I keep scracthin my head about where to go this weekend. I am looking for good photo ops, low to no crowds and also a relaxing getaway for my wife within 4-6 hour drive of COS. The favorite haunts like Moab, Estes - RMNP, GSDNP etc will be way to crowded so I am looking for something a little more unusal and less traveled. Thoughts anyone?
Thanks! John
Hmm....how about Chimney Rock (CO) or Chaco Canyon (in NM)? I would imagine they are far enough off the beaten path. I've always wanted to see the ruins at those 2 places and it looks like some great photo ops could be had. Just off the top of my head.....
How about Lake Marie & Medicine Bow Mountain which both Todd C. and Scott B. recommended in my thread on places to see on the way home from the Tetons. It is located in southern Wyoming - near Laramie. Check out photo Scott posted and comments:
BTW, RMNP is truly beautiful right now with the waterfalls flowing and lakes thawing. You could always go to less visited parts of the park like the westside or the Wild Basin area. I have never seen Ouzel Falls, Calypso Cascades or Copeland Falls. That is an area high on my list of things to see. Here is a great map of the entire park: http://www.protrails.com/images/maps/rmnp.pdf
Southern Colorado, Northern New Mexico is something to think about. South Fork, Creede, Taos, Pagosa Springs, Durango... If you steer clear of Mesa Verde you should avoid most of the crowds and there is a lot of beautiful scenery down there. Just taking a leisurely loop over Wolf Creek pass, up through Creede, to Lake City, and Gunnison over a couple of days would be great.
One that hasn't been mentioned is Gunnison area...the Black Canyon...Ridgeway Area...lots of great drives around there...visit Telluride (don't stay) etc. The other one I always like is the Great Sand Dunes if you're camping...but it is Memorial Day weekend.
Colorado National Monument ...
Certainly less traveled (and very underrated), for Colorado destinations. The campground will likely fill by Saturday (one of the few weekends that it will). The road might be busy at times. But at sunrise and sunset, you'll have any overlook to yourself. Sitting at the edge of the canyon for a couple hours on a quiet morning or evening - no better way to relax. Plus, you'll likely see some wildflowers right now.
John,
Some great suggestions so far!! I have a feeling we're just going to make the decision process worse, too many options!
On the subject of Darren's suggestion for Dinosaur, be sure to check out his Hot Spots- Dinosaur page.
I really like the suggestion of Kalin's about the South San Juan area. A little more off the beaten path for a weekend like this. In fact, if my parents weren't coming out to meet out 3 week old for the first time, we'd be down there for sure. My wife's family has a little place down in South Fork, and we try to get down that way when ever we can. Here are a few possibilities:
Creede is an awesome little mining/tourist town, great place to just walk main street and look in the shops and galleries, maybe get a bite to eat. Directly out of Creede, you could drive the Bachelor Loop, some great mining history structures and locations to see and shoot.
Not too far northwest of Creede is a classic Colorado image, North Clear Creek Falls. Extremely easy to get to and shoot. If nothing else, it’s a great little spot to at least have a look at. If you are headed back to Creede from here, take County Road 510 as a scenic “shortcut” back to the highway. Or, you could continue up Highway 149, over Slumgullion Pass, and into Lake City for another beautiful drive.
From South Fork you could drive west on Highway 160 about eight miles, turning left onto Park Creek County road (CR 380). You’ll see signs to Summitville and Platoro. This is a gorgeous drive along Park Creek, through some great stair stepped valleys. There are quite a few great (free!!) pull off camp spots along here. Memorial Weekend might mean its tough to find one, but maybe not. Around twenty miles along, the road splits, with CR330 going about two miles to Summitville. If you can get past the blight of the Summitville clean up site, the old ghost town is great, quite a few buildings still standing. Fun place to poke around for an hour or so.
If you go right at the split, continuing on CR380, you will come to one of my absolute favorite areas! Schinzel Flats is a gorgeous open area with unique looking peaks around it. A couple of my favorite camp spots are in this section. Keep going a bit further, past the Elwood Pass signage, and you will come to the trail head for Crater Lake. This is an excellent day hike or even overnight backpack, up and over the Continental Divide, and down into one of the prettiest lakes I’ve seen in Colorado. OK, so maybe I’m biased a little since this is where I got engaged eight years ago!
That hike is not for faint of heart according to Local Hikes: http://www.localhikes.com/Hikes/CraterLake_0000.asp
A strenuous 11.7 miles with 4400 ft elevation gain. I guess once your then fiancee made it you figured she was a keeper.
I have a feeling your three week old will learn to love the outdoors soon enough.
My 1, 3 and 5 y/o kids can't get enough. Our youngest daughter Grace sleeps in the Kelty carrier almost the entire time while hiking.
John,
Another cool, off the beaten path, area near Creede is the Wheeler geologic area. I know Darren and others have some nice shots from there. It's like a mini Bryce Canyon in the middle of the Rio Grande National Forest. You can drive to within a mile or less, and the hike in is easy as I remember it. http://www.sangres.com/features/wheelergeologic.htm
Derek, afraid thats a different Crater Lake, that one in the Sangre de Christos. In fact, I think all told, there are like 10 Crater Lakes in Colorado! DOH! The one I'm talking about is much easier than that one sounds! :)
Kalin, I can't believe I forgot Wheeler! Definitely a great spot!! I've only been there once, backpacked in for a night, but have been wanting to do the drive some time also and take all the large format gear. Darren can definitely fill you in better about the road I'd think.
A lot of interesting suggestions to think about. I might add the Dominguez/Escalante Canyons as a place on my scouting list to visit. Scott B. has a nice write up in the hot spots section. It's been a while since I've been to Wheeler, but recall it as being at or just below timerline. Might or might not be a bit snowy up that high.
You're right. I didn't realize there were so many.
When you first mentioned it I thought of Crater Lake in Oregon. I guess I thought there would only be one in Co. -- wrong!
Ok then! Lets see... three day weekend, 2500 mile round trip, drive 24 house a day, never leave Colorado...I think I can do this. Wife drives, I shoot... oh my that would be drive by shooting! Thats one heck of a road trip! Great suggestions everyone! The proof will be in the pix.
John
Steve - see the Hot Spots link above for pretty much what you suggest.
Derek - it might be a bit early for all the snow to be gone from Calypso and the trail up to Ouzel. Ouzel Falls will be clear, but the path is pretty snowy relatively late into the season; Copeland will be clear; it's pretty low-lying... I'll probably head up there for a hike anyway this weekend just to check the progress. I want a good Ouzel Falls picture - my last ones turned out with water spots on the lens from the mist off the falls. Calypso should be nice this year with the extra moisture.
Kalin - I think that's the most enticing picture of Wheeler I've seen! Thanks for the link.
John - also look at Kasha Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument in northern New Mexico.
I lied. Calypso Cascades are clear of snow except for a few piles hidden along the banks. The trail to Ouzel Falls is clear all the way up past the falls. Calypso is running at what I'd consider to be ideal volume; Ouzel is running a bit heavy for my tastes, and Copeland is only good if you like rushing torrents of (brownish) water.
Discussion
16 repliesThanks! John
How about Lake Marie & Medicine Bow Mountain which both Todd C. and Scott B. recommended in my thread on places to see on the way home from the Tetons. It is located in southern Wyoming - near Laramie. Check out photo Scott posted and comments:
http://www.naturephotographers.net/imagecritique/bbs.cgi?a=vm&mr=18160&b=vf10&st=0&la=1674&ph=17&sid=21784&u=21784
BTW, RMNP is truly beautiful right now with the waterfalls flowing and lakes thawing. You could always go to less visited parts of the park like the westside or the Wild Basin area. I have never seen Ouzel Falls, Calypso Cascades or Copeland Falls. That is an area high on my list of things to see. Here is a great map of the entire park:
http://www.protrails.com/images/maps/rmnp.pdf
Have fun where ever you end up!
Good luck,
Cynthia Spence
www.geolightphoto.com
Certainly less traveled (and very underrated), for Colorado destinations. The campground will likely fill by Saturday (one of the few weekends that it will). The road might be busy at times. But at sunrise and sunset, you'll have any overlook to yourself. Sitting at the edge of the canyon for a couple hours on a quiet morning or evening - no better way to relax. Plus, you'll likely see some wildflowers right now.
Some great suggestions so far!! I have a feeling we're just going to make the decision process worse, too many options!
On the subject of Darren's suggestion for Dinosaur, be sure to check out his
Hot Spots- Dinosaur page.
I really like the suggestion of Kalin's about the South San Juan area. A little more off the beaten path for a weekend like this. In fact, if my parents weren't coming out to meet out 3 week old for the first time, we'd be down there for sure. My wife's family has a little place down in South Fork, and we try to get down that way when ever we can. Here are a few possibilities:
Creede is an awesome little mining/tourist town, great place to just walk main street and look in the shops and galleries, maybe get a bite to eat. Directly out of Creede, you could drive the Bachelor Loop, some great mining history structures and locations to see and shoot.
Not too far northwest of Creede is a classic Colorado image, North Clear Creek Falls. Extremely easy to get to and shoot. If nothing else, it’s a great little spot to at least have a look at. If you are headed back to Creede from here, take County Road 510 as a scenic “shortcut” back to the highway. Or, you could continue up Highway 149, over Slumgullion Pass, and into Lake City for another beautiful drive.
From South Fork you could drive west on Highway 160 about eight miles, turning left onto Park Creek County road (CR 380). You’ll see signs to Summitville and Platoro. This is a gorgeous drive along Park Creek, through some great stair stepped valleys. There are quite a few great (free!!) pull off camp spots along here. Memorial Weekend might mean its tough to find one, but maybe not. Around twenty miles along, the road splits, with CR330 going about two miles to Summitville. If you can get past the blight of the Summitville clean up site, the old ghost town is great, quite a few buildings still standing. Fun place to poke around for an hour or so.
If you go right at the split, continuing on CR380, you will come to one of my absolute favorite areas! Schinzel Flats is a gorgeous open area with unique looking peaks around it. A couple of my favorite camp spots are in this section. Keep going a bit further, past the Elwood Pass signage, and you will come to the trail head for Crater Lake. This is an excellent day hike or even overnight backpack, up and over the Continental Divide, and down into one of the prettiest lakes I’ve seen in Colorado. OK, so maybe I’m biased a little since this is where I got engaged eight years ago!
Top of the Divide:
Crater Lake trail 1
Crater Lake sits below the jagged peaks dead center in the distance.
Crater Lake trail 2
Crater Lake:
Crater Lake 1
Crater Lake 2
OK, that’s enough for now! Let us know where you head to, and good luck!!
Crater Lake looks awesome!
That hike is not for faint of heart according to Local Hikes:
http://www.localhikes.com/Hikes/CraterLake_0000.asp
A strenuous 11.7 miles with 4400 ft elevation gain. I guess once your then fiancee made it you figured she was a keeper.
I have a feeling your three week old will learn to love the outdoors soon enough.
My 1, 3 and 5 y/o kids can't get enough. Our youngest daughter Grace sleeps in the Kelty carrier almost the entire time while hiking.
Another cool, off the beaten path, area near Creede is the Wheeler geologic area. I know Darren and others have some nice shots from there. It's like a mini Bryce Canyon in the middle of the Rio Grande National Forest. You can drive to within a mile or less, and the hike in is easy as I remember it.
http://www.sangres.com/features/wheelergeologic.htm
Kalin, I can't believe I forgot Wheeler! Definitely a great spot!! I've only been there once, backpacked in for a night, but have been wanting to do the drive some time also and take all the large format gear. Darren can definitely fill you in better about the road I'd think.
I think this could be really useful.
***The New Guy***
You're right. I didn't realize there were so many.
When you first mentioned it I thought of Crater Lake in Oregon. I guess I thought there would only be one in Co. -- wrong!
I think I found a link to the correct one here:
http://www.planetpagosa.com/moderatehikes.html
It sounds like a nice place.
John
Just wait until summer wildflower season and fall colors.
So did you make up your mind yet???LOL...
Derek - it might be a bit early for all the snow to be gone from Calypso and the trail up to Ouzel. Ouzel Falls will be clear, but the path is pretty snowy relatively late into the season; Copeland will be clear; it's pretty low-lying... I'll probably head up there for a hike anyway this weekend just to check the progress. I want a good Ouzel Falls picture - my last ones turned out with water spots on the lens from the mist off the falls. Calypso should be nice this year with the extra moisture.
Kalin - I think that's the most enticing picture of Wheeler I've seen! Thanks for the link.
John - also look at Kasha Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument in northern New Mexico.