Black Canyon

After spending the night at Montrose we headed off to Black Canyon National Park. We didn't know much about this place, but it is very impressive. It is not so deep as Grand Canyon nor so wide, but it is much steeper and the rock is much harder so the poor river has to work even harder to make a canyon. There is also a road to the bottom of the Canyon. Around the turn of the century a tunnel fifteen miles long was hand dug through the solid rock of the canyon wall to bring water to the arid valley beyond. The road takes you to that area and it is the steepest i have ever driven. It was a 16% grade. I always thought 8 or 9% was pretty steep.

Gunnison River Black Canyon

Aspen fall color

After touring the park, we spent the night in Gunnison. From there we again headed south and east, passing through Lake City  and Creede. The trip took us over mountain passes as high as 11,500 ft. The aspens were in full color. They cascaded down the mountain sides in flows of molten yellows and golds. We paralleled the Rio Grande River for a while and eventually made our way to the Great Sand Dunes of Colorado National Park. It's a lot like the sand dunes on the Oregon coast but without the water. In all fairness they are a lot bigger too. After looking and taking a few pictures there was not much more to do unless you wanted to walk several miles through the sand to the to of the dunes. Tonight we are at Walsenburg. Tomorrow we continue east through eastern Colorado and into Kansas. Should be pretty boring.

Great Sand Dunes

Linda at the Dunes