Sunday, August 23, 2015

Fall Info

  County Roads #5, 7 & 9: I can't recommend these enough!  All are incredible for sure.  On all three roads, the first 5-6 miles in are fairly good road, not necessarily 4WD.  Be warned though, if it rains hard, these roads can get unbelievably slick!



  County Road #5 (Girl Scout Camp Road) takes off directly from the west side of Ridgway, specifically S. Amelia Road.   Once you get into the Forest Service area, the roads gets rougher, I think at least high clearance car, if not 4WD.  This is the best part though!  Some of the best stands of tall aspens I've seen. 
County Road #5 pic 1  great for sunrise
Road #5 Pano  right before the Forest Service boundary, great AM shot
#'42 - #49 on this page are all Rd #5—all these are inside the Forest Service boundaries

 County Road #7, (Dallas Creek Road) comes off of Highway 62 also, a few miles west of Ridgway, and is a beautiful drive all the way in.  Once inside the Forest Service, you’ll find this amazing view: http://www.davidkinghamphotography.com/img/s1/v46/p1095547420-3.jpg
 And a little further in, on a side road, this spot looking at Sneffels
http://www.doerzmanphoto.com/images/NPN7/11a.jpg, best at sunset. 
Some great camp spots back here.  Of the three roads, this one is probably the easiest, best maintained one. 

  County Road #9 (West Dallas Creek) is only a mile or so further along Hwy 62, and goes through Ralph Lauren's ranch.  In fact you have to go through his gate, no problem, the road is right of way.  If the gate is closed, just make sure you close it again after going through.  Lots of great views on this on too, just keep in mind that most of the land near this road is Ralph's, so technically not supposed to stray from the road very far.  Once you get into the Forest Service boundary, the road get a LOT rougher, definitely 4WD, and high clearance.  If you do go, it ends at a cool place called Box Factory Park:.  Here are a few images along Road #9:http://www.doerzmanphoto.com/new_West_Dallas_Creek.html  (spring time shots, you get the idea)

 Dallas Divide”  is actually a pull off on Highway 62 partway between Ridgway and Telluride. Very famous spot. Good for both sunrise and sunset I think, mostly shot at sunrise, especially with some good color and clouds. 

  Last Dollar Road is great too, this one longer than the others, as it actually goes all the way from Hwy 62 and on into Telluride.  Once you get to the south side, you will be looking over Telluride, and Wilson Mesa, which is home to Wilson Peak.  Incredible views! I've seen all kinds of cars on this road, but a bit rougher on the Telluride side.  Again, if wet , snowy or rainy, use caution.  Super slick!

Owl Creek Pass, and Silver Jack Reservoir.  LOVE this area!   This road takes off from Highway 550 a couple miles north of Ridgway, and I highly recommend. If you drove the whole thing, it comes out on Highway 50.  It heads east over the Cimarron Ridge and Owl Creek Pass.  Also fine for most cars.
Numbers 43-45 on this page are all from the west side of Owl Creek Pass:http://www.doerzmanphoto.com/new_Fall_06_3.html
On the east side, near Silver Jack Res, there are some amazing jagged cliffs to shoot: http://www.doerzmanphoto.com/images/Fall_08/1B.jpg  & http://www.doerzmanphoto.com/images/Fall%2003/189.jpg
Some more, #’s 32-41 are all the east side, near Silver Jack Res. http://www.doerzmanphoto.com/new_Fall_05_2.html
The first 9 shots on this page are last year, all in the Silver Jack Res area.  http://www.doerzmanphoto.com/Fall_12_1.html
Numbers 39-46 are all Owl Creel/Silver Jack http://www.doerzmanphoto.com/Fall_08_4.html
West side of Owl Creek Pass, looking at the Courthouse and Chimney Rocks: http://www.doerzmanphoto.com/Fall_Mountains/content/04_large.html,
http://www.doerzmanphoto.com/images/Fall_12/48.jpg      they filmed the finale scene from the original John Wayne "True Grit" in this meadow.


Telluride side- drive up on Wilson Mesa, , incredible views of Wilson Peak and area. 
  http://www.doerzmanphoto.com/images/Fall_05/2-120/11-16.jpg
  http://www.doerzmanphoto.com/images/Fall_09/Q35.jpg
    Woods Lake, southwest of Wilson Mesa (and accessible form there) is a cool spot too: 
      http://www.rockymtnrefl.com/woodslake.jpg
  If nothing else, the town of Telluride is a really cool place.  Not cheap, but the history is amazing!

I tried something new, BING maps links.  Repeats of some images above, but with map links for location.  Hope they work.  A few of them have links that say “More Info”-- click on those for some alternative stuff.


Road #9
Dallas Divide:
Last Dollar Road:

Good luck!!!


 


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