Tuesday, July 15, 2014
We spent some time looking at the calendar, brochures and websites, figuring out how much time we have left before we need to head home. (We have a weeklong date with our kids and grandkids at Tybee Beach, Georgia in August!) We are thinking about spending a few days exploring the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in Montrose, CO (I know nothing about this park) and the Pikes Peak area near Colorado Springs before heading to Denver, and Rocky Mountain NP. We have decided there is so much to do and see here, that we will need to return and thoroughly explore Colorado!
After lunch, we headed out to Wolf Creek Pass traveling east on Hwy 160 from Pagosa Springs. “Wolf Creek Pass, way up on the Great Divide…” Just hearing the name of the pass puts me in mind of this song by CJ McCall, and we played it twice going over Wolf Creek Pass. Transports me right back to the 70s…
We drove through lush, green valleys, tall trees, mountains… beautiful country.
We can head out in any direction and it’s beautiful country… we are on Hwy 160 E heading to Wolf Creek Pass.
Lots of Summer homes but there are still a few farms…
Fir Trees, Engelmann Spruce Trees
3 miles to Wolf Creek Pass Summit
view from Lobo Scenic Overlook
Hwy 160 from Pagosa Springs to Wolf Creek Pass…
We stopped at Treasure Falls, a waterfall located about 15 miles northeast of Pagosa Springs, CO on Hwy 160. The waterfall is partially visible at a distance from the parking lot. There is a short and moderately steep trail that gains about 300 feet in elevation, and takes about 15 minutes. The trail takes you to the base of the falls, where there is a footbridge that affords excellent views. A switchback trail takes hikers closer to the pool at the bottom, where you can feel the spray of the falls after the water plunges 105 feet from Fall Creek…
Treasure Falls, Colorado – image from Google Images – photo taken from footbridge at base of falls
When we arrived in the parking lot of Treasure Falls, we were disappointed to find the trail closed to hiking, with no explanation. Bummer. We haven’t seen many waterfalls this trip…
We continued on curvy mountain roads, through tunnels and snow sheds towards Lobo Scenic Overlook and Wolf Creek Pass. We usually stop for Historic Markers (unless we have the caboose and there is no room to pull over.) I saw a sign for a Historic Marker and it turned out to be the Continental Divide and several signs. There were historic photos and a history about the road to Wolf Creek Pass…and Wolf Creek Pass, elevation 10,015 feet.
history of the road through Wolf Creek Pass…
Great Divide Sign at Wolf Creek Pass
Continental Divide Trail at Wolf Creak Pass
We decided to take a hike on the Continental Divide Trail, and it started out in a meadow, crossing a stream, and moved into the woods. The whole trail was surrounded by all kinds of wildflowers. We didn’t hike long, but had a wonderful time in the woods.
John, on Continental Divide Trail, near Wolf Creek Pass
unidentified shrub, Continental Divide Trail, near Wolf Creek Pass
Sweet Cicely (Osmorhiza berteroi) Celery Family, Continental Divide Trail, near Wolf Creek Pass. Ecology: foothills and montane in damp, shady woods.
unidentified, Continental Divide Trail, near Wolf Creek Pass
unidentified – Continental Divide Trail, near Wolf Creek Pass
Scarlet Paintbrush, Continental Divide Trail, near Wolf Creek Pass
White Geranium (Geranium richardsonii) – Continental Divide Trail, near Wolf Creek Pass
Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium pulcherrimum) – Continental Divide Trail, near Wolf Creek Pass
unidentified, Continental Divide Trail, near Wolf Creek Pass
Carolina Draba (Draba reptans) Mustard Family – Continental Divide Trail, near Wolf Creek Pass. Ecology: Plains and Foothills.
unidentified, Continental Divide Trail, near Wolf Creek Pass
Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium pulcherrimum) – Continental Divide Trail, near Wolf Creek Pass
Wild Strawberries Fragaria virginiana) – Continental Divide Trail, near Wolf Creek Pass
unidentified, Continental Divide Trail, near Wolf Creek Pass
Sickletop Lousewort (Pedicularis racemosa) Figwort Family – Continental Divide Trail, near Wolf Creek Pass
Pineywoods Geranium (Geranium caespitosum) Continental Divide Trail, near Wolf Creek Pass
John, ahead on the trail, near the dead conifers (killed by pine bark beetles and drought) – Continental Divide Trail, near Wolf Creek Pass
Dwarf Sunflower? (Helianthus pumilus) – Continental Divide Trail, near Wolf Creek Pass
we saw flowers all along the trail….
Western Yellow Paintbrush (Castilleja occidentalis) – Continental Divide Trail, near Wolf Creek Pass
unidentified, Wolf Creek Pass
unidentified – Continental Divide Trail, near Wolf Creek Pass
unidentified – Continental Divide Trail, near Wolf Creek Pass
Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium), Wolf Creek Pass Ski Area
unidentified grass, Wolf Creek Pass
unidentified, Hwy 160 near Wolf Creek Pass
unidentified – Continental Divide Trail, near Wolf Creek Pass
Wolf Creek
Snow Shed – Wolf Creek Pass
Tunnel near Wolf Creek Pass
afternoon thunderstorms moving in again
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About Holly Ritger
I am retired, enjoying being a grandmother, traveling to National Parks and other interesting places in our RV with my husband of 43 years, and visiting with friends and family. Hobbies: photography, learning about wildflowers and birds, and trees, and reading from my kindle.
Enjoyed this post. Sorry you missed the waterfall. If you have time don’t miss Pike’s Peak. Cheyenne Mountain State Park is a great place to stay with full hook ups and big sites. We loved the drive up Pike’s Peak even though the road was closed near the top because of bad weather (it was May). You would also like Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. We only stayed 2 nights and had plenty of time to do both.
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I will make a note about Cheyenne SP, thanks Beth. We basically had a very rainy/stormy weekend here. We learned one has to make reservations several days in advance for the cog railway; it hailed heavily on the road to Pike’s Peak today and the road was closed for several hours while they plowed it! We did manage to go to the grocery store and do laundry today!
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I hope you and John are safe where you are!
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Yep, to truly explore all Colorado has to offer, one would need a full summer or more likely a couple of summers. We have a reservation within Rocky Mtn NP August 15th and I can’t wait. Aren’t all the wildflowers just lovely?
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The wildflowers are beautiful, Ingrid, and so unexpected! I had no expectations about blooms and have enjoyed them thoroughly : ) Enjoy Rocky Mountain NP… We are heading there next and I fervently hope the drenching rains are over!
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Thanks, Beth… We are safe, and high and dry in a new campsite in Golden, CO. The campground is set on a hill and our site is not at the bottom! We should drain well during the heavy rains forecast for here the next couple days or more.
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