The Wet Mountain Valley

I know alot of you have photographed the Sangre De Critos from the wet mountains and the valley. Todd Caudle to not be mentioned here ;-). but I would really love some good ideas about where to photograph the Sangre De Cristo mountains from the wet valley. I know alot of you have posted photos from this area, but I really don't know exactly where most of these photos were taken. I truly consider the Sangre De Cristo Mountains as one of Colorado's most spectacular mountains and would love to know where I could go to show this range off at it's grandest.

I agree, although I understand how some would like to keep certain locations close to the vest, so to speak. It would be cool if someone could write up a hot spot article for a popular location like this so we'd have something to look back on.

I think a hotspot article is probably the best solution, but basically you're looking at areas of highway 96 east of Westcliffe around the top of Hardscrabble. There are quite a few options. I'd let Todd divulge more specific locations. These are telephoto locations.

If you start going west or south of Westcliffe (like Colony Ln), you'll get too close to the range and lose the perspective I think you're looking for.

There are similar views from the San Luis Valley for sunset, I'd say along Highway 17 primarily, but also up around sand dunes.

The other area you might consider is around the west side of La Veta to the town of Blanca. There are various views of Lindsey, Blanca, Little Bear etc with both morning and evening opportunities.

I'm a little busy doing other writing at the moment, and I don't feel i really know the area well enough anyway, hint, hint, Todd. There has to be, Todd, someone Todd, who can Todd, Write from Todd experience Todd, but I haven't a Todd Clue Todd.
I did however post links on Google Earth to the spots I have been playing with.

I'm not saying this to keep any locations secret, but both the Wet Mountain Valley and San Luis Valley are wide open and criss-crossed with roads. Buy an Atlas-Gazetteer and get in your car and go take a drive around. The range is something like 100 miles long, and if you just go check it out, photo ops will present themselves nearly every mile you drive. Yes, gas is expensive, but we unfortunately use our vehicles as a vital tool in the process of making photographs. On the east, check out Rosita Road and Verdemont Road, Colfax Lane, the Music Pass road (mostly snowed in right now), Deweese Reservoir, Copper Gulch, or just drive up and down the highway north and south of Westcliffe. Beckwith Ranch is an excellent location. On the west, there are too damn many roads to list, just look at a map and explore. It's what we do.

Todd is right on! All you guys and gals just need to get out there and explore, look, and seek your own vision. The gazetteer is an essential investment.

For the UberTechies, I think the Gazetteer is Wonderful, but also flying around the area on Google Earth helps out a lot! I took some time and also Googled up Images of the Area and found a site of an Old Friend Rich Carson who lived in Westcliffe and had a Gallery there.

His work is very nice and diverse. All of the other suggestions here are also valuable!

The only problem with GE in this instance is that it's not as precise with road names/numbers and private property as the Atlas-Gazetteer. Both should be used in conjunction.