I drove 300+ miles the day before and stayed at a
motel hoping to get an early start. The young fellow
at the front desk told me the park was 52 miles away,
but to allow an hour and a half due to slow speed limits.
That hour and a half drive turned out to be just over 3 hours,
and I stopped twice to ask directions, because I was beginning
to think this place was made up. This is what I saw when I was
finally on the road to the entrance. See that little white spot on
the side of the mountain?
SNOW!! And not fresh, but left over from last year!
Up over a mountain, and down the other side. (I was
sure I was there, but not yet) And a nice lake greets me.
32 miles from the lake, and FINALLY!!!
I stopped here to suggest that maybe more than one
sign at the I70 exit would help people find the park
easier. I was told, "It isn't very popular." To which I
responded, "If it were easier to find, MAYBE more
people would show up."
Just this far in and I couldn't understand why it wasn't
more popular.
I spied this from the road, and a short hike down a bank
opened in to a beautiful field, with what I'm sure is a
sweet little trout stream. Alas, I didn't purchase a
Colorado fishing license.
Just a little further up the road and I see this, so why not
explore.
Looking out from the cabin porch.
The sign said an easy half mile hike to another settlers area.
If they can do it, so can I!!
This was the site of Never Summer Ranch
Ten miles upstream is the beginning of the mighty
Colorado River, but at this point, it looks like this.
Looking downstream.
Upstream
Remnants of the Holzwarth Ranch
A lightly used side trail leads to another section of the
Colorado River.
Back on the road....
HOLY!!
Violet Lake.
Hiking back up to the car.
Almost there.....
200 feet higher than before
At one time this lake was filled with Beaver,
until early trappers cleaned them out.
Can you see the fly fisherman on the left bank?
Halfway down looking back up
and looking down
A mile or so down the road. Is that the stream from
the beaver pond?
Look!!
More snow, or ice.....
Holy crap..... almost two and a quarter miles
above sea level!!
And still climbing..... with no place to pull over.
Just up the road maybe half a mile, I saw 2 elk
laying off to the left.
Yes, this pull off was packed! LOL
The sign said this was the site of a volcanic eruption
around 20 million years ago, and the rock is fused
solid.
Yes, that is the road we just drove up in the background.
People need a better look, so they hiked out to the point.
I could see everything I wanted to see from right here.
I felt it was safe at this point to take a few pictures
while driving. Finally headed down!!
When I was at the Visitor Center at the beginning, the
Park Ranger said it would take about an hour and a half
with no stops to drive through. It took me 4 hours.
