Today on ThrowBack Thursday, we return to an area I am quite fond of: western Colorado. On my previous visit to this area, I was focused on Colorado National Monument. This time I went further south and not quite as far west, with the main destination being Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, another truly spectacular location. Let’s have a look-see, shall we?
Near the main entrance to the National Park, looking upstream (east-ish)A perky little lizardThe rock striata in some parts of Black Canyon are completely verticalThe area on the right may be the gentlest slope found in this steep-n-deep canyon.Alvin, Simon, or Theodore?Looking across Black Canyon to the less-visited north rim and its unpaved roadNear the end of the National Park’s main road, looking downstream (west-ish)The guy at the upper left gives some much needed sense of scale.
Perhaps the most spectacular spot in the park, and seemingly the most popular, is the Painted Wall overlook…
Painted Wall is awe-inspiring, in beauty & size, but size is hard to gauge in this shot……so I rotated the camera, hoping the river at the base would give a sense of scale……if you’re still not awe-stricken by the size of Painted Wall, then read this sign. Rapids on the Gunnison River, nearly half a mile below the photographerNever seen a railing installed quite like thisDetail of the Painted Wall, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colorado
Next up on this particular voyage to western Colorado was a side trip to the town of Ouray. “You’re Ray” (as it is roughly pronounced) is located at the head of a box canyon – meaning that it’s almost completely surrounded by sheer rock walls. Multiple small streams descend from the surrounding mountains, resulting in a handful of waterfalls dropping into the town. Ouray is also the northern terminus of the Million Dollar Highway, but there will be no pics of that, as I did not drive that road on this particular trip. I only mention it to be a complete tease. Here are some of the pictures I did get…
OK, I lied. You can actually see the Million Dollar Highway in this pic.Waterfall across the canyon from the Million Dollar HighwayI was fascinated by the rippled rock to the left of the waterfall.The only place I know of where you can drive your car directly over a waterfallRainbow formed by waterfall mistOne of the small streams that tumbles into the town of Ouray, ColoradoLooking out over Ouray, ColoradoLooks like some gold mining happened here back in the day.One of the small streams that tumbles into the town of Ouray, ColoradoOne of the small streams that tumbles into the town of Ouray, ColoradoLooking out over Ouray, Colorado
The following day was spent slowly meandering back to the Colorado Front Range, with a few pics taken along the way…
A relic of Denver & Rio Grande RailroadFOR THE LOVE OF GOD, HIT THE BRAKES!!!Canyon water meets reservoir waterLooking across Blue Mesa Reservoir, largest body of water in ColoradoResults of hard rock mining in the late 19th and/or early 20th centuriesResults of hard rock mining in the late 19th and/or early 20th centuries
Voyages with Parkinson's 