On route locations---CA to CO

[John Kasaian]

I'll be off on a quick trip to Colorado for a shoot:D . I don't have much time coming or going but if anyone can recommend some photogenic locations along HWY 40 and 491 (Barstow CA to Cortez CO) I'd much appreciate knowing. I'll be en route to Durango so there is the option of taking HWY 64 from Shiprock to Farmington and either 170/140 or 550 North to Durango, although I don't know how these routes are during winter weather.
So...any suggestions?
Thanks!

[sidmac]

We have homes in both Northern California and Southern Colorado (60 miles east of Durango) So we make the drive about 4 times a year. Because we come from Northern California we usually travel highway 50 but we take the Southern Route in the Winter.
I would recommend Valley of Fire State Park near Vegas but it's off of I 15. You won't be too far from Page Arizona on this route and you can go to Antelope Canyon. This is a Navajo Park and you must take a tour in the upper canyon. The lower canyon has tours also but generally they just lead you in and let you go about your business. If you want to get on a tour of the upper canyon go with Overland Tours. My wife and I went in mid summer on the first tour of the day and we were the only ones with our guide and he was another photographer so we got some good shots before the larger tours arrived.
The drive from Gallup to Farmington features a lot of Monument Valley like formations near the road. Depending on weather conditions and time of day these can be quite spectacular. The Bisti Badlands and Chaco Canyon near Cortez are great but plan on most of a day for each.
From Durango take highway 550 to Silverton. A great drive and many photo ops but their is a lot of snow right now and it's quite cold. As I'm writing this at 10:00 AM in Pagosa Springs the temperature is about 14 degrees.
As a Fresno native (Born, Raised and Educated ?) I wish you lots of luck on your trip

[sidmac]

We're here till early Feb. in Pagosa Springs (60 miles east of Durango) and have plenty of room if your looking for cheap (FREE) accomodations

[sidmac]

Oops! How could I forget? Mesa Verde NM right outside of Cortez. Part of the Park is Closed in Winter but there still is much to see and photograph.

[Richard M. Coda]

Near Flagstaff...

Sunset Crater NM
http://www.nps.gov/sucr/index.htm

Wupatki NM
http://www.nps.gov/wupa/index.htm

further East along I40...
Petrified Forest NP and Painted Desert
http://www.nps.gov/pefo/index.htm

further East...
if you like old 50s style motels (on Rt. 66), Tucumcari, NM
http://www.tucumcarinm.com/

[John Kasaian]

We're here till early Feb. in Pagosa Springs (60 miles east of Durango) and have plenty of room if your looking for cheap (FREE) accomodations

Thanks for the offer!:) Alas I only have a short time for the shoot in Ouray so I'll liklely be spending most of my time up there.

[Drew Wiley]

John, I'm fairly amazed how well Colorado keeps the roads and even high passes
open in the Winter. But they seem to get less depth of snow than our Sierras, and
if their passes closed, most of the state would shut down. Since Ouray isn't very far
from the ski hub of Telluride, you'll probably just have to watch immediate forecasts. Telluride itself will be a zoo, at lot like Mammoth around here, but itself
has things like frozen waterfalls. Black Canyon of the Gunnison isn't terribly far
away either. In general, a very nice area with a view camera in winter, but you'll
want warm footwear etc. Have a safe trip!

[Erik Larsen]

I would skip the Black Canyon because they close the roads at the visitor center in the winter, unless you plan to xcountry ski in. If you are Ouray, you can shoot the frozen ice climbing park that is pretty cool. You'll have some nice vistas from Ouray to Norwood (dallas divide) but the sun is pretty far south still to get real good light. You can take the back way to moab via dove creek which is a beautiful drive. You'll be driving through beautiful country and just have to use your imagination if time is short and stay near the car. Have fun!
erik

[venchka]

If you approach Ouray from Durango, return to Dolores on the other road north from Ouray, through Ridgway & past Telluride. Hwys 62 & 145. Just follow the San Juan Skyway signs. I'm sure your eyes will find something camera worthy.

Be safe & have fun. Sometimes, but not always, mutually exclusive.

[Eric Biggerstaff]

Erik,

I have never taken the back way to Moab from Dove creek, can you give some directions?

Thanks,
Eric

[Wallace_Billingham]

I used to live in CO and the only I would add is to wacth out for Elk, Deer, and Big Horn Sheep on the roads. Big Horn Sheep especially love to eat the road salt off the roads and an entire herd of them will take over a road.

I once saw a very bad chain reaction wreck on I-70 when a herd of sheep was on the road

[Erik Larsen]

Erik,

I have never taken the back way to Moab from Dove creek, can you give some directions?

Thanks,
Eric

Hi Eric,
If you are coming from Denver via I 70 exit in Grand Junction/Clifton exit and follow signs for Hwy 50 to Delta or Montrose. A few miles down Hwy 50 turn right on HWY 141 to Gateway, Naturita. Now you are in Unawheep canyon which is lovely and the whole drive to Naturita is beautiful. You can either take CO 90 to La Sal Junction (turns into UT 46 in Utah) which skirts the southern side of the La Sal Mtns and ends at HWY 191 or you can go a few miles further and take HWY 141 to Dove Creek. Turn right at Dove creek on UT 491 to Monticello and take 191 to Moab.

If you are coming from the south take HWY 62 out of Ridgeway toward Telluride and take 145 toward Norwood/Natuita.

Both routes are very scenic with the northern route being more canyon country and southern route being more Alpine vistas.
regards
Erik