Locals here have told us the autumn leaves this season have been some of the best they've seen. For about two weeks, during peak colors, we drove up and down Hwy 145. That highway travels through the historic mining community of Rico and the historic 'railroad-head' town of Dolores. Because our campground homebase was a little closer to Cortez, we used that town's resources for groceries, Walmart and etc. Spending a nice afternoon at Cortez's September Third Thursday Music and Markets Gathering, I spoke with a resident familiar with the area. He suggested we not miss the San Juan National Forest Access Road 535 for leaf peeping. We made that day trip twice it was so scenic and colorful!
This photo, taken from the Jeep as Ronnie drove Hwy 145 towards Rico and Telluride, was always stunning with autumn's colors. Our first trip to Forest Access Rd 535 was just north of Rico.
Mountains and hillsides are nearing their peak fall colors this particular week. The variegated patches of aspen yellow, chartreuse and green appear to look like a quilt.
Red earth exposed on the road embankments seemed to enhance the yellow colors.
Ronnie researched this Forest Access road to discover it would be an easier drive than the Last Dollar Road experience. We passed several cars, pick-up trucks and a few high clearance vehicles on this well-maintained dirt road. It appeared several others were out this day taking in the colorful fall scenery.
Immediately turning off Hwy 145, the dirt road climbs upward, making several switchbacks through thick aspen groves. This drive was so scenic we actually drove it again on a second day trip. I'll post those photos later in this blog.
Finally reaching the top of the hillside from all those switchbacks, the aspen grove opens up to the stunning view below. Wow..that skinny little line right of center in the photo there is Hwy 145.
These photos show the nice wide road, no rocky outcrops or deep pot holes. We had no water crossings and it was easy for two vehicles meeting each other to pass safely. We came across only one short yet small ledge section.
We saw several mountain peaks, but unfortunately I cannot determine their names from the San Juan National Forest maps. This is Dolores Peak maybe??
Hwy 535 continued its climb to a wide, expansive meadow. That same peak was still visible from the road.
We stayed straight on Hwy 535 towards Dunton, electing not to take the spur road to a hiking trail here.
Ronnie found this drive easier to navigate and I, the scenic views so photogenic. We made this drive on two different days it was so inviting.
Unfortunately we saw very few animals on this back country road. The only moving things we saw (other than cars with people) were a few crows and a couple of hawks flying in the sky.
This was the only shelf or cliff ledge section of Hwy 535 and it was a small one (compared to some we have been on).
San Juan National Forest Road 535 went in and out of aspen groves, conifer forests and wide, expansive landscapes. Every view was quite interesting.
And in sections the only sounds we heard were the rustling aspen leaves.
We saw this mountain peak several times as we traveled westward on the road.
It's really dry this season. Hwy 535 was very dusty.
Hwy 535 goes by the San Juan National Forest Burro Bridge Campground. We did not drive through the campground but from what we could see of it from the road it offered nice wooded sites with pit toilets.
The surrounding aspen here were glorious in the afternoon sunlight.
These aspen trees nestled in the evergreens looked like fluffy buttered popcorn placed in a green bowl!
Gorgeous golden leaves shimmering in the breeze.
Now, I know this is Lizard Head Peak, 13,114 feet. We continued on to the historic, very small community of Dunton and the Dunton Hot Springs Resort. This was the view in the Jeep's rear view mirror as we finished this day's leaf peeping trip.
The very next day we returned back to Hwy 535, this time traveling to Dunton first by way of Hwy 38. Making a left off Hwy 145 just northwest of Dolores, this road is paved but then turns into a well maintained dirt road. That highway dead ends and becomes Forest Access Road 535 which travels through back country back into Hwy 145 north of Rico.
The Dunton Road (signage leaving Hwy 145 states West Dolores Road) hosts several sprawling ranches, quaint log homes and the Dunton Hot Springs Resort.
Views of the West Dolores River, it flows along the road to Dunton.
We passed by beautiful ranch pasture lands along the West Dolores Road (Hwy 38).
Appearing quaint and unpretentious from the roadside, this is the Dunton Hot Springs Resort. It doesn't look like much from the highway, does it? You see a collection of barns, a few cabins, a smallish parking lot on a dirt path. However, you cannot judge a book by its cover here. To learn more about this historic abandoned mining community that is now remodeled into an exclusive resort, click HERE.
Dunton was a tiny mining community begun in the 1880's. Due to its remoteness, it was nothing more that a small assortment of log buildings. The few people that lived there mined using the tipple method. What seemed to draw others to this remote area was a mineral-laden hot spring. Over time many of the old log cabins and buildings were gradually abandoned and finally in the 1990's the land and buildings (what was left of them) were purchased by a developer who had a vision for creating a resort-type area here.
To learn more about the history of Dunton click HERE.
To learn more about the history of Dunton click HERE.
Relics of Dunton's past still visible from the roadside.
With the sunlight at our backs now, the light on the golden leaves really popped against the blue sky.
We made our way back up the pass to the wide, brown grass meadow. We found this old abandoned homestead, we didn't stop because there were prominent 'No Trespassing' signs displayed.
Views of the Lizard Head Wilderness Range from the meadows.
We continued on our way to observe valleys strewn with more golden-tipped aspen peeking through the greenery.
It was difficult for me to cease looking though my camera's viewfinder when every sight or turn in the road seemed to present that perfect landscape.
Once in a while we would see orange tinged leaves mixed in with the gold.
We traveled back down the switchbacks where Forest Access Rd 535 meets Hwy 145 just north of Rico. It almost felt like we were entering an illuminated golden tunnel.
Just like the Last Dollar Road, the sunlight displayed a warm radiance as it filtered through the trembling aspen leaves.
The last switchback on San Juan National Forest Access Road 535.
Passing back through the old mining town of Rico, the golden yellow aspen surrounding the town seem symbolic to me of the gold nuggets that were mined from those hills.
More Later
One more Aspen Autumn Road Trip
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