Posted by Bert Fukuda on November 13, 2009 at 8:33 AM
I'm taking the week between Xmas and New Year off and really need to get out with my camera. I haven't done a ton of winter photography, mostly because I'm out snowboarding. Anyway, I'm open to driving pretty much anywhere in Colorado. The one caveat is I'll probably need to avoid National Parks since I'll have my dog with me. Also I'd rather avoid ski resort areas since the cost of lodging will be extremely high during that period.
I appreciate your help,
Bert
Posted by Jared Atencio on November 13, 2009 at 9:30 AM
If you're looking to stay in state, I would suggest spending at least a day or two at Great Sand Dunes NP (it is a dog friendlier NP) and exploring the area around the SLV. The dunes can hold some real treats during the winter time (as I'm sure Stan Rose can attest) and you can get some really nice shots of the surrounding snow capped Sangre De Cristo range, plus, you'll usually have the park virtually to yourself. Also look into nearby Zapata falls which will be frozen over by then and the scenery between the SLV and Taos NM is also very nice. I will be out that week as well but am looking more towards 4 corners region (Bisti/Chaco/Chelly/Page). As a final note, also look into getting out a day and riding Wolf Creek if you have the itch to ride some POWDER!
San Luis Valley is good advice. You could also consider heading out west: Dominguez Canyon near Delta, the area around Gateway and lots of places along the Utah border are great in winter, and you can also head over to Utah if you feel like it. Durango would make a nice flexible base too, with good access to both mountains and desert. If the weather turns too ugly, you may be able to head down to New Mexico (though winter storms are perfectly possible down here too).
Posted by Jesse Speer on November 13, 2009 at 11:13 AM
Mayflower Gulch north of Leadville is a great day trip. Short hike into beautiful alpine scenery. Sunset can be great. One of my favorite winter destinations in Colorado.
Posted by Brent Doerzman on November 13, 2009 at 1:01 PM
Jesse beat me to the punch on Mayflower Gulch! Like Jesse, it's also one of my favorites. And it's a fairly safe and easy winter day trip.
Posted by Mel Ladewig on November 13, 2009 at 2:38 PM
I am assuming that you are specifically looking to do snow shots. If not, I've typically spent more time in the desert in the winter than I've spent in the mountains.
Ouray lodging is relatively inexpensive in the winter. $50/night will get a room in many of the motels, and it is certainly a base where you can do some winter photography. Molas Pass, Dallas Divide and Red Mountain Pass should all provide roadside opportunities.
Westcliffe is a ghost town in the winter and I would guess that you can get a hotel room cheap. There are many nice views of the mountains from that area.
I'm not sure what lodging options are in Fairplay, but it can't be too expensive and offers access to the 10 mile and mosquito ranges (an alternative to pricey Breckenridge).
Loveland Pass can be a really nice location for sunrise or sunset in the winter. Just climb up on the ridges on either side of the pass. The mountains go on and on in all directions from there.
Mayflower Gulch as recommended.
You can also go up the passes behind Montezuma (near Keystone). We used to winter camp at tree line up there.
If you're not looking for winter scenes, then Grand Junction, Moab, Torrey Pines or maybe even Cortez can be good options for some desert trips.
Posted by Scott Fricke on November 13, 2009 at 5:39 PM
Lost Creek Wilderness is pretty nice, I've gone the Goose Creek trail a few times in the winter. You can either hike on a trail or go bouldering on some great granite monoliths. Very photogenic place.
Posted by Bert Fukuda on November 13, 2009 at 10:18 PM
Thanks to everyone for your suggestions. I leaning towards spending a couple of days at the Dunes then maybe heading over to Ouray. Is Hwy 160 usually passable in the winter? Although is that the best plan if I only have 4 or 5 days?
I'm going to save the Mayflower gulch hike for Feb when I'm in Copper with friends from the East Coast. They'll really enjoy it.
Posted by Mel Ladewig on November 14, 2009 at 12:09 AM
Yes Hwy 160 is passable over Wolf Creek Pass, but I think HWY 50 is the safer route. You can drive from the dunes up to Salida to catch 50. Wolf creek can catch some mighty winter storms.
Posted by Kelly Black on November 14, 2009 at 10:15 PM
Hi Bert,
Being from Parker, you are probably familiar with this area already, but.....if you are into pastoral type scenes like farms and hills, Perry Park Road is a great choice, and it's even better in the winter. Here, you will see gentle sloping hills, white fences, barns of any color (some of them are red, creating a nice contrast with the white snow), and horses everywhere. I was out there with a friend of mine a couple of years ago in February. We had stopped to photograph a red barn and there were two horses in the pasture. One of them came right up to the fence. My friend started petting the horse and they immediately connected. I started snapping close up photos of my friend and the horse, and at that same time, it started snowing. The horse was nudging her near her cheek and she had her eyes closed in one of the shots. I had managed to capture the snow falling in the shot as well. It was magical! I gave my friend a copy, as she almost cried when she saw it (she loves horses). LOL. Sorry about the story, I guess this place is extra special to me, especially in the winter.
Perry Park Road is the highway that goes from Sedalia to Palmer Lake (# 105, I think). I don't know if you wanted to get farther away from home, but this is a suggestion. :)
Posted by Bert Fukuda on November 17, 2009 at 12:18 AM
Kelly ~ Thanks for the suggestion. If I can find some free time this weekend I'll try to head down there.
Discussion
10 repliesI appreciate your help,
Bert
Have fun-Jared
Here are a few from this last winter too.
Ouray lodging is relatively inexpensive in the winter. $50/night will get a room in many of the motels, and it is certainly a base where you can do some winter photography. Molas Pass, Dallas Divide and Red Mountain Pass should all provide roadside opportunities.
Westcliffe is a ghost town in the winter and I would guess that you can get a hotel room cheap. There are many nice views of the mountains from that area.
I'm not sure what lodging options are in Fairplay, but it can't be too expensive and offers access to the 10 mile and mosquito ranges (an alternative to pricey Breckenridge).
Loveland Pass can be a really nice location for sunrise or sunset in the winter. Just climb up on the ridges on either side of the pass. The mountains go on and on in all directions from there.
Mayflower Gulch as recommended.
You can also go up the passes behind Montezuma (near Keystone). We used to winter camp at tree line up there.
If you're not looking for winter scenes, then Grand Junction, Moab, Torrey Pines or maybe even Cortez can be good options for some desert trips.
I'm going to save the Mayflower gulch hike for Feb when I'm in Copper with friends from the East Coast. They'll really enjoy it.
Being from Parker, you are probably familiar with this area already, but.....if you are into pastoral type scenes like farms and hills, Perry Park Road is a great choice, and it's even better in the winter. Here, you will see gentle sloping hills, white fences, barns of any color (some of them are red, creating a nice contrast with the white snow), and horses everywhere. I was out there with a friend of mine a couple of years ago in February. We had stopped to photograph a red barn and there were two horses in the pasture. One of them came right up to the fence. My friend started petting the horse and they immediately connected. I started snapping close up photos of my friend and the horse, and at that same time, it started snowing. The horse was nudging her near her cheek and she had her eyes closed in one of the shots. I had managed to capture the snow falling in the shot as well. It was magical! I gave my friend a copy, as she almost cried when she saw it (she loves horses). LOL. Sorry about the story, I guess this place is extra special to me, especially in the winter.
Perry Park Road is the highway that goes from Sedalia to Palmer Lake (# 105, I think). I don't know if you wanted to get farther away from home, but this is a suggestion. :)