San Juan Mountains- Fall, 2014

Dallas Divide, afternoon light

Not all fall color spots in the San Juan mountains require long hikes on foot or a four wheel drive vehicle in order to access.  Dallas Divide has a large parking lot immediately adjacent to a state highway just a few miles from Ridgway, Colorado, from which the view above was taken one mid-afternoon.  The close-up of several aspens immediately below was taken from the same spot, on the same day.  I think it was the early photographer Edward Weston who was once quoted as saying that all good landscape photos were taken within a few feet of his car.  Dallas Divide certainly provides ease of access to photographers.

Sneffels Range from CO Road 7

For those fortunate enough to be in the area with a four wheel drive or high clearance vehicle, there are several gravel county roads which wind their way closer to the mountains.  One of my personal favorites is CO Road 7, which also provides access to the Blue Lakes Trailhead.

Another view from CO Road 7

Same road.  I would have preferred just a little less cloud cover above the mountains, but one takes what one can get.

Yet another view of the Sneffels Range.  I am not certain whether this was from Road 5 or 7.

Check back soon for photos from the next location on my fall trip west, which was Capitol Reef National Park.

San Juan Mountains in Fall- the Sneffels Range

Most years, the aspen on the north side of the Sneffels Range are at peak color by the last week in September.  This year proved to be an exception, and although the trees around Red Mountain were at peak (see my previous post), most of the trees around Ridgway were still green during my visit.  Despite that, I still enjoyed exploring the mining roads in the area, as this was my first visit in a four wheel drive vehicle that allowed me to go further up into the mountains than during my previous trips.  The spot above is on Co road 7, which is accessed off of CO Highway 62.

This is the view of the Sneffels Range from beside the visitors center at Ridgway State Park, which was where I camped in the back of my pickup during most of my trip.  The good facilities there, especially the electric hookups, were greatly appreciated on nights when the temperature dropped well below freezing, and there was heavy frost.  A combination of sleeping bags, electric blanket, and small electric heater kept me warm under my camper shell on those cold nights.

Clouds at Sunset over Sneffels Range- from Dallas Divide

One of the most accessible spots from which to view the Sneffels Range is a parking area just off of CO Highway 62 at Dallas Divide, near Ridgway.  I was there on several evenings during my visit, and this particular one provided the best color at sunset.

Rocky Mountain Sunset