After leaving Leadville, Colorado July 21, 2021, I’ve been bouncing around from Buena Vista to Salida, Gunnison, Montrose, and back to Gunnison. Following are random photos of wildlife, rivers, and mountains of the area.

I spotted this moose on a drive from Salida up to Marshall Pass.
These deer were grazing right next to a campsite in Ward Lake Campground on the Grand Mesa, north of Cedaredge, CO.
This could be a motivational photo for “Rising above the Crowded” What’s your caption?
The sunflower fields were NW of Montrose, Colorado.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the D&RG Narrow Gauge Trestle is a bridge that crosses the Cimarron River near where it merges with the Gunnison river and stands as the last remaining railroad bridge along the Black Canyon of the Gunnison route. A small museum about the D&RG railroad along the Gunnison river is nearby.
This is the Galloping Goose rail car that was used on the Rio Grande Southern Railroad. It’s located at the Ridgway Railroad Museum in Ridgway, Colorado.
View of the valley from Flat Top Mountain just outside Montrose, Colorado. The area in the foreground is popular with bikers and 4 wheelers for off road riding.

While in Montrose, I was told that I must take a drive up on Grand Mesa, known as the largest flattop mountain in the world. Highway 65 from Cedaredge to Mesa, Colorado rises up to over 10,000 feet.

After spending 3 weeks in Montrose waiting for the 100 degree days and smoke from wildfires to clear out, I finally went back to the Gunnison area to explore. Below is a view across Blue Mesa Reservoir to Lake Fork NP Campground where I stayed 4 days.

Blue Mesa Reservoir was down 65 feet on it’s way to 90 feet below full. They are required to send water to Lake Powell in Arizona.
Blue Mesa Dam on the Gunnison River
Gunnison River headed toward Morrow Point Reservoir and the Black Canyon beyond.
Gunnison River headed toward Morrow Point Reservoir and the Black Canyon beyond.
Dillon Pinnacles on the Blue Mesa Reservoir.
Dillon Pinnacles on the Blue Mesa Reservoir.

I took a day trip From Lake Fork NP Campground on the Blue Mesa Reservoir up Hwy 92 to Crawford, Colorado. I had been to Crawford from the other direction earlier in the summer to visit the north rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.

The road to Crawford, Colorado.
Gunnison River between Blue Mesa Dam and Morrow Point Reservoir.
Morrow Point Reservoir.

I moved to Elk Creek NP Campground on Blue Mesa Reservoir for an 8 day stay. I took a day trip from there up to Lake City, Colorado and to Slumgullion Pass. Lake City is on one end of the famous Engineer Pass from Ouray and the Million Dollar Highway. Bikers and 4 wheelers I talked to said it was an easy drive to the top from Lake City but it was rough going on to the other end. I’ll save that ride for another day when I have a more capable vehicle!

View of the San Juan Mountains from Slumgullion Pass.
Zoomed in view of the San Juan Mountains from Slumgullion Pass.
View of Red Mountain from Slumgullion Pass.
Slumgullion Pass is most known as part of the Slumgullion Earthflow National Natural Landmark. About 700 years ago, a large chunk of decomposing volcanic rock slid down the mountain to form a natural dam. This blocked the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River and created Lake San Cristobal.