Colorado National Monument is just west of Grand Junction, CO. It is stunningly beautiful. You can enter from the north off of I-70, or you can enter from the southeast as we did. We had little time to do anything but drive through and take a few pictures. Some day I am coming back with Bill to spend more time.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Curecanti National Recreation Area and Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
We spent the night in Canon (pronounced "canyon") City on US 50 west of Pueblo, CO. The motel has been used by many movie production crews. Signs on the doors of some rooms named a movie star that had slept in the room. Some names we saw: Goldie Hawn, John Belushi, and Jack Elam.
From Canon City, US 50 winds through the Curecanti National Recreation Area. The Blue Mesa Reservoir is formed by the dammed up Gunnison River. The picture to the right is of the Dillon Pinnacles on Blue Mesa Reservoir.
After leaving the Curecanti National Recreation Area, we took a turn north onto Colorado state road 347 to visit Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. We drove the truck down a 16% grade to get to the bottom. The next day we went back and drove along the rim of the canyon. It is called Black Canyon because its sides are so steep that the sun does not reach some parts of it. It was not navigated until 1901.
From Canon City, US 50 winds through the Curecanti National Recreation Area. The Blue Mesa Reservoir is formed by the dammed up Gunnison River. The picture to the right is of the Dillon Pinnacles on Blue Mesa Reservoir.
After leaving the Curecanti National Recreation Area, we took a turn north onto Colorado state road 347 to visit Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. We drove the truck down a 16% grade to get to the bottom. The next day we went back and drove along the rim of the canyon. It is called Black Canyon because its sides are so steep that the sun does not reach some parts of it. It was not navigated until 1901.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Capulin Volcano National Monument and the Continental Divide
The adventure has begun. Starr and I left Atlanta on Tuesday, September 1, in a rental truck loaded with the family heirlooms, abandoning Bill to his own devices. Our destination: Boise, Idaho.
The first couple of days were just to make miles, but by Thursday we were ready for some sight-seeing. We pulled off the main road in northwestern New Mexico to see Capulin Volcano National Monument, the site of a 60,000 year old volcanic cone.
The next day we crossed the Continental Divide at Monarch Pass on US 50 in Colorado - 11,312 feet!
The first couple of days were just to make miles, but by Thursday we were ready for some sight-seeing. We pulled off the main road in northwestern New Mexico to see Capulin Volcano National Monument, the site of a 60,000 year old volcanic cone.
The next day we crossed the Continental Divide at Monarch Pass on US 50 in Colorado - 11,312 feet!
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