Day two began with a spectacular celestial handover in Alamosa. As the sun rose over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains behind us, a thick fog still clung to the San Juans ahead, the range we’d be exploring all day.
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| A quiet sunrise over the Sangre de Cristos to start our day in Alamosa. |
Day two began with a spectacular celestial handover in Alamosa. As the sun rose over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains behind us, a thick fog still clung to the San Juans ahead, the range we’d be exploring all day.
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| Looking west, a dense morning fog waits for us to drive through. |
After breaking through the fog, we headed for the otherworldly landscape of the Wheeler Geologic Area, a maze of volcanic spires and hoodoos. From there, the road climbed high into the heart of the mountains, over passes where the valleys below were painted with vast groves of golden aspen. The afternoon was spent exploring the area around Creede and South Fork, finding remnants of old railroads and spotting local wildlife before we finally rolled into Ouray, tired but thrilled by a day packed with incredible sights.
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| The surreal formations of Wheeler Geologic Area, sculpted from ancient volcanic ash. |
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| Exploring the details of this strange and beautiful landscape. |
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| Golden leaves accent a rushing waterfall along Molas Creek. |
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| The spectacular valley view from atop Ophir Pass, where the fall colors are peaking. |
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| This overgrown railbed at Collier Wildlife Area is a ghost of the region's mining past. |
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| A cautious mule deer watches from a hillside near Creede. |
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| This curious chipmunk popped out to say hello near the end of our day's drive. |
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| The warm glow of the late afternoon sun lighting up the wetlands near South Fork. |
Wherever you are today, may your path be filled with unexpected wonders.
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