Posted by Jeff Sirota on April 27, 2007 at 2:32 AM
I'm heading down to the Salida/Buena Vista/Canon City area for some photography next weekend, and I was wondering if anyone had any specific recommendations about shooting locations and times (e.g., good places at sunset, at sunrise, etc.). Thanks!
Posted by Nat Coalson on April 27, 2007 at 6:26 AM
The Chalk Cliffs can be cool at sunrise. Up and down US 285 there are lots of good views of farms/ranches with the various Collegiate Peaks in the background - also sunrise shots.
If you get the chance to go north of Buena Vista on US 24, Clear Creek Canyon is spectacular. Lots to see and photograph around there, but access might be limited due to snow.
Posted by Jeff Sirota on April 27, 2007 at 9:20 AM
Thanks, Nat. Is there a lot of snow on the Collegiates now? Any particular sunrise or sunset locations you'd recommend (in addition to Chalk Cliffs)?
If you're heading west into Buena Vista on 285, roughly 2 miles before town, you'll see some roads on the right that take you up into a picnic area and overlook. It might be a Forest Service maintained day use area - I can't recall the specifics - but you can get some nice views of the Collegiates there; should make for a good sunrise location.
I imagine that with all the precip we've had here recently, and snow falling above 7,000ft, the Collegiates probably have a nice solid covering.
Posted by Brent Murphy on April 27, 2007 at 11:18 AM
Try heading to St. Elmo. Very nice little town. Found some pics online from last week.
The Chalk Cliffs are good for sunrise, and St Elmo is just west of there on the same road. The overlook Rick refers to has a green highway sign that says Overlook, turn north off of 285 and take the 1st left to approach an obvious ridge with picnic tables. If you would like some photos of tunnels go into Buena Vista and turn east at the only stop lights in town. Drive to the first stop sign and turn north. This street turns into an old county road which crosses the Arkansas River in about 2 miles. The road becomes gravel, stay on this for another mile and you can't miss the 3 tunnels as you will be driving through them, this was an old stage coach/railroad grade. Then stay on this road for another 8 miles or so, gets narrow and twisty at times when it hugs the river channel. Good photo ops of the river currents, most of the ice should be gone, there might even be some kayakers out depending on air temps. Eventually you will get to a short crossroads with a bridge over the river. This will be the first auto bridge you will see once traveling north on this gravel road. This is right at the top of Rapid #5, Class 4-5 in difficulty depending on water level, Take the road across the bridge and out to the Hwy about 1/4 mile away. This road will be best after 8AM.
You might also try Cottonwood Pass, accessed by turning west at the only stop lights in Buena Vista. It won't be open yet, but you should be able to get quite a ways up before having to turn around. You should at least be able to access the road into Cottonwood Lake.
Taking Hwy 285 south from US50/285 intersection will take you up to Poncha Pass, about 6-8 miles, and an afternoon shot of the Sangre de Cristo's in the San Luis Valley.
In Salida, you will have noticed a hill with a white S on it. There's a road that spirals to the top, aptly named Spiral Drive, accessed by road at the north end of town (green hwy sign that says Spiral Drive), This gives a nice overlook of Salida and the valley it sits in, good at sunrise or sunset if there are clouds in the west.
Closer to Salida than Buena Vista, there is a brown sign that says Hecla Junction. This is the takeout for the Brown's Canyon whitewater kayak/raft stretch. The road is gravel and about 3-4 miles long dead-ending at the Arkansas River. This is a State Park area and requires a $2.00 (could be $3 this year) fee. You could park here and hike downriver (easy trail) about a half mile to a rapid called Seidel's Suckhole, Class 3-4, In low water, it's interesting but not intimidating looking like it will be once late May arrives. You can also hike upriver for some nice scenics of the river, although be warned the opposite side of the river has railroad tracks (no longer used by the Denver,RioGrande RR).
If you want some impressive looking rapids, drive north of Buena Vista about 12 miles to where the road goes through a large bend in the river valley, you will see a large gravel pullout (large enough for 4 18-wheelers) with a sign titled Tiger Lily Creek access. Just below you sits Pine Creek Rapid, the most dangerous rapid on the Arkansas River, rated Class 5 at most levels. This week though the river is still quite low and so it is only a solid Class 4-4+. The rapid is a quarter mile long and can be accessed by a short steep road, then walking along the tracks. Most everyone totally ignores the No Trespassing Signs since no one knows who's supposed to enforce it, since the railroad doesn't run there anymore. Some kayakers even camp alongside the tracks.
In case you haven't guessed by now, I'm a kayaker who frequently runs these rapids and the Salida,BV area is kind of my second home during the whitewater season.
Posted by Jeff Sirota on April 27, 2007 at 2:00 PM
Thanks for all the great tips. I've got four days in the area, and I may take a side trip down to the Sand Dunes as well. Any other ideas out there?
Posted by Les Barstow on April 27, 2007 at 5:27 PM
Rick, the scenic area is I believe maintained by the Colorado State Parks as part of the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area (it's a co-operative effort with the BLM and USFS, but for the most part the Colorado Park Service maintains and patrols the area).
There's a pretty scenic bend in the river by the Railroad Bridge take-out site and campground. Just walk upstream a short ways from the campground, or climb over the rocks upstream from the takeout point to get to the same spot without going through the campground. No mountains, but a nice rock in the river and good tree placement on the banks, along with some light ripples in the stream.
If you continue heading upstream from the bridge by Rapid #5 (a somewhat rough and potholed dirt road that parallels the river closely), you'll eventually get to Rapid #4, which also offers good rapids views. Other spots between the two rapids offer good rapids scenery and kayak play areas.
Since the river runs roughly parallel to the mountains, it's not very frequent that you get mountains in the background with the river. The Big Bend area may offer such a view; the Ruby Mountain campground site does (marginally). Some of the State Wildlife areas along the South side of the river just West of Salida offer a mountain view with the river in the FG - but be aware that you need a wildlife stamp to enter these areas. You should be able to buy one at any State Park office, such as the one in Salida, where you'll want to go to get a pass for the park...
If you head up towards Leadville, there are some historic ranches with mountain backgrounds that make good sunrise shots.
Discussion
7 repliesIf you get the chance to go north of Buena Vista on US 24, Clear Creek Canyon is spectacular. Lots to see and photograph around there, but access might be limited due to snow.
I imagine that with all the precip we've had here recently, and snow falling above 7,000ft, the Collegiates probably have a nice solid covering.
You might also try Cottonwood Pass, accessed by turning west at the only stop lights in Buena Vista. It won't be open yet, but you should be able to get quite a ways up before having to turn around. You should at least be able to access the road into Cottonwood Lake.
Taking Hwy 285 south from US50/285 intersection will take you up to Poncha Pass, about 6-8 miles, and an afternoon shot of the Sangre de Cristo's in the San Luis Valley.
In Salida, you will have noticed a hill with a white S on it. There's a road that spirals to the top, aptly named Spiral Drive, accessed by road at the north end of town (green hwy sign that says Spiral Drive), This gives a nice overlook of Salida and the valley it sits in, good at sunrise or sunset if there are clouds in the west.
Closer to Salida than Buena Vista, there is a brown sign that says Hecla Junction. This is the takeout for the Brown's Canyon whitewater kayak/raft stretch. The road is gravel and about 3-4 miles long dead-ending at the Arkansas River. This is a State Park area and requires a $2.00 (could be $3 this year) fee. You could park here and hike downriver (easy trail) about a half mile to a rapid called Seidel's Suckhole, Class 3-4, In low water, it's interesting but not intimidating looking like it will be once late May arrives. You can also hike upriver for some nice scenics of the river, although be warned the opposite side of the river has railroad tracks (no longer used by the Denver,RioGrande RR).
If you want some impressive looking rapids, drive north of Buena Vista about 12 miles to where the road goes through a large bend in the river valley, you will see a large gravel pullout (large enough for 4 18-wheelers) with a sign titled Tiger Lily Creek access. Just below you sits Pine Creek Rapid, the most dangerous rapid on the Arkansas River, rated Class 5 at most levels. This week though the river is still quite low and so it is only a solid Class 4-4+. The rapid is a quarter mile long and can be accessed by a short steep road, then walking along the tracks. Most everyone totally ignores the No Trespassing Signs since no one knows who's supposed to enforce it, since the railroad doesn't run there anymore. Some kayakers even camp alongside the tracks.
In case you haven't guessed by now, I'm a kayaker who frequently runs these rapids and the Salida,BV area is kind of my second home during the whitewater season.
There's a pretty scenic bend in the river by the Railroad Bridge take-out site and campground. Just walk upstream a short ways from the campground, or climb over the rocks upstream from the takeout point to get to the same spot without going through the campground. No mountains, but a nice rock in the river and good tree placement on the banks, along with some light ripples in the stream.
If you continue heading upstream from the bridge by Rapid #5 (a somewhat rough and potholed dirt road that parallels the river closely), you'll eventually get to Rapid #4, which also offers good rapids views. Other spots between the two rapids offer good rapids scenery and kayak play areas.
Since the river runs roughly parallel to the mountains, it's not very frequent that you get mountains in the background with the river. The Big Bend area may offer such a view; the Ruby Mountain campground site does (marginally). Some of the State Wildlife areas along the South side of the river just West of Salida offer a mountain view with the river in the FG - but be aware that you need a wildlife stamp to enter these areas. You should be able to buy one at any State Park office, such as the one in Salida, where you'll want to go to get a pass for the park...
If you head up towards Leadville, there are some historic ranches with mountain backgrounds that make good sunrise shots.