RLT Recap: Fall Colors Tour in Wyoming & Colorado

We all experience times in our lives which stand out to us, in our memories. Is this particularly true for those events which are long-planned and eagerly anticipated? It is for me. And this post covers one of them I will never forget.

Lead Photo: Highlight compilation from RLT Series

(Click on any image in this post, in PeakD, for an

enlarged view

of any picture of interest. Try it!)

Over the course of 4 days, I experienced some wonderfully diverse views of the great American West, by traveling down some "roads less traveled." During the magical time of the year when the aspen belt turns all shades of yellow, orange, and red.

This is a summary review of the eight different posts I published about this experience.

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Before taking a closer look, I painstakingly recreated a map for each segment of this trip, since Google does not make it possible (😒) to have it all on one map. Done in the event someone reading this thinks they might like to recreate some or all of it:

Map Thumbnail	Map Link & Route Summary
	Map for Day 1, RLT #1 & #2 53.3 miles - Spirit West River Lodge to Three Forks Ranch. Crossed the Continental Divide via the Battle Pass Scenic Byway on WY 70. Down from Wyoming into Colorado, turned on CO 129 and followed this gravel road, along the Little Snake River, to Three Forks Ranch.
	Map for Day 1, RLT #3 46.2 miles - Three Forks Ranch to Steamboat Springs. Followed CO 129 on a gravel road up through the aspen belt under Hahn's Peak, over the ridge summit, and down into Steamboat Springs. Along the way, took detours to see Pearl Lake State Park, the country to the west (on the backside) of Steamboat Lake, and up the canyon along the Elk River a bit.
	Map for Day 2, RLT #4 113 miles - Steamboat Springs to Meeker. Followed CO 131 to Yampa, then turned off onto RCR17, a gravel road, to follow the Flat Tops Trail Scenic Byway across two mountain passes, then down into the upper White River valley to Meeker. Took a detour to Trappers Lake.
	Map for Day 3, RLT #5 63.6 miles - Meeker to New Castle. Retraced previous day's route back to Buford. Turned South on the Buford - New Castle Road and crossed the 10,118 ft (3,084 m) summit at Triangle Park, then descended steeply down into New Castle. Took detour to Deep Lake, on the southeastern corner of the Flat Top Wilderness. Included seeing Glenwood Canyon and the marvel of the engineering on its highway again.
	Map for Day 3, RLT #6 127 miles - New Castle to Gunnison. Followed CO 133 along the Crystal River, then up over the 8,755 ft (2,671 m) McClure Pass, down to the foot of the dam at Paonia Reservoir. Turned east to follow the West Elks Scenic Byway up over the 10,007 ft (3,050 m) Kebler Pass, down into Crested Butte. From there, followed CO 135 down along the upper reaches of the Gunnison River into Gunnison.
	Map for Day 4, RLT #7 64.7 miles - Gunnison to Slumgullion Pass. Followed U. S. Highway 50 down to the upper reaches of the Blue Mesa Reservoir. Then turned south on CO 149 on the Silver Thread Scenic Byway, up through Lake City, to the summit of 11,530 ft (3,514 m) Slumgullion Pass. Took detour to see Lake San Cristobal, then higher up in the basin to the beginning of Alpine Loop.
	Map for Day 4, RLT #8 62.5 miles - Slumgullion Pass to South Fork. Followed CO 149, on the Silver Thread Scenic Byway, down pass Bristol Head, into the upper reaches of the Rio Grande river valley, all the way down into South Fork.

"As the crow flies" (yeah, right ... 😂) 530 miles in 4 days. This does not include the mileage for the various detours cited, let alone the time to stop frequently and soak it all in. In hindsight, 4 days was not enough!

Given the opportunity to recreate this trip, Day 1 and 2 were okay. Especially given there really isn't any place to stop in between, unless you come prepared to set up camp in the Great Outdoors.

I would split up Days 3 and 4, though. I would spend more time in the Triangle Park area, with a 4-WD, with the evening in Carbondale. On Day 5, I would leave Gunnison and spend more time in the area of Lake San Cristobal and the Alpine Loop, with the evening in Lake City. In other words, my days would more closely align with how these posts were broken out! 😉

We'll see if that opportunity ever comes my way ...

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Let's get on with our recap! 😎

RLT Begins - "Fond Memories: Return to Spirit West River Lodge"

A remarkable place. Built by remarkable people. Writing about it resulted in some of my highest rewarded posts, including "Daily Top Payout" on Hive.

<sup>Lead Photos: Image from my original post, with the story of my discovery of Spirit West River Lodge, at the height of COVID ...

View down into the Enterprise River Valley, where Spirit West is found along its banks.

Along the Enterprise River, downstream from the Lodge.</sup>

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Limiting this "index" post to 4 pictures from each individual post doesn't do justice to this one, but ... Hopefully, this whets your appetite to at least open it and glance through it ...

If you chose to read this post, please don't miss 
my tribute
 to Lynn
Finney, in the top comment.

It is from this wonderful "base of operations" that I set out on my RLT ("Road Less Traveled") route south all the way down into southern Colorado and the beginnings of the famous Rio Grande!

RLT #1 - "Battle Pass Scenic Byway"

Crossed Battle Pass in the Sierra Madre mountains of southeastern Wyoming (not California), on the Battle Pass Scenic Byway. Going down a stretch of highway, while at least paved, that was one of the most remote on which I have ever traveled.

<sup>View looking west, from Battle Pass / Continental Divide, to one of the most remote regions of the great American West.

Lead Photo: A remote section of Wyoming State Highway 70, on the west side of Battle Pass

Very hard folks out here are ranchers and mostly descendants of the original homesteaders of the late 1800s

Final descent down into the Little Snake River valley</sup>

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As I often write about, there is the "road less traveled" (RLT 😉). And then ... There is this road! Note the lack of anyone on the road in the lead image. How long did I have to wait to take that picture?

What would be your first guess?

RLT #2 - "Magnificent Three Forks Ranch and Little Snake River"

Thinking I was going back in time for my trip through old homestead ranch country along this very remote river valley, I was amazed to stumble on the magnificent Three Forks Ranch!

<sup>Lead photos: Ranching on the Little Snake River of northern Colorado

Love little bridges like this one! Cattle living the good life!

View of Three Forks Ranch looking northwest, when coming down the mountainside from Hahn's Peak</sup>

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For this old "road warrior," days spent driving through country like this pictured above is very hard to beat. I was very grateful to have had the opportunity to experience it. I hope to return to it again some day!

RLT #3 - "Backdoor to Steamboat Springs in Colorado"

Steamboat Springs is a popular destination in Colorado. How do you get there? On U. S. Highway 40, of course ... No, no, no ...

That is not the RLT way! We came in from the North. Down from Wyoming! 🤠

<sup>Lead Photo: Driving through the aspen belt towards Hahns Peak, north of Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Sheep, as well as cattle, graze this country. Separately ... They do not "play well together!"

A glorious day in the Aspen Belt!

South Fork of the Elk River. Very little more soothing to the soul of this man
than the sight and sound of a clear running mountain stream</sup>

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Passing through this country, one could see there was so much high country above what you see here, with all this water coming down from the western slope of the Mt. Zirkel Wilderness.

I would like to come back someday, with a good 4-WD vehicle, and explore all through up in there!

RLT #4 - "Flat Tops Trail Scenic Byway in Colorado"

Besides enjoying the wonderful fall colors, I started out this day looking forward to seeing the "crown jewel" of these mountains - the second largest natural lake in Colorado, Trappers Lake. Known as the "Cradle of the Wilderness," it had been one of the first areas in America designated a Wilderness Area.

<sup>Lead Photo: View from Dunklee Pass on the beautiful Flat Tops Trail Scenic Byway in Colorado

Leaving Yampa, we crossed the pretty North Hunt Creek, before beginning the climb into the high country

Scenic view of the Flat Tops. Truly flat! Very unusual in the Rocky Mountains.

Panoramic view from vantage point above Trappers Lake</sup>

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This day provided unexpected "food for thought," both in reflecting on the damage wrought by a terrible fire, as well as the "heroics" of one person, who had a vision for what might be. But, was not yet ...

As a direct result, I, my family, and my fellow Americans, are blessed with experiencing portions of our big, wide world left ...

much as it has always been
untouched by man!

RLT #5 - "Exploring the Flat Tops of Colorado"

With a new day dawning on my very memorable Fall Colors tour of central Colorado, I left Meeker after the previous day's adventures excited to experience new roads I had never before now traveled.

Going through Buford the previous day, I did not miss the beautiful bridge across the White River and wonder what lay beyond, as it wound up into the mountains to the south.

So ...

The night before, in my stay in Meeker, I checked into it online and knew the next day, I would be experiencing the New Castle - Buford Road for the first time!

<sup>Lead Photo: View from Triangle Park on the New Castle - Buford Road in Colorado

Brilliant fall colors of aspen trees, with moon in the background.

Down through the glorious "Aspen Belt" and ...

... out into the high ranch country above New Castle, sitting just above the Colorado River.</sup>

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While this portion of my trip was marred by both smoke from forest fires and rain, you have to make the best of every day. You never know, if you will ever pass that way again!

RLT #6 - "West Elk Loop Scenic Byway in Colorado"

My Fall Colors tour continued through the mountains of central Colorado, heading up into Kebler Pass, home of the largest aspen grove in Colorado! To get there, my RTL route followed the West Elk Loop Scenic Byway.

<sup>Lead Photo: West Elk Mountains at the entrance to the West Elk Loop Scenic Byway

Lost Lake Slough, with the North face of East Beckwith Mountain looming in the background

Walking through the aspen grove, with Fall's end-of-life vegetation on the forest floor

East Beckwith Mountain - 12,441 ft (3,792 m) high. The most prominent on the West Elk Loop Scenic Byway</sup>

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With another great day out on the open road behind me, I enjoyed a very nice and restful evening in Gunnison. I ended the day on my pillow, looking forward to the following day, which I had long anticipated would be the highlight of this trip. Was I disappointed?

In my next post, you will find the answer!

RLT #7 - "Lake San Cristobal and Silver Thread Scenic Byway in Colorado"

If you have followed my RLT travels, in my view, this post covered the area with the most spectacular scenery of my "Fall Colors Tour." All while driving up one of the most impressive stretches of highway in America - the Silver Thread Scenic and History Byway, in the San Juan Mountains of southern Colorado!

<sup>Lead Photo: Overlooking Lake San Cristobal and the magnificent San Juan Mountains surrounding it

View looking west towards the end of Lake San Cristobal

Your dream home? I hope you have a LOT of money then!

San Juans from Windy Point (yes!) Observation site. In the distance (rt), Uncompahgre Peak is 14,309 ft (4,361 m) in elevation.</sup>

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This post covered what I considered to be the most attractive part of my "Fall Colors Tour" trip. The place to which I would first return, given the opportunity. Especially knowing my next post is second behind this one, in its lure / appeal to come back, and that is right over the Continental Divide ...

RLT #8 - "The Rio Grande and Silver Thread Scenic Byway in Colorado"

The Rio Grande! "Grand River" in English. One of the best known rivers in America, due to both its historical significance, as well as its prominence in today's news.

This post covered where this famous river "begins life." It may surprise a few people to learn the answer ...

<sup>Lead Photo: Headwaters of the Rio Grande, viewed from Weminuche Wilderness Vista

Panoramic view of North Clear Creek Falls

Bristol Head, from CO 149 heading down into the Rio Grande River valley below

A flock of ducks on the Rio Grande, in the upper reaches of this famous river</sup>

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From the wistful look, at a distance, up into the where the Rio Grande flows down out of the Weminuche Wilderness, past the remarkable Bristol Head looking down over the high mountain valley through which it flows, this day will be a fond memory for a long time.

Postscript - Death of a Dear "Friend"

This trip would not have been possible, without my beloved little road warrior - our 2003 Ford Ranger:

^{Highlight compilation from RLT Series}

Very sad to report, my little road warrior is no more:

^{My little road warrior's final journey}

On a January winter day, with a hellacious freezing rain storm making driving on a section of our Interstate highways very hazardous, I made the fateful decision to get off of it. And head down an RLT section of a local county road, instead, where there would be no traffic. No 4-WD vehicle is a match for the road surface conditions created by freezing rain. Unless its tires are studded or chained up.

Neither applied for us ... Hitting a patch of "black ice," by the grace of God, we spun out of control toward the inner bank, as shown above, instead of over the outer bank. If the latter, we would've rolled who knows how many times and it is very unlikely I would be writing this post ...

Showing a "warrior's heart," when the crew came to take it away, it started right up, like always. And, in spite of two badly damaged tires and undercarriage, drove itself up onto the bed of the tow truck. Never to be seen again ... 🥹👋

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Yes, I know a truck is not a person. And cannot be a real friend, but ... Me and this little truck had a special bond, with all we had seen and been through, over its lifetime. I will never forget the +60,000 miles of pure driving pleasure this 2003 Ford Ranger gave me, from trips to the Pacific, to trips to the Atlantic.

It never let me down. 🫡

Closing

Do you ever wish you could have time stand still? Toggle a "time-out" button, enjoy something for as long as you might wish, and then toggle "time-in" and off you go? Silly thought perhaps, but my memories of this trip is one of those times I wish this option had been available.

With this post published, I have fulfilled a private commitment to my family. We'll see if I ever post another one ...

I hope you enjoyed "seeing through my eyes" this remote part of the American West. If so, I’d love to hear any feedback you may be inspired to provide.

Until "next time," all the best to you for a better tomorrow, as you all work together to build up your Hive Communities and add increasing value to your Hive blockchain! 👍 😊

Respectfully,

Hive "Dolphin" 🐬 & Man Cave "Dragon" 🐉

Blogger @roleerob

P.S. Unless otherwise noted, all images are pictures taken by my smartphone - a Samsung Galaxy S9+.

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“Immutably enshrined” in the Hive blockchain on Tuesday, 5 March 2024!
^{🌲 No trees were harmed in the publishing of this post! 🌲}

Interested in glancing through my other travel-related series?

R2R Travelogue: Recap of "@roleerob's excellent adventure!" In winter ... My R2R series - "Road to Recovery" trip of a lifetime. In 31 days, I drove 4,984 miles through a part of 8 states - Colorado, Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. Unforgettable memories relived and new ones made!

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^{(Pinned on the Pinmapple map overlooking the West Elk Mountains.
Home of the largest aspen grove in Colorado and more or less the middle of this trip.)}