Tag: mountains

Sandstone Ranch Open Space: Juniper Valley Loop Trail

Posted on by Joy

Thirty miles north of home is a new 2,038 acre open space–Sandstone Ranch. Douglas County, the county north of my home county of El Paso, opened Sandstone Ranch to the public in September 2020. They are proud to have secured this acreage for the public to enjoy for generations. This open space has a 3.5-mile common border with Pike National Forest, historic ranch buildings from the original owners in the 1870s, and great plans to make both available to visitors in the future.

Currently, though, Sandstone Ranch has 12 miles of trails with overlooks of the old Ranch and various red rock formations. Today we will explore 3.6 miles of the Juniper Valley Loop Trail. With all the rain we’ve had this year–and are still getting–the flowers and plants should be amazing. This is my first visit here, so join me on this new adventure in beautiful Sandstone Ranch Open Space!

Let’s go . . .

Ride~About: 20 Mule Team Canyon in Death Valley

Posted on by Joy
Uh-oh. Driving down CA-127 to Death Valley’s southern entrance, we may run into some weather! Well, onward to 20 Mule Team Canyon, a 2.8 mile one-way dirt road along CA-190 into Death Valley. We can’t let a little rain stop the adventures. Well, we do have to be careful of flash flooding. Let’s go and hope for good weather
Here we go . . .

Ride~About: Silver Thread Scenic Byway (CO-149)

Posted on by Joy

Part I: Southern Half of the Byway

Is there any doubt that visiting the Colorado mountains in autumn is a must-do adventure? The Silver Thread Scenic Byway is a 117-mile trip from South Fork through the central San Juan Mountains in southwest Colorado to Blue Mesa Reservoir. It is Colorado highway CO-149, a designated Colorado Scenic Byway and National Forest Byway. In 2021 it was named a National Scenic Byway, making it one of 13 America’s Byways® designated in Colorado. Visiting the mountains for what’s lovingly called leaf peeping, Colorado’s best chances for peak color is sometime between early-September to mid-October. We have our fingers crossed that we see good colors these first few days of October. Off we go!

Early morning Rio Grande River
The clouds are on the river! Come on along to see more . . .

SNAP*Shot: Twin Lakes Autumn Splendor

Posted on by Joy

We stayed in Twin Lakes last August hiking to the historic Inter-Laken resort. Although summer is beautiful, visiting Twin Lakes in autumn is not to be missed! The colorful aspen on the mountainsides, the golden willows and grasses along the lake, the snowfall on the mountaintops–what a view!

Look over there, the highest mountain in the Rocky Mountains . . .