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Colorado Scenic Drive: Part III
Glenwood Springs to Ouray and the San Juans
In Part II, you traveled from Denver International Airport to Glenwood Hot Springs via Rocky Mountain National Park.
Now, you'll continue from Glenwood Springs to Ouray at the base of the majestic San Juan Range. On your way, you'll experience colorful Colorado canyon country.
Glenwood Hot Springs
Once the summer White House of Teddy Roosevelt, Glenwood Springs hosts one of the most amazing hot springs spas in the world.
The Glenwood Hot Springs Spa features a year-round swimming pool that is literally two blocks long. You'll probably find its temperature perfect. Even in busy seasons, you never feel crowded.
Moreover, the adjacent hot springs soaking pool is larger than most swimming pools. This provides a fine place to relax and rejuvenate.
This all-year spa complex is adjacent to Interstate 70, downtown, next to the Colorado River. You’ll find easier parking in back. (You need to walk around to the front to enter, but you can exit from the pool area in back.)
The historic town setting in the foothills of the Rockies is quite pleasant. Glenwood Springs makes a great place to overnight.
Colorado River Gorge
Get a late start today. Enjoy the spa facilities and then leave anytime before Noon. In fact, you may wish to linger an extra day and take one of the white water trips down Glenwood Canyon.
If you leave earlier, pack a picnic lunch, unless you want to detour into Grand Junction (a commercial, not a tourist center) for your meal. For a snack or lunch, include items such as firm cheeses and breads that do not spoil easily in warm temperatures.
Drive westbound on I-70 toward Grand Junction.
This route follows the Colorado River through its rock-lined gorge. You are on one side of the river and the old Denver & Rio Grand Railway (now Union Pacific) follows the other.
As you approach Grand Junction, the river enters a wide agricultural valley.
You are now in Mesa County, aptly named for the flat-topped mountains that surround you.
A peach of a town
From mid-July through late September, take the turn off from I-70 into Palisade.
In a July 2004 feature article, Gourmet Magazine judged the peaches in Palisade and its surrounding area some of the finest in America. The high elevation leads to sharply cold spring nights, and this (along with a dry climate) fosters peaches with incredibly sweet and robust flavor.
Return to I-70.
Canyon Country
Your route misses Colorado National Monument near Grand Junction, but takes you through similar and even more colorful scenery.
You are entering a very isolated part of Colorado where you'll find few services and encounter few other travelers.
Be sure that you have a full tank of gas and several gallon jugs of water.
At Chifton, exit I-70 and travel southbound on Colorado Highway 141 toward the town of Whitewater.
Colorado 141 joins southbound U.S. Highway 50.
At Whitewater, drive southbound (westbound) on 141 as it branches off from 50 to the right.
You enter a countryside that becomes increasingly scenic and isolated. You stay on paved roads, however.
Watch for cattle on the highway, as you often find no fences.
Before reaching the village of Gateway, look for a rest stop marked by a blue sign on your right. This provides the only shelter with trees and picnic tables (adjacent to a creek) that you'll encounter for some time. There’s a primitive toilet. Stop here.
After Gateway, the countryside becomes even more rugged and colorful. Soon you are driving along the rim of a large canyon. Pull off at several of the scenic overlooks for the views.
At Vancorum, continue on 141.
After Naturita, veer left onto Highway 145 toward Norwood.
Once you pass Norwood, the countryside becomes more alpine and you'll start to see the high snow capped San Juan Range in the distance.
At Placerville, Highway 145 heads toward Telluride (which you’ll visit later).
Instead, turn left onto Highway 62 toward Ridgway. (This town forgot the "e.")
As you drive along, you’ll notice many beaver dams in the creek on your right.
At Ridgway, turn right—southbound—onto U.S. Highway 550.
Ouray
You are now heading up a box (dead end) canyon that becomes more and more narrow as you approach Ouray. It almost seems as if the mountains want to engulf you.
As you enter Ouray, you pass a fine city-run hot springs spa and aquatic complex on your right. Be sure to enjoy this while in Ouray.
Tall mountains rise on three sides. In fact, this area looks so much like the Swiss National Park area in southeastern Switzerland that it calls itself the “Switzerland of North America.”
The old gold and silver mining town of Ouray is fun to explore and makes an excellent holiday base.
The Ouray Chamber Resort Association publishes an excellent adventure hiking guide (which also may be available at your motel). In spite of the high mountains that surround you, you will find a variety of shorter and easier hikes.
One of the most popular activities is taking 4-wheel drive tours to ghost towns and alpine scenic spots high in the mountains. Several companies offer half day and full day excursions, which you can book at your motel.
You can also rent 4-wheel drive vehicles at several places in Ouray, but don’t do this unless you are used to driving (or want to get used to driving) on very primitive mountain dirt roads.
Go on to San Juan Range circle trip, Part IV
(Durango, Mesa Verde National Park, Silverton, Telluride, etc.)
Part I, Introduction
Part II, Denver to Glenwood Springs via Rocky Mountain National Park
Part III, Glenwood Springs to Ouray at the base of the San Juan's
Part IV, San Juan range circle tour
Part V, Ouray to Colorado Springs and Denver
Part VI, Overnight stops and accommodation suggestions
Part VII, Mountain safe driving and health tips
