Dallas Road and Blue Lakes Hiking Trail

July 17, 2016
Near Ridgway, CO

West Dallas, East Dallas Roads and Blue Lakes Trail Hike

Our day began with a wrong turn but only added to our adventure.  We planned to hike the Blue Lakes Trail which is accessed from East Dallas Creek Road but we turned off on West Dallas Creek Road instead.  What we found was another beautiful drive along ridges of flowers, canyons and lots of trees.  At the beginning of the road we entered the Double RL Ranch of Ralph Lauren.  

The scenery along the road did not disappoint with lots of greenery, blooming flowers, mountains and streams.

We enjoyed the drive and glad we were able to include it in our day.

So now back to our regular scheduled trip - Dallas Road to Blue Lakes Trail.

From Ridgway take Highway 62 for about 5 miles to the Dallas Creek Road (CR7) and then drive about 9 miles over dirt, somewhat rough, road to the trailhead.

The Blue Lakes Trail is 6.6 miles RT.  It was uphill most of the way to the Lower Blue Lake and is rated moderately strenuous.  We gained 1,320 feet in elevation by the time we reached the Lower Blue Lake.  The trail had a nice balance of shady and sunny parts and the payoff was gorgeous and well worth the aches and pains we experienced. 

 

 

We transversed through meadows filled with explosions of wildflowers, by waterfalls and hopped, skipped & jumped through a stream crossing.

 

 

 

The lake, at an elevation of 10,980 ft,  is within the scenic basin of the Mt. Sheffels wilderness area of the Uncompahgre National Forest. It is surrounded around by Mt. Sheffels and Dallas Mtns.

 

 

 

Because of our late start and the strenuous upward climb we were running very short on time and only stayed at the lake for a short period of time to relax for the return trip down. There are two more lakes that were out of our hiking abilities for the day - we leave those for another hike.   But the trip down was not without some excitement...

 

We were not the only ones enjoying the abundant vegetation and flowers and the word on the trail was that there was a bear in the meadow above the creek crossing foraging for edibles and I was hoping we weren't the edibles.  So we slowly maneuvered through the meadow with wide eyes and amazement of a huge bear. Oh yes, it was closer than was comfortable.  (Sorry we did not get a head shot of the bear as we were focusing on getting through the meadow)  This was really the icing on a perfect adventure.

 

  

Before I end the post I must give some notice to the flowers which were abundant during our hike.  This is only a small sampling of the magnitude of flowers.
 

Cow Parsnip

Columbine

Rosy Paintbrush

Thank you for joining us on our adventure.  Get out there and experience your adventure.

Jeep trip to Clear Lake and Bandora Mine, Colorado

Clear Lake Trail and Bandora Mine, Colorado - July 10th, 2016

We are members of the Western Slope Four Wheelers group.  This organization plans many 4-wheeling outings and we have been on a couple of these outings previously.  The people are friendly and the trips take us to beautiful places.  The latest trip took us to Clear Lake with 10 other Jeepers.  To start the trail we traveled from Montrose, CO via US 550 thru Ouray, CO toward Silverton, CO for about 45 miles to CR 7, a maintained gravel road with lots of RV parking along South Mineral Creek.  After leaving the gravel road it was a climb to the high mountain lake with beautiful wildflowers and spectacular photo opts.  The road was easy, steep, narrow and had numerous switchbacks to climb above timberline to the lake. 

 

 

 

Once we reached Clear Lake it looked like we were in Switzerland with the surrounding high mountains coated with green grass and blooming flowers. I think we even heard the Von Trapp Family singing from the Sound of Music … or was it the wind.

 

After a lunch break we all headed back down and some of the Jeepers decided to take a side trip to the Bandora Mine. History states that silver was discovered in the area and in 1940 the Blanco Mining Co. purchased the Bandora Mine and worked it until the 1950’s.  This trail transverses through dense forest and then opens up to hug the side of the mountain offering endless views. The trail passes below the Bandora Mine on the right and a cabin on the left and then ends into a meadow known as South Park.  Many vehicles were in this area as it is popular for hiking also.  It was a great area to stop, rest and be thankful for the great day that we had with the Jeep club.  The weather was perfect and the views breathtaking. 

Bandora Mine 

Beaver dam  

Marmot

 

Red Mountain

 



Until our next adventure – travel safe and enjoy life.

 

July 4th weekend celebrations

July 2nd-4th, 2016

We decided to enjoy the 4th of July weekend by doing a couple of different adventures.

Our hiking adventure was the Pine Creek trail which is approx. 35 miles from Montrose, CO along Hwy 50 at mile post 130.  The weather was partly cloudy to sprinkling on us throughout the hike.

Pine Creek trail has history as an old railroad grade along the Gunnison river.  The trailhead has nice bathrooms and ample parking.  We followed the Pine Creek as it cascades along the 232 steps down to the river in the upper Black Canyon to Morrow Point Reservoir. 



 

 

 

 

 

Once we made it down the steps we were greeted with a beautiful view of the canyon and river.  From here the path is a nice flat trail hugging the rivers edge through the canyon.  It's hard to imagine that trains were able to transverse this edge as we walked along looking for evidence of the trains of the past.  The tracks were removed in 1949 but the trestles and rail bed remained.  Tourist in automobiles drove the old railroad route to reach the good fishing in the Gunnison River before the dams were built in the early 60's.  Most of the rail bed has vanished under the rising waters of reservoirs created in the canyon.   

Along the way we passed by and over some really pretty rocks that look like the name sake of the Black Canyon, black granite with white pegmatite veins.

Notice that I have a hoodie on - it was comfortable.  Of course my better half had short sleeves.

 

We only encountered one damaged area of the trail.  This rock had fallen from the cliff above and taken out a tree and landed right in the middle of the trail!  Glad we weren't around when that happened.

 

About 3/4 mile down the trail we reached the boat ramp for the Morrow Point boat tour offered by the National Park Service.  Reservations are a must and walk-ons are not allowed.  So we hope to take the tour at a later date.  There are also pit bathrooms at the dock and a number of picnic tables along the trail.

The canyon scenery kept drawing us down the trail another 1/4 mile pass the dock then we decided to turn around as it started to thunder and sprinkle.  Better safe than sorry.

This photo does not do it justice to all the beautiful orange lichen on the cliff faces along the path.

As we continued back to the trailhead we once again enjoyed the views of the canyon and paused in wonder of the history through the canyon.  On one of the interpretive signs along the path, there was a quote from Rudyard Kipling, 1889, after his train travels through the canyon that sums up the beauty of the area:  "...We entered a gorge, remote from the sun... where a rock-splintered river roared and howled ten feet below the track... There was a glory and a wonder and a mystery about that wild ride that I felt keenly".

NOW - back up the 232 steps.

 

 

 



What is the 4th of July?  It is a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, by the Continental Congress declaring that the thirteen American colonies regarded themselves as a new nation, the United States of America, and no longer part of the British Empire. It is the day we celebrate our independence.

For over a year we have planned that we wanted to spend the 4th of July in Ouray, CO.  We've heard so many fun things about the Ouray celebrations.  So we drove up early on the 4th to start our day with a pancake breakfast sponsored by the Ouray Mountain Rescue organization. Followed by watching the 10K run start in town and a couple hours later watched the runners cross the finish line.  Every runner, young and old, is an inspiration to set your goals and go for it.  The old fashion parade was the best we've seen in a while. We found out that there was a wet side and dry side of the street to sit.  We elected to sit on the dry side so we could take photos and a good thing we did.  There were so many water related vehicles and floats that had the sole purpose of soaking the wet side of the street.  It was a blast to watch.

 

 

Win this Jeep - of course I am !

Here comes the water.

 of course...  You can always find Jeeps in Ouray

The band - Gut Busters

The 'wet' side of the street.

At the end of the parade we were in awe when two Colorado Air National Guard jets did a flyover.  It was quick and amazing.  Hence no photos.

That night we returned for the fireworks.  Many beautiful fireworks were enhanced by the sounds through the canyon.

Would we go again ? - you bet we would!  Hope your 4th of July was blessed with fun and old fashion celebrations.

Until next time - Enjoy your adventure.