawn to its setting and seclusion. The town sits beneath sheer peaks, with the historic four-wheel-drive Ophir Pass route climbing east toward the Million Dollar Highway.
For buyers, Ophir offers something rare: a genuine small mountain town, surrounded by public land, about 20 minutes from Telluride along State Highway 145. It is remote and quiet by nature, and that is precisely its appeal.
Lifestyle
Life in Ophir
A Dramatic High-Alpine Setting
Ophir sits at roughly 9,700 feet beneath sheer San Juan peaks, with scenery few towns in Colorado can match.
Genuine Seclusion
With a population in the low hundreds, Ophir is quiet and private by nature, surrounded almost entirely by public land.
Close to Telluride
Despite its remote feel, Ophir is only about 20 minutes from Telluride along State Highway 145.
Mining History
The town's silver-mining origins are still visible in its historic structures and the surrounding remnants of the 1880s boom.
Backcountry Access
Ophir Pass and the surrounding national forest put hiking, backcountry skiing, and four-wheel-drive routes directly at hand.
Ophir
Real Estate Overview
Ophir real estate is small in scale and limited in volume. The inventory is a mix of historic cabins, modest homes, and a small number of newer builds on constrained lots, hemmed in by steep terrain and surrounding public land.
Because so little trades here in any given year and the terrain so tightly limits buildable land, Ophir is a niche market. Buyers are typically seeking seclusion and setting rather than amenities, and patience is usually required to find the right property.
View Properties in Ophir →Is Ophir the Right Fit?
Ophir tends to suit buyers who:
- Want a genuinely small, secluded mountain town
- Value dramatic high-alpine scenery and surrounding public land
- Are comfortable with remoteness and limited services
- Want backcountry and trail access directly from home
- Can be patient with a small, low-volume market within reach of Telluride
A Local Perspective
Ophir is a setting first and a market second. The town sits beneath some of the most dramatic terrain in the San Juans, and what draws buyers is the scenery and the seclusion rather than anything resembling resort convenience.
Because so few properties change hands here, the most important thing we tell buyers is to expect a wait. Ophir rewards patience -- the right cabin or lot may take time to appear, and the search is as much about timing as selection.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Ophir
Where is Ophir, Colorado?
Ophir is a tiny town in San Miguel County at about 9,700 feet, on State Highway 145 between Telluride and Lizard Head Pass. It is roughly 20 minutes from Telluride.
What is it like to live in Ophir?
Ophir is one of the smallest and most dramatically situated towns in the region, with a population in the low hundreds. It sits beneath sheer San Juan peaks, surrounded almost entirely by public land. It is remote and quiet by nature, with limited services -- and that seclusion is its main appeal.
Is real estate available in Ophir?
Ophir real estate is a small, low-volume market of historic cabins, modest homes, and a few newer builds on constrained lots. Few properties trade in any given year, so buyers seeking Ophir's seclusion and setting should generally expect a patient search.
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Let's Talk About Ophir
If a small, secluded mountain town close to Telluride is what you are after, we can help you watch the limited Ophir market for the right property.