Category: travel

I’ve been to the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs a few times before and I was looking forward to going back. Showing up late in the morning on one of the last weekends of summer vacation, however, killed any chance I had for much room to myself. Both parking and views that were free of other tourists were hard to come by. I found a parking space in one of the more isolated lots, that was still almost full, and I hiked in far enough to get a few pictures.

From there, it was north to Denver. I was pleased to find a nice little park with a small lake (or very large pond) near my hotel on the north side of Denver. Other that a healthy throng gathered at a softball field and a few joggers, I had Rocky Mountain Lake Park mostly to myself. With a noticeable lack of humidity on a warm afternoon, I got in a good walk without breaking a sweat.

I made my longest drive of the trip, going from Durango the southwestern corner of Colorado across the southern part of the state on Highway 160 on the way to Pueblo.

There were some cool towns along the way but the most striking vista was Blanco Peak. At more than 14,000 feet, it has the fourth highest summit in the state of Colorado.

I left the interstate in the morning and drove the high road through the Rocky Mountains and across Colorado on some old-school American highways. There were lots of miles on two-lane roads and slow winding curves through the mountains.

My morning started by heading south and I could really feel the elevation change as my car struggled a little bit and the temperature on a sunny August day dropped to 39 degrees. That was just on the 34-mile stretch from Silverthorne to Leadville, Colorado, on Highway 91.

From Leadville, I continued south on Highway 24 and then Highway 285 through central Colorado. Mountain peaks and blue skies with puffy white clouds were constantly part of the view. Every once in a while you would spot a little bit of last winter’s snow still clinging to some of the higher mountains.

The last time I saw the Rio Grande, it was at the southern tip of Texas along the Texas border nearly a thousand miles away. It’s almost impossible to believe it could be the same river. Here in Del Norte, Colorado, the water runs cold from the melting mountain snow that feeds it.

Heading west from Del Norte to Durango provides more steep grades and winding turns along Highway 160. I enjoyed the views but I was sure glad I wasn’t driving a semi. And I crossed the Great Divide again, this time at Wolf Creek Pass.

After flying into Denver, I headed west on I-70 and then took a side trip on Highway 6. It was a fun drive on a twisty two-lane road over the mountains and through central Colorado on the way to Silverthorne. I even saw a tiny bit of snow on a few of the peaks (third image) – even in August.

I crossed the continental divide part way through my side trip along Colorado Highway 6.

Farther west along Colorado Highway 6 on the way to Silverthorne. I believe the waterway is part of the Snake River system.

Vail Village is one of the most popular spots along the interstate when you travel west from Denver. Although best known as a ski area, it’s a nice place to stop any time of year. The village is very walkable and has lots of whimsical public art.