Fall Colors in the San Juan Mountains

[IntrepidXJ]

Well, this is my first trip report posted here on Bogley....hope you like it...

Amanda and I headed down for what most likely is out last San Juan trip this year to check out the fall colors. While there were definitely some nice colors out in the mountains, it seems as though the peak of the season is still another weekend away. Since I will be in Moab next weekend with NAXJA, this was our only chance.

On Saturday morning, our goal was to check out some of the trails just west of Ridgway, then make our way to Telluride via Last Dollar Road, and then hit up a few short trails on our way over to Silverton where we setup camp along South Mineral Creek. The skies did not cooperate with us very well this day, as there were numerous scattered storms in the area, so I did the best I could taking pictures with my P&S.

We started out along Dallas Creek

Mount Sneffels
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http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/125254-1/IMG_1853.JPG

Then we headed up to Box Factory Park

Passing through the Double RL Ranch
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Box Factory Park
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Last Dollar Road

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[IntrepidXJ]

Cabins at the Alta townsite
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Alta Lakes
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http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/125560-1/IMG_2012.JPG

Headed up into Gold King Basin
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Small lake in Gold King Basin
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JUst before the dead end on the way up to Gold King mine
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[IntrepidXJ]

Headed over Ophir Pass

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Dome Mountain from the beginning of Eureka Gulch
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My Jeep and Emery Peak with what's left of Lake Emma (drained) below
http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/125727-1/IMG_2098.JPG

Aspens in Eureka Gulch
http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/126063-2/IMG_2112.JPG

Animas River near Arrastra Gulch with a tram above
http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/125759-1/IMG_2116.JPG

[IntrepidXJ]

On Sunday morning we got up early and headed back through Silverton and up Cement Creek Road to Gladstone. From there, we headed up into Prospect Gulch.

Headed up Red Mountain #3 from Prospect Gulch
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View down into Prospect Gulch
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Red Mountain #3
http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/125859-1/IMG_2164.JPG

Next we headed back to Gladstone and took a trail that looped around Cement Creek Gulch and met back up with Hurricane Pass.

http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/125900-1/IMG_2185.JPG

Hurricane Pass on Brown Mountain
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Lake Como and Poughkeepsie Gulch
http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/125911-1/IMG_2201.JPG

[IntrepidXJ]

Once we reached Lake Como, we headed over California Pass and made our way to Animas Forks

Fresh snow on Hurricane Peak
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California Gulch
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Building at the Frisco Mine
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Duncan residence in Animas Forks
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Animas Forks
http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/125969-1/IMG_2220.JPG

[IntrepidXJ]

From Animas Forks we headed up the North Fork Cutoff to Mineral Creek and took that to US 550, where we turned right and headed back home :)

View down onto Mineral Point
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Aspens chaning along Mineral Creek
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It was a great weekend....now to prepare myself for nine days in Moab starting next weekend :)

[offpiste]

Nice report, any fish in those lakes? great colors.

[oldno7]

Nice TR. That alone should make me want to finish my jeep.

[JP]

Looks like a great ride :2thumbs:

Outstanding pics :2thumbs:

Take a few of those and post them in the Dark Room :nod:

[Mooseman70]

Great TR! Thanks for sharing them with us! :cool2:

[accadacca]

Excellent! I was around those parts a couple weeks ago. Beautiful country fo sho: http://www.bogley.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=136636#136636

*My pictures are no where near as good as yours.

[Sombeech]

Wow, I'm getting ready to feature this one on the Home Page. Those are awesome photos. :2thumbs:

[IntrepidXJ]

Wow, I'm getting ready to feature this one on the Home Page. Those are awesome photos. :2thumbs:

very cool! thanks :2thumbs:

[welsmj64]

Those are some really great photos thanks for sharing them. :2thumbs: