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MILLION DOLLAR HIGHWAY – Ouray #Colorado

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MILLION DOLLAR HIGHWAY

Most of U.S. 550 in Colorado is two-lane mountainous highway.  It is one of only two north–south U.S. Highways in Colorado which runs west of the Continental Divide.  The section from Silverton to Ouray is frequently called the Million Dollar Highway.  -wikipedia

Though the entire stretch has been called the Million Dollar Highway, it is really the twelve miles south of Ouray through the Uncompahgre Gorge to the summit of Red Mountain Pass which gains the highway its name.  This stretch through the gorge is challenging and potentially hazardous to drive.  It is characterized by steep cliffs, narrow lanes, and a lack of guardrails.  The ascent of Red Mountain Pass is marked with a number of hairpin curves used to gain elevation, and again, narrow lanes for traffic—many cut directly into the sides of mountains.  Large RVs travel in both directions, which adds a degree of excitement (or danger) to people in cars.  The road is open year-round. -wikipedia

The Million Dollar Highway is a thrill to travel.  The sweeping views and abrupt drop-offs are spectacular.  If you are afraid of heights, you should avoid this route or take a nap.  There are not many places to pull off and capture the beauty this route beholds.  We did manage to find a few spots.

Uncompahgre River

The Uncompahgre River is a tributary of the Gunnison River, approximately 75 mi long, in southwestern Colorado in the United States.  Lake Como at 12,215 ft in northern San Juan County, in the Uncompahgre National Forest in the northwestern San Juan Mountains is the headwaters of the river.  It flows northwest past Ouray, Ridgway, Montrose, and Olathe and joins the Gunnison at Confluence Park in Delta.  ~wikipedia

It had rained a fair bit the day before we traveled the Million Dollar Highway.  The runoff turned the river reddish-brown.

Uncompahgre River

Red Mountain No. 1, 2 & 3

Red Mountain

The San Juan Mountains are undoubtedly the most colorful mountains in Colorado.  Mineral deposits have created slopes that are red, orange, yellow, purple, silver, brown or black. These colors combine with the blue skies, white snow and the various shades of green that grow on the mountains to produce a dazzling kaleidoscope.  Red seems to be a recurring theme.  At least three such mountains aggregate near the “Red Mountain Pass” (11018 ft) on U.S. Route 550 that connects the towns of Montrose and Durango via Ouray and Silverton. The three mountains, unceremoniously named are Red Mountain #1 (12592 ft), Red Mountain #2 (12219 ft) and Red Mountain #3 (12890 ft) all of which are visible from the road (north of the pass). ~www.summitpost.org

June 25, 2003 - Looking east...

Commodore Gulch

Right along side the road in Commodore Gulch lives this beautiful unnamed little mountain stream.

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GUNNISON RIVER – Gunnison Gorge #Colorado

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GUNNISON RIVER

The Gunnison River is formed by the confluence of Taylor and East rivers at Almont in eastern Gunnison County.  It winds through desert canyonlands, where it receives Kannah Creek before it empties out of the Dominguez Canyon into the Colorado in Grand Junction.

The Gunnison River ranges in width from 100 to 1,000 feet and 3 to 50 feet in depth.  The river’s powerful current and many rapids make upstream travel nearly impossible.  It is navigable for small craft throughout its course and by larger boats below the Black Canyon.  Parts of the Black Canyon are non-navigable to any sorts of craft because of giant cataracts.  Navigation through the entire canyon is dangerous and for experienced boaters only.

Through the mid-1800s, the river held various names.  Names included: The Eagle, Eagle Tail, South Fork of the Grand, Grande, and Grand River. Exploration reports and published maps in the 1850s and 1860s most commonly referred to the river as the Grand River. In subsequent years, the river was renamed for U.S. Army Captain John W. Gunnison.  He was one of the Topographic Engineers who was ambushed and killed by Pahvant Utes while mapping a trail west in Utah Territory in 1853. ~wikipedia

The target was to view the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.  We approached from the the north through Crawford on our way to Ouray.  There isn’t a “through-route” to speak of on the north side.  Just south of Crawford Reservoir, Black Canyon Road to the west that will get you to the North Rim area.  We continued on 92 heading south toward the river.  The views were spectacular.

Hermits Rest Picnic Area

Hermits Rest Picnic Area

Our first stop was at Hermits Rest Picnic Area.  From there you can see Morrow Point Reservoir.  There are restrooms here.  Here you will find Hermits Rest Trail down to the edge of the reservoir.  1800 feet down, then 1800 feet back up; approximately 6 miles round trip.  We continued on by car.

Pioneer Lookout Point

There are numerous areas along 92 to pull off.  There are only two areas with restrooms.  The second stop was Pioneer Lookout Point.  Here you can see Curecanti Needle, a 700-ft granite spire.

Curecanti Needle

There are several locations at this stop to take in the magnificent views.  Here you will find Curecanti Creek Trail that descends down to the river edge.  900 feet down, 900 feet up; approximately 4 miles round trip.

Highway 92 was an excellent way to see parts of the Gunnison River.  On a future return trip to the area I hope to visit the Black Canyon of The Gunnison National Park in its entirety.  I would love to visit both the North Rim and South Rim.  The views (seen through Google images) of those two areas of the park look amazing.

Black Canyon of The Gunnison National Park Map

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INDEPENDENCE PASS – Rocky Mountain High #Colorado

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INDEPENDENCE PASS

Independence Pass was originally known as Hunter Pass.  It is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado in the United States. The elevation on the Continental Divide in the Sawatch Range is 12,095 ft. The pass is midway between Aspen and Twin Lakes, on the border between Pitkin and Lake counties.  State Highway 82 traverses it.  The is the highest elevation of a paved Colorado state highway on a through road.  ~wikipedia

Map of Independence Pass and Highway 82

The land around the summit is flattish, windswept, lonely, and covered by sparse vegetation of grass and delicate tundra plants – the treeline is a thousand feet lower down – and yet all around are higher mountains, especially to the south and east. Several shallow pools line the road around the pass, and patches of snow are likely to remain for most of the summer. There are no visitor facilities at the summit, just a large carpark and a short, paved loop path leading to two overlooks of Lake Creek valley and surrounding peaks.  A longer trail (2 miles) heads southwest, following the continental divide, to an unnamed peak 700 feet higher up.  ~http://www.americansouthwest.net

Aside from traversing Trail Ridge Road in RMNP, Independence Pass is my favorite to drive.  The road gets a wee bit narrow in spots, but the views are incredible.

[Past trip photos: September 2016 Independence Pass]

Independence Lake Trail Head

1: N39 07.484 W106 34.909 — 0.0 miles : Independence Lake Trailhead
2: N39 07.577 W106 34.996 — .15 miles : Linkins Lake Trail split + Wilderness Boundary
3: N39 07.833 W106 34.889 — .48 miles : Cross Roaring Fork River to east side of valley
4: N39 08.205 W106 34.694 — 1.0 miles : Steady climb in expanding upper valley
5: N39 08.543 W106 34.189 — 1.8 miles : Independence Lake (12,487′)
6: N39 08.920 W106 34.035 — 2.35 miles : Lost Man Pass (12,810′)
7: N39 09.119 W106 34.048 — 2.75 miles : Lost Man Lake (12,482′)

We returned for another look and hike.  This time we made it a wee bit further up the path amidst the thin mountain air.  Our previous trip in 2016 we made it to the Roaring Fork River crossing (3) and this trip we made it to the upper valley (4).  Some day we’ll make the entire journey round trip.

Roaring Fork River
water flow from Linkins Lake above
Upper Valley

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TRAIL RIDGE ROAD – RMNP – #rockymountains

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TRAIL RIDGE ROAD

Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain National Park’s heavily traveled highway to the sky.  It inspired awe before the first motorist ever traveled it. “It is hard to describe what a sensation this new road is going to make,” predicted Horace Albright, director of the National Park Service, in 1931 during the road’s construction. “You will have the whole sweep of the Rockies before you in all directions.” ~National Park Service

We were in Denver for a family reunion in August 2017.  Afterward we set out to visit a few favorite location around Colorado.  Cyndie and I had the privilege once again to visit Rocky Mountain National Park in August 2017.

[Past trip photos: September 2016 RMNP Trip]

One can never tire of the views on this road to the sky.  I revel in every opportunity to spend time peering out over these mountain-scapes. I am grateful for each opportunity to add more photos of this extraordinarily beautiful place to my collection.

Mountain Plants

Forest Canyon Overlook

Lucy Loo

Our amazing little lovable bundle of energy, Lucy, accompanied us on this trip.  She did well with the altitude and all the excitement.  She appeared to be very thrilled with being compared in size to a Marmot.

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CUSTER STATE PARK – Custer #South Dakota

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CUSTER STATE PARK

Custer State Park is a South Dakota State Park and wildlife reserve in the Black Hills. The park is South Dakota’s largest and first state park, named after Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer.  The area originally started out as sixteen sections, but was later changed into one block of land because of the challenges of the terrain.  The park began to grow rapidly in the 1920s and gained new land. During the 1930s the Civilian Conservation Corps built miles of roads, laid out parks and campgrounds, and built three dams that set up a future of water recreation at the park. In 1964 an additional 22,900 acres were added to the park.  The park covers an area of over 71,000 acres of hilly terrain and is home to many wild animals.

Custer State Park MapThe park is home to a famous herd of 1500 free roaming bison.  Elk, coyotes, mule deer, white tailed deer, mountain goats, prairie dogs, bighorn sheep, river otters, pronghorn, cougars, and feral burros also inhabit the park. The park is famous for its scenery, its scenic drives (Needles Highway and the wildlife loop), with views of the bison herd and prairie dog towns. This park is easily accessible by road from Rapid City.

The popularity of the park grew in 1927, when U.S. President Calvin Coolidge made it his “summer White House” and announced from the Black Hills that he would not seek a second full term in office in the election of 1928.
~wikipedia

Wild Life Loop Road

Wild Life Loop Map

South Dakota is a ruggedly beautiful land to explore.  High on our list of favorites is Custer State Park.  The whole park is absolutely beautiful.  The Wildlife Loop road is so convenient.  It is very easy to drive and the wildlife sighting are frequently and plentiful most of the time.

Wildlife Loop Road travels through 18 miles of open grasslands and pine-speckled hills.  This beautiful land is what the park’s wildlife calls home. Depending on the day, you might see bison, pronghorn, whitetail and mule deer, elk, coyotes, burros, prairie dogs, eagles, hawks, and a variety of other birds.  A medley of colorful wildflowers and prairie grasses surround the road, making for a picturesque drive.

Our trip in late July 2017 was another memorable one filled with wildlife, scenery and of course, the burros.

The Bison

We had a bit of a rain shower when we found the bison.

Pronghorn Antelope

Burros

Prairie Dogs

Other wildlife and scenery

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TWIN LAKES – Rocky Mountain High #Colorado

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TWIN LAKES

Resting in the shadow of Colorado’s tallest peak, Twin Lakes is one of Colorado’s most scenic locations. The community lies adjacent to the state’s two largest glacial lakes.  It is situated along the Top of the Rockies Scenic and Historic Byway.

Once a mining transportation hub that served the communities of Leadville and Aspen, today Twin Lakes is a place to get away from it all. The area is especially popular for fishing, boating, hiking, snowmobiling and photographing quintessential Colorado scenery.  ~colorado.com

Twin Lakes is located about 20 miles south of Leadville, on State Highway 82.  The altitude of Twin Lakes is approximately 9200 ft above sea level, somewhat lower than Leadville.

This small historic town tucked in the San Isabel National Forest  offers a snapshot of life deep in the Rocky Mountains. To the west, as the Top of the Rockies courses through a deep valley toward Independence Pass, La Plata Peak towers over at 14,336 feet and the road twists to reveal unparalleled mountain views in all directions.

Hiking around the lakes is plentiful as some of Colorado’s most popular trails are close by. The Colorado Trail and the Continental Divide Trail rim the mountains surrounding the lakes. Trail heads for Mt. Elbert and LaPlata Peak, two of Colorado’s fourteeners, are located on the lake’s edge, and the 12-mile Twin Lakes Loop provides brilliant scenery with little elevation gain.

History

Prospectors founded the first village here, Dayton, in the 1860s. After a bust in mining, the silver rush brought the area back to life. Dayton then became known as Twin Lakes.

In 1885 it was named “the most charming summer resort in Colorado.”  It had 3 hotels, several saloons and many log cabins. There was also mining done in the area.

Mountain View Observation Site

The photos below were taken at the Mountain View Observation Point on the east side of Twin Lakes.twin lakes observation site

Dragon Cloud
Dragon Cloud

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INDEPENDENCE PASS – Rocky Mountain High #Colorado

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INDEPENDENCE PASS

Independence Pass was originally known as Hunter Pass.  It is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado in the United States. The elevation on the Continental Divide in the Sawatch Range is 12,095 ft. The pass is midway between Aspen and Twin Lakes, on the border between Pitkin and Lake counties.  State Highway 82 traverses it.  The is the highest elevation of a paved Colorado state highway on a through road.  ~wikipedia

HISTORY

On July 4, 1879, a group from Leadville struck gold in the uppermost Roaring Fork valley below the pass. Four miles to the west, they established a settlement in the upper Roaring Fork Valley that eventually took the name Independence from the holiday on which it was established. The pass, the lake from which the Roaring Fork rises and another nearby mountain all took that name as well.  The Twin Lakes and Roaring Fork Toll Company, established to build a road through to the camps in the lower Roaring Fork Valley, improved the original path over the pass sufficiently enough by 1880 that horses could be used for the trip.  ~wikipedia

Independence Pass Photo Map

Independence Pass Photo Map

We drove to Independence Pass from Aspen.  A few miles out of Aspen you will see Difficult Campground.  The name cracked me up a bit; it sounds really inviting.  I am sure it is a wonderful place to camp.

Difficult Campground sign

State Highway 82 Views (ascending)

The road grade from here steepens and your field of view widens as you ascend to the pass.  The conifer trees blanketing the mountain side is simply beautiful and the aspen trees glowed yellow in places.

Weller Lake Trail

Part way up the pass we decided to pull off, stretch our legs a bit and hike around.  You are immediately enveloped in the conifer trees once on the trail.  We spied a stump where a squirrel had eaten its fill of pine nuts.

Independence Lake Trail Head

Just before Independence Pass in a great place to pull off and hike.  The air is a wee bit thin here and we moved along the trail slowly.  We didn’t venture all the way up to Independence Lake.  We gained some altitude and took some pictures; then returned to the comfort of the SUV.

Independence Pass

The scenery at the pass (and all along the 44 mile route) is some of the most spectacular in all Colorado, and perhaps the finest you can view from a major highway,  The road runs right beneath many great mountains including the highest in the state (14,433 foot Mount Elbert), and rises well above the treeline into the stark Alpine tundra zone.  We passed many lakes, rivers, steep-sided valleys, thick forests of fir and extensive aspen groves.  In the Fall, the aspen groves glow yellow; it is quite beautiful.

State Highway 82 Views (descending)

The beauty continues on as you descend from the pass toward Twin Lakes.

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COLORADO MONUMENT – GRAND JUNCTION #Colorado

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COLORADO MONUMENT

Colorado National Monument preserves one of the grand landscapes of the American West. But this treasure is much more than a monument. Towering monoliths exist within a vast plateau and canyon panorama. You can experience sheer-walled, red rock canyons along the twists and turns of Rim Rock Drive, where you may spy bighorn sheep and soaring eagles. ~nps.gov

Colorado National Monument is a National Park Service unit near the city of Grand Junction, Colorado.  The park hosts a wide range of wildlife, including red-tailed hawks, golden eagles, ravens, jays, desert bighorn sheep, and coyotes.  There are scenic views from trails, Rim Rock Drive, which winds along the plateau, and the campground.  Nearby are the Book Cliffs and the largest flat-topped mountain in the world, the Grand Mesa.

The monument’s feature attraction is Monument Canyon, which runs the width of the park and includes rock formations such as Independence Monument, the Kissing Couple, and Coke Ovens. The monument includes 20,500 acres (32 square miles), much of which has been recommended to Congress for designation as wilderness. – wikipedia

To say that Rim Rock Drive is a scenic road is an absolute understatement.  The 23-mile drive follows the upper rim of a series of canyons, connecting points only eight miles apart in a straight line. The entire road has been designated a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places.  There are a number of points of interest along the way with areas to pull off and absorb the natural beauty that completely surrounds you here.  The photo map below marks the spots highlighted below with galleries.

Colorado National Monument Map (pdf)

Colorado National Monument Photo Map (click to enlarge)

Colorado Monument Photo Map

Dog Tooth View

Serpents Trail Overlook

Cold Shivers Point Overlook

Red Canyon Overlook

Red Canyon Overlook

Ute Canyon Overlook

Artist Point View

Monument Canyon View

Views along Rim Rock Drive

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HANGING LAKE – Glenwood Springs #Colorado

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Hanging Lake

Hanging Lake is located in Glenwood Canyon, about 7 miles east of Glenwood Springs, Colorado.  It is a one of the most popular hiking destinations in Colorado. When open, the lake is reached via a trailhead located along the Glenwood Canyon Bike and Pedestrian Path that runs along the north side of I-70 in the bottom of the canyon. The trail follows Dead Horse Creek, a tributary of the Colorado River and ascends 1,000 feet in elevation for 1.6 miles from the trailhead to the lake.

Early tales of the discovery of the lake tell of a man searching for gold in the canyon. The man found a dead horse at the opening of a gulch. When he followed the gulch up through the steep hillside through the canyon he came around the backside of the lake. This is how he first saw the small bowl-like basin hanging onto the cliffs below.

In the years following, the area served as a homestead and a private family retreat.  After the Taylor Bill passed in 1910 it was purchased by Glenwood Springs.  Following the purchase it began its long history as a public tourist stop. Later during the 1940’s it hosted a resort and cafe until the construction of Interstate-70 began in 1968.  In 1972, the trail and the lake were returned to the protection of the Forest Service as part of the White River National Forest.  It has been an increasingly popular tourist destination since.  In 2011, the lake was named a National Natural Landmark by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar.  – wikipedia

Glenwood Canyon Views

Hanging Lake is one of my favorite places I have had the privilege to visit in Colorado.  The walk up Glenwood Canyon to the trailhead via the bike/pedestrian trail alone is absolutely gorgeous in the morning light.

Dead Horse Gulch

At the trailhead, the landscape gets a wee bit steeper.   There are seven bridges across Dead Horse Creek as you meander your way up the 1.6 mile extremely rocky path.  There are several small riffles and waterfalls along the way to appreciate as you rest along your ascent.

Hanging Lake

At the top, the reward is magnificent views of Dead Horse Gulch and Hanging Lake.

The fragile shoreline of Hanging Lake is composed of travertine, this occurs when dissolved limestone from the Mississippian Period Leadville Formation (through which Dead Horse Creek flows) deposits on rocks and logs, creating travertine layers.

Hanging Lake is on a fault line; formed when roughly an acre and a half of the valley floor sheared off from the fault and dropped to what is now the shallow bed of the lake. The turquoise color of the lake is due to carbonate minerals that have dissolved in the water. – wikipedia

This natural wonder has closed multiple times due to vandalism.  I cannot fathom why anyone would want to deface such natural beauty.

Spouting Rock

After viewing the natural beauty of Hanging Lake; on your way back, be sure to take the trail in the other direction and check out a waterfall spouting directly from the face of a cliff.  The shallow cave beneath the water fall was created by erosion form the back-splash of the waterfall.  The area surrounding the runoff from the waterfall is aid to have a magical/mystical charm.

 

Be sure to be extra careful on your way back down the trail.  Rock can be loose and slippery.

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MCCLURE PASS – Marble #Colorado

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McClure Pass

McClure Pass is located along the boundary between Pitkin and Gunnison counties, in a gap at the western side of the Elk Mountains south of Redstone. It separates the headwaters of the Crystal River with the headwaters of the North Fork Gunnison River. The pass is traversed by State Highway 133 between Carbondale and Paonia.  It provides the direct route between the Roaring Fork Valley and the North Fork Valley. The pass is not especially high and is generally open year round.  It does close during heavy snowstorms. The approaches are fairly steep on each side, with an 8% grade. The approach is smooth on the south side, as the road overlooks Muddy Creek above Paonia State Park. The approach on the north side has one large switchback overlooking the valley containing the town of Marble, Colorado. ~wikipedia

McClure Pass is just south of Glenwood Springs.  Reaching nearly 8800 feet in elevation, it is a small fry in Rocky Mountain terms.  It is one of the steepest paved roads in the state, requiring drivers to climb an 8 percent grade.  The pass offers magnificent views of Chair Mountain, Ragged Peak and Ragged Mountain.

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