Autumn Rocks the Rockies!

Life after Real Estate

Changing of the seasons is one thing Colorado does best!  My favorite season is fall.  In the fall we still have nice weather with very cool, crisp nights.  The leaves on the trees turn all shades of yellow and sometimes orange.  With the backdrop of the mountains, Colorado color makes for inspirational calendar-type images.

It’s no wonder so many people have made moving to Colorado their #1 choice!

Fall Images of Colorado’s San Juan Mountains

I took these images on a trip to the San Juans almost two weeks ago.  Color was just turning in some parts and in others was at it’s peak. I’ll never understand why one side of the mountain can be bathed in gold while the other is still green.  Just the same, I’m happy it turns out that way, drawing out the changing of the leaves for a longer period of time.

Colorado’s 4-wheel Drive Roads

I drove over Cinnamon Pass a high-clearance, 4-wheel drive only road that goes from Lake City to Silverton, Colorado.  Trust the warning signs when they state the road is not maintained.  It isn’t.

We had the pleasure of viewing a Moose family from afar.  Mr. Moose was content to munch on the brush around the stream, while Mrs. Moose and Baby Moose remained somewhat obscured in the brush.  We could see them moving about, but they never stepped clear of their dinner!

Colorado Cowboy Carwash?

My brand new car got to go through the Cowboy Carwash, another fun, yet nerve wrecking feat, at least nerve wrecking for me!

The highlight of the trip was chasing the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Train.  My photographer friends, the Pixel Chix were determined to shoot the train as it rolled down the tracks.  We had no idea where to find such a location, so I asked the Engineer when the train was sitting in Silverton.  He was very helpful, telling me where to stand and what time the train would get there, but still we never did find that “perfect spot” so I’ll be going back there one day to find it.

The image with the ragged peaks are the Mt. Sneffels Wilderness range.  That image was taken nearby the Double RL Ranch, belonging to Ralph Lauren of Polo fame.  Mr. Lauren certainly knows how to buy real estate.  His ranch is magnificent, the setting is a picture postcard throughout all the four seasons!

Getting to the San Juan Mountain Range from Denver

The San Juan area is located along the western slope of Colorado.  The towns in the area are the famous mining and ski town, Telluride, Ridgeway, Ouray which is known as America’s Little Switzerland, and the mining town of Silverton.  A visit to this area is easily made from Denver in about 5-6 hours during the spring, summer and fall.  In the winter more time should be allowed if there is snow on the roads.  Many of the roads the Pixel Chix took are only open during non-winter months.

The route we took was a big circle, picking up one of the Pixel Chix in Colorado Springs, we drove up Highway 24 to 285, catching Highway 50 in Montrose going over Monach Pass (awesome color) to Gunnison and then Lake City to Silverton.  Ouray was our home base.  When in Ouray don’t miss the Chocolate Mouse store, oh my goodness the scrap cookies are to die for! ) Returning we started in Crested Butte (Kebler Pass is a MUST see) returning via Cottonwood Pass to 50 than 285 home over Kenosha to Denver.

If moving to Denver, Colorado is part of your plan, please call me.  I am a Colorado licensed real estate broker who would welcome your call.

About the Author

Kristal Kraft
Kristal has been helping buyers and sellers in Colorado since 1984. She enjoys sharing her knowledge of the Metro Denver Real Estate market via blogging and in person while driving around the beautiful Rocky Mountain town of Denver! For fun, Kristal enjoys shooting things with a Canon. Visit Denver Photo Blog