Rocky Mountain High - It's Already Late Fall on Deer Creek Trail, Colorado

Kenneth

Today, we could feel Fall slipping into a quickly approaching Winter as our Bronco climbed to over 12,600ft elevation. Deer Creek Trail is above Montezuma, Colorado, a historic & beautiful mining town with 1880s population of near 10,000 and 'bout 50 today. We couldn't wait to reach I-70 West's exit to Loveland Pass.


Here we're crossing over the Continental Divide - from North America's eastward river flows to its west bound rivers. Every visit here is different, extreme & frequently changing weather - It's alway beautiful!!



Gotta quickly make another stop high on Loveland Pass' west side. Arapahoe Basin Ski Mtn, one of this country's most spectacularly scenic ski mtns is just below this location.



Deer Creek Trail starts along a creek, through lush meadows with several active beaver ponds. Of course, there's a creek crossing that can be very wet & wide in spring and early summer - Easy/Peasy today though.



The trail quickly climbs above treeline and follows a long ridge with many side trails for future explorations. Mountain Goats & Big Horn Sheep are frequently seen up here, but not today.



We stopped for a short hike and lunch. These 'top-o-the-world' views were breathtaking. Literally, as this location is over 12,600ft.




We met a new friend there with his new to him 2004 Jeep. Great fun talking about our vehicles and life experiences with this young man - We meet the nicest peeps on our off road excursions!!

But, with 2 dogs at home now wondering about their late dinner, we started our downhill trip. I REALLY appreciate Ford Bronco's One-Pedal Drive on steep downhill terrain. Will admit at first, it's a little wierd pushing buttons to control your vehicle, but it is much better than 2-footed driving when you really need to focus on your steering line/tire placement..



And a lovely trailhead for that 15min air up!


I'm sure we'll Be Back!!

Cheers

Jakob1972

as someone that is/has overcome their fear of heights (I am a flat lander 32' of elevation) these pictures make my hands sweat. But the scenery is absolutely Amazing.

Kenneth

Today, we could feel Fall slipping into a quickly approaching Winter as our Bronco climbed to over 12,600ft elevation. Deer Creek Trail is above Montezuma, Colorado, a historic & beautiful mining town with 1880s population of near 10,000 and 'bout 50 today. We couldn't wait to reach I-70 West's exit to Loveland Pass.


Here we're crossing over the Continental Divide - from North America's eastward river flows to its west bound rivers. Every visit here is different, extreme & frequently changing weather - It's alway beautiful!!



Gotta quickly make another stop high on Loveland Pass' west side. Arapahoe Basin Ski Mtn, one of this country's most spectacularly scenic ski mtns is just below this location.



Deer Creek Trail starts along a creek, through lush meadows with several active beaver ponds. Of course, there's a creek crossing that can be very wet & wide in spring and early summer - Easy/Peasy today though.



The trail quickly climbs above treeline and follows a long ridge with many side trails for future explorations. Mountain Goats & Big Horn Sheep are frequently seen up here, but not today.



We stopped for a short hike and lunch. These 'top-o-the-world' views were breathtaking. Literally, as this location is over 12,600ft.




We met a new friend there with his new to him 2004 Jeep. Great fun talking about our vehicles and life experiences with this young man - We meet the nicest peeps on our off road excursions!!

But, with 2 dogs at home now wondering about their late dinner, we started our downhill trip. I REALLY appreciate Ford Bronco's One-Pedal Drive on steep downhill terrain. Will admit at first, it's a little weird pushing buttons to control your vehicle, but it is much better than 2-footed driving when you really need to focus on your steering line/tire placement..



And a lovely trailhead for that 15min air up!


I'm sure we'll Be Back!!

Cheers

BroncOitis

What great scenery @Kenneth I know they always say pictures don’t do it any justice, (but still) just love all the scenic pictures you’ve taken!!!
Colorado is definitely on my bucket list, (I can say that because I’m old) 🤣 one of these years I’m going to find myself out there for a couple of weeks hitting some of the trails you’ve mentioned and some of the others.
A couple of the trails I’d love to take on would be Imogene Pass, Blackbear Pass, Engineer Pass, and Cinnamon Pass and a few others.
Just wondering if you have ever taken on BlackBear Pass?
Man……………🤔
I need to retire!!! 🤣

Looks like loads of fun, and what wonderful pictures and write up you did……
Thanks for sharing!!!

Kenneth

Thanks! Yeah, we've lived all over and every time it was our choice .. well, we've moved to Colorado 3 times. That Silverton, Ouray, Telluride area you mention is really spectator. The San Juan Mountains are some of the most beautiful on Earth. Also gotta be the greatest number of totally tricked-out off roading vehicles. Most of the trails you mention are fine, and then there are some very difficult routes.

County Sheriff closed Black Bear due to 'an incident' - Very sad one too. Peeps should note that the Black Bear's gate remains open, but that shelf trail just isn't on our list..

Cheers

Kenneth

Thanks! Yeah, we've lived all over and every time it was our choice .. well, we've moved to Colorado 3 times. That Silverton, Ouray, Telluride area you mention is really spectator. The San Juan Mountains are some of the most beautiful on Earth. Also gotta be the greatest number of totally tricked-out off roading vehicles. Most of the trails you mention are fine, and then there are some very difficult routes.

County Sheriff closed Black Bear due to 'an incident' - Very sad one too. Peeps should note that the Black Bear's gate remains open, but that shelf trail just isn't on our list..

Cheers

BroncOitis

I don’t believe that was due to the Red Jeep that went over, because I think she survived.
I know there was a Bronco Sport that went over last year, but that’s another one I thought she survived, but I could be wrong about the Bronco sport!!!

I hope it won’t be permanently shut down, life comes with risks all the time, and I hate when higher-ups put us all in bubble wrap, so we don’t hurt ourselves….. 😕

Anyhoo!!!
The reason why I know I’m going out there some day or year, is because I have already purchased the Colorado Trail book about a year or two ago!!! 🤣

If it remains closed, there are many, many more trails out there to conquer.