Stunning views of cliffs with a ribbon of water below at Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
A duck checks out the sunrise at Maroon Bells.
An early snowstorm blankets the fall colors on the Million Dollar Highway.
were in every stage of their autumn transformation on the hillsides that lined Crystal Lake, ranging from soft lime green to lemon yellow to bright orange. In the mornings, before the breeze picked up, the lake dutifully mirrored the hues of the mountainsides in a kaleidoscope of color. It is said that the Million Dollar Highway (US Highway 550), which forms a portion of the San Juan Skyway loop drive, may have gotten its nickname because the mountains’ gold veins are so rich in the area that a million dollars’ worth of gold dust was inadvertently used in its construction. Another theory is that the name came from the exorbitant expense of building the road over these very steep passes. However it got its name, it could easily be said that a drive along the Million Dollar Highway is worth that much or more. The highway traverses three huge mountain passes on the way from Ouray to Durango, and Red Mountain Pass, at more than 11,000 feet, is the highest. Climbing these switchbacks took us from one dizzying overlook to another, and near the top we could see the remains of the Camp Bird Mine tucked against the base of the burnt orange face of Red Mountain. Zooming down the backside of this pass, our exhaust brake fully engaged the whole way, the autumn colors filled our views as we dropped out of heaven’s heights into the tiny village of Silverton.
the waterfall, and we found ourselves breathing heavily when we finally got to the falls themselves. The waterfall is most impressive in the spring when the snowmelt from the mountains makes it flow fast and free, but there was still a pretty spray of water over the rocks, and we enjoyed the feeling of the cool moist air on our skin. Back in town, we stopped in at Mouse’s Chocolates Cafe on Main Street for a latte and a muffin and looked up at a stunning mountain view. We asked our barista where we would find the best fall colors in the area. “Up the Million Dollar Highway,” she told us without hesitation, pointing toward the end of town. “The colors are unbelievable this year.” Just a few moments later we were back in our truck beginning the steep series of 180-degree switchbacks that mark the southern end of town, rising high in the air with every tight turn. The town quickly became a distant world of toy houses far below and then vanished from view all together as the immense Uncompahgre Canyon took its place. This road is not for the faint of heart, and my heart skipped a beat as I saw the bottom of the canyon practically straight below me from just outside the passenger’s side door of our truck. But the views were so magnificent at every turn of the road that we ended up doing this drive over and over during our stay. The golden aspens and other alpine trees
16 COAST TO COAST FALL 2015
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