Early this Fall, before the “Autumn Road Trip Out West”, my family and I took a most amazing Fall tour through some of Colorado’s best country. We traveled over four major mountain passes and just had a great time taking as many photos as possible with the leaves turning.

Starting out in Salida, drive North on HWY 285 to HWY 24 North and through Buena Vista.  At the turn off for Twin Lakes, HWY 82, turn left in order to go over Independence Pass and in to Aspen. Independence Pass is one of the best high alpine passes in Colorado. At its summit your above the tree-line at over 12,000 feet. All along the pass you’ll see waterfalls, beaver ponds, and meandering streams and creeks making their way out of the high country. At the summit you drive over the Continental Divide and in to the Roaring Fork drainage. At that elevation the Roaring Fork is merely a stream and meanders through a large glacial valley for miles before confluencing with other tributaries, and eventually the Crystal River. My dad always told me when I was growing up on camping trips and adventures, “If you understand the drainages and watersheds of Colorado, you’ll understand Colorado.”  As I get older and further discover and explore the state, I find that bit of info ever more fascinating and true.  At the far end of Independence Pass you descend in to some amazing aspen groves, and then you’re in Aspen for brunch.

After Aspen, CO, continue on HWY 82 toward Glenwood Springs. When you get to Carbondale, you’re going to turn left on HWY 133 toward Delta, CO.  This is a beautiful drive up the Crystal River drainage with Mount Sopris on your left. Along the Crystal River, you’ll often spot what looks like giant ice chunks in the river.  These chunks are actually a very high grade of marble, a metamorphic rock that comes from Limestone.  Boats used to float down the Crysal River carrying these chunks and you are seeing what’s left of some “whoops.”  Just before you get to the small town of Redstone, you’ll pass the “Penny Hot Springs” on the left.  Despite the name, they are free and natural, and an enjoyable couple of little pots right off the road.  If you have time, stop in Redstone because they have a number of quaint little galleries and a lot of marble sculptors.  Before going over McLure Pass, we took a detour to the Crystal Mill, the painting above.   To get to the Crystal Mill, you have to first take the turn off to Marble, CO and go through the small town.  You’ll need a four wheel drive, and it’s a slow four mile road further up the Crystal River to the small ghost town of Crystal where the mill is.  There are actually people living in Crystal now and there are a couple of very primitive shops.  The road is rough and narrow, and if you encounter other vehicles, there’s a good chance one or the other of you will be backing up into a tight turn-out.  All along the road there are aspens turning, waterfalls, and cascades of breathtaking beauty. Well worth the detour in my opinion.   

McLure Pass is the pass to the West out of the Crystal River drainage and would eventually drop you off in Delta, CO on the Western Slope.  But on this loop, you dont go all the way to Delta. On the other side of McLure Pass, just after you go by Paonia State Park and the accompanying reservoir, you’re going to pick up Kebbler Pass to Crested Butte, CO.

Kebbler Pass is a unique pass because, experts say, it houses the largest organizm on Earth, the aspen grove.  Little fun fact, aspen “trees” are not trees, they are shrubs.  Their root systems are all interconnected forming giant biomasses.  The Kebbler Pass aspen grove is truly mezmerizing to drive through. As far as the eye can see, there are trunks of mature aspens paralaxing past your view.  To make the place even more magical, the forest floor is made up almost entirely of lush ferns.  Then when you’re done taking about a million pictures of aspen, you’ll drop down in to Crested Butte for some dinner.  There are no shortage of fantastic bistros, pizza joints, and other dining opportunities.  Try to save a bit of daylight for the drive to Gunnison from Crested Butte, as it is a picturesque descent down the East River drainage.  A winding drive through farmlands with elegantly weathered barns, stockyards, the occasional old truck (I love to paint these!!) and cottonwoods that line the river’s banks will land you in Gunnison, CO.

From Gunnison, it’s an hours drive over Monarch Pass, back in to the Arkansas River drainage, to home-base. A long, but extremely enjoyable drive.  If one had time, instead of going over Monarch Pass, one could take a right turn at Sargents, and go over Marshall Pass instead which has no shortage of views, aspens, creeks and canyons. Marshall Pass plops out on Poncha Pass and from there you’re back in Arkansas River drainage.  All in all, very highly recommended.

Feel free to comment, ask questions, or simply enjoy.