Starting to plan my wildflower trip in late July and the prospect of Crested Butte for the 8th time in 10 years is boring me to tears. Any data out there on the North Park area for wildflower locations? I haven't been up that way in a long time and have no recollection of the wildflower possibilities.
If you're looking for something up north I seem to remember hearing a lot of raves about the Rabbit Ears pass area and Dumont Lake last year. Here is a thread about that place which is near Steamboat.
Yeah, I was going to mention that area as well. You might also try along CO-14 west out of Ft. Collins. There's a neat loop trip starting from Old Monarch Pass, through Tin Cup and over Cottonwood Pass that has yielded good flowers. Finally, there's Yankee Boy and American Basins out of Ouray.
Bored by Crested Butte area in flower season?? Wow - I'd say you''re spoiled!
Rabbit Ears is a good spot but not as many high peaks. There is some BLM land just west of the Medicine Bows in North Park that might hold some possibilities to use them (Medicine Bows) as an impressive backdrop but I've never been to that specific area so can't really comment. Cameron Pass on Hwy 14 around Joe Wright/Zimmerman Lake always was good for Paintbrush and other flowers. It's been a long time since I've been there though.
The Cimarron Forks above Silver Jack have always been pretty good when I've been there but it's not a secret any more (lot's of quad traffic!).
Grand Mesa typically has lots of Columbines around the Overland Reservoir/Muddy Creek area. Just an hour or so north of CB. High peaks are in the distance here also.
I guess I should clarify..it's not the shooting possibilities around CB that bores me but a few weekends ago when I started planning my summer trips I went through my wildflower files from the past decade or so. As I mentioned above I've been to CB 8 of the past 10 years and I noticed that a lot of my images from those years are very similar. Guess i'm just looking for something new and fresh.
Thanks again for the info especially the mention of Joe Wright and Zimmerman. I haven't been up that way since the late 80's when they poisoned the Graylings out of Zimmerman to replant trout so I guess it might be time to return. Maybe I can drop down in to Walden and scare up a moose or two also.
I haven't been back to Zimmerman since they "switched fish" either. '94 was my last time there. It's too bad IMO because those greyling were a lot of fun to catch. This photo was taken just upstream from Zimmerman many moons ago. I believe that's Parry's Primrose on the bank.
Bill, if you choose to visit the Cameron Pass area, also be sure to check out the Roaring Creek trail in upper Poudre Canyon. It has an interesting microclimate harboring a large variety of flowers and shrubs mixed with boulders and of course a beautiful tumbling stream. Get off trail to find the best stuff there. And check out the upper Laramie River Valley and its West Branch Trail as well. Contact me for more information if you wish. -Don
Discussion
6 repliesThanks in advance.
Bill
Ken
Rabbit Ears is a good spot but not as many high peaks. There is some BLM land just west of the Medicine Bows in North Park that might hold some possibilities to use them (Medicine Bows) as an impressive backdrop but I've never been to that specific area so can't really comment. Cameron Pass on Hwy 14 around Joe Wright/Zimmerman Lake always was good for Paintbrush and other flowers. It's been a long time since I've been there though.
The Cimarron Forks above Silver Jack have always been pretty good when I've been there but it's not a secret any more (lot's of quad traffic!).
Grand Mesa typically has lots of Columbines around the Overland Reservoir/Muddy Creek area. Just an hour or so north of CB. High peaks are in the distance here also.
Thanks again for the info especially the mention of Joe Wright and Zimmerman. I haven't been up that way since the late 80's when they poisoned the Graylings out of Zimmerman to replant trout so I guess it might be time to return. Maybe I can drop down in to Walden and scare up a moose or two also.
This photo was taken just upstream from Zimmerman many moons ago. I believe that's Parry's Primrose on the bank.