An Autumn Drive Along the San Juan Skyway - CO

Durango, Colorado
La Plata Fairgrounds

While we have driven portions of the San Juan Skyway during the past few months, today we will do it in one long day trip.  Curt and Glenda were up for it so off we went for a very long drive to see some of best towns in the glorious fall color.  Once again, it was perfect weather.

 

The drive is over 200 miles.  We started in Durango and drove past the entrance to Mesa Verde National Park.  Some of the mostmajestic mountains you will see are on this loop.

We drive through Delores and along the Delores River with its many rolling farm land.

As we climb towards Montrose, the rugged mountains appear.

A large flock of sheep grazing in the valley.

The watchful sheepherder keeping a close eye on things.

How would you like your own private lake?

The Aspen are in full color up and down the mountain valleys.

Most of the peaks behind us are over 14,000 feet elevation.  We also found a geocache here.

 

As we come into Montrose, a herd of Elk were across the road.

 

This bull elk was rubbing his antlers against the pines.

This guy had some serious equipment.

While we were in Telluride, we of course had to ride the free gondola.

That's Montrose in the background.

And Mountain Village on the other side.

I could've used that guys mega lens for this shot.  In the middle is a huge waterfall that runs down the mountain.  This is as close as I could zoom.  It's a very long way down the mountain.

Curt finding a large geocache at the old jail.

Around the mountains toward Ridgway, Mt. Sneffels in the background.  I really love the views of the mountains on this side.  I wish I could've gotten more blue sky without the shadows, but it was getting late.  Still stunning, right?

In Ouray, this lookout hangs out over the mountain.

 

Back towards Silverton we pass many old abandoned towns and mines.

 

The color is just amazing!

Couldn't figure out what shot he was going for.  Or maybe he was hiding?

Silverton, Colorado.

The sun is setting so we stayed a bit to get some great shots before driving back to Durango.