Touring Southwest Colorado

Leslie and I decided to tour SW Colorado for a September getaway. I’ve never been to most of the places we visited, and for the places Leslie has been to, it was a long time ago. It was an incredible journey and we enjoyed every moment of our trip. The next several posts will offer more info and photos of our adventure. Below is a summary of our trip.

Here’s where we spent our time:

(the links below will take you to the post for that day)

Pagosa Springs – A Perfect Finish!

We decided to spend a night at The Springs Resort in Pagosa Springs. Oh My! I fully expect to go back, time and again, when it’s appropriate to treat myself to this wonderful place.

The food was superb, the dozens of hot tubs were delightful to choose from. Watching the stars come out, and the satellites cruise by, while soaking in delightfully warm/hot water was truly dreamy. Then soaking some more, in the crisp cool morning air while no one else is around makes this visit even more memorable.

After dinner, before our evening soak, we took a walk around the area. Along the walking/bike path, across the bridge and along the sidewalk on the other side. During our walk we stumbled into a swing set. I’ll just leave it at that.

An elderly woman swinging on a playground swing, wearing a colorful floral shirt and grey pants, smiling and enjoying herself.

And in the morning when the air was crisp… aaaahhhhh.

A smiling man and woman enjoying a hot spring while taking a selfie, with a scenic background of a river and grassy landscape.

We ended our stay at checkout time, and headed home.

What a wonderful getaway to a beautiful part of the country that is right in my own backyard.

Mesa Verde – Wow!

We arrived at the Farview Lodge where we enjoyed a casual lunch, some relaxation time followed by dinner and cocktails.

We walked to the outdoor seating area to catch a rainbow.

Back at our room we sat on the balcony planning our next day and watched an incredible thunderstorm roll by.

Dramatic dark storm clouds gathering above a vast landscape, with a view of a distant plateau and faint rain falling in the background.

We had two tours planned for the next day: Mug House in the morning, and Balcony House on the other side of the park in the afternoon.

Mug House

Mug house is named for three mugs tied together with yucca rope found hanging inside one of its rooms. It’s over 1,000 years old and offers amazing insights to how these people lived.

Given that it was a rainy day, I opted to leave my camera tucked in a dry location and used just my phone for the pictures.

This cliff house is a very well protected place, to the extent that we were instructed to walk along the highway and when told to do so by the guide, disperse separately down the hill as to not create a trail, and meet up below.

The trail to Mug House was fun and interesting…

A narrow dirt path winding through dense greenery and bushes in a wooded area.
A wooden pathway winding through a natural rock formation, surrounded by greenery and shrubs.
A group of hikers walking along a rocky path under a large overhanging cliff, surrounded by vegetation.

…and Mug House was amazing.

A group of hikers exploring ancient cliff dwellings nestled under a rocky overhang, surrounded by lush greenery and sandy pathways.
Ancient cliff dwelling ruins with stone walls, partially covered by rock, featuring a wooden ladder and vegetation in the foreground.
Ancient stone dwellings built into a cliffside, surrounded by greenery and sand

Balcony House

Balcony house is also a guide-only tour but not quite as hidden as Mug House. Balcony house is named after the balcony that is part of the architecture of the structure which is believed to be a stepping area for getting into the second floor rooms of the structure.

There were some fun spots along our tour including a 32-foot tall ladder, and a squeeze through a tunnel to get to an adjoining chamber.

Cliffside dwelling with a wooden ladder leading to the entrance, surrounded by rocky terrain and greenery.
A person climbing a metal ladder on a rocky terrain, surrounded by lush greenery in the background.
Narrow passageway between two large rock formations with a person sitting at the entrance, surrounded by gravel and a wooden railing.
A wooden ladder leads up to a cliffside dwelling nestled in a rocky canyon, with steep stone walls and a cloudy sky above.

Balcony House was a multi-community facility which is why there was an adjoining chamber and multiple kivas.

Interior view of an ancient stone ruin set against a mountainous landscape, featuring circular structures and rocky walls.
Interior view of ancient stone ruins built into a cliffside, featuring layered walls, uneven floors, and remnants of structures with a natural landscape visible in the background.
A group of visitors stands along a cliffside walkway near ancient stone dwellings, overlooking a deep canyon with greenery below.
An ancient cliff dwelling with stone walls and remnants of structures under a rocky overhang, surrounded by natural vegetation.
An ancient cliff dwelling structure with stone walls, located under a rock overhang, with visitors exploring the site amid greenery.

A Final Drive Around

After Balcony House, we decided to drive around that part of the park to see what else we might see. It seems as though there is a lot of other sites to visit.

Ancient cliff dwellings nestled beneath a rocky overhang, surrounded by greenery, with a small group of people in the foreground.
Ancient cliff dwellings built into a rocky hillside, showcasing rows of stone structures with windows and doorways.
Close-up view of a rocky cliffside with shrubs and trees, featuring ancient stone structures carved into the rock face.
An ancient stone structure partially hidden under an overhanging cliff, surrounded by shrubs and trees.
A rugged cliff side with a large overhang, featuring textured rock formations and patches of greenery at the base. Above, a landscape of charred trees interspersed with shrubs and grasses under a cloudy sky.

Cortez Colorado

After Silverton we drove to Cortez via Dolores where the visitor center for the Canyon of the Ancients is. We stopped at the visitor center to plan our activities for the next couple of days. The Museum there was very well done and we learned a lot about how the architecture of the pueblos evolved as well as the theories about how and when humans migrated into the area. Here is a map from BLM on the area.

Map of Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, displaying trails, points of interest, and safety warnings for visitors.

From our discussion with the Ranger we decided to spend the next day driving around the canyon visiting many of the pueblo sites, then the day after that hiking to some of the pueblos along Sand Canyon.

After Dolores we headed to the Retro Inn where we stayed a couple nights. It was a very fun and comfortable stay. I actually met a good buddy of mine who was sitting on the bench in front of the hotel.

A retro motel sign reading 'Retro Inn' with a 'No Vacancy' sign below, surrounded by pink flamingo lawn ornaments, a vintage trailer, and people sitting in the background.
A man sits on a park bench next to a life-sized statue of a famous musician in a black leather outfit. The scene is black and white, with trees and a vehicle visible in the background.

Here’s a photo of one of the walls in our room.

We walked to dinner both nights. The first night we ate across the street at Denny’s Diner, and the second night we ate at a new Ecuadorian restaurant called Udeza 593. Udeza was excellent and the locals obviously figured it out. The restaurant is two weeks new and the place had a line to get in as we left.

Exterior view of a Denny's diner with a classic design, featuring red and black checkered patterns and large glass windows.
Exterior view of Urdeza 593 Restaurant with palm tree graphics and signage, located in a commercial plaza.

Denny’s photo courtesy of Google Maps. Urdeza photo courtesy of Urdeza Facebook page.

Day 1

Our first stop was the Hovenweep National Monument. There was an excellent trail that was about 1.5 miles that took us around the ruins.

Ruins of a stone structure on a cliff surrounded by desert vegetation and rocky terrain under a cloudy sky.
Ruins of ancient adobe structures surrounded by desert landscape under a cloudy sky.
Ruins of ancient stone structures amidst a rocky landscape with sparse vegetation and a cloudy sky.

Then we went on to the Painted Hand Pueblo. After taking a small walk to the pueblo structures we saw the little green guy (photo courtesy of Leslie) in the parking lot.

A stone ruin stands on a rocky outcrop surrounded by dense greenery and rolling hills in a desert landscape.
A rocky cliff overlooking a vast landscape of rolling hills and valleys, with scattered vegetation and mountains in the background.
A small, colorful lizard with green and brown markings crawling on a rocky surface.

The last stop of Day 1’s tour was Lowry Pueblo. According to Wikipedia, this 1,000 year old pueblo is believed to have begun as a relative small community with just a few rooms, but is unusual for the presence of a great kiva, suggesting it served as a communal center for a scattered population before the settlement around it got larger.

Day 2

As planned, we returned to the canyon to take a little longer hike along Sand Canyon. The trail was amazing as were some of the pueblos we saw along the way.

A hiker walking along a sandy trail in a rocky canyon with colorful cliffs and green vegetation in the background.
A narrow dirt path winding through rugged terrain with rocky outcrops and sparse vegetation.
A rocky landscape featuring unique formations with reddish-brown rock, scattered bushes, and a blue sky.
A large rock formation with layered colors, set against a clear blue sky, surrounded by sparse vegetation and desert terrain.
A rocky cliff face with a large overhang, featuring remnants of ancient stone structures below. The sky overhead is partly cloudy, and sparse vegetation is visible in the surrounding area.
A large rock formation with a prominent overhang and a small ancient stone structure at its base, surrounded by sparse vegetation and under a bright blue sky.
Ancient cliff dwellings constructed from stone are visible on a rock face, surrounded by rugged red rock formations and sparse vegetation.

After touring the Canyon of the Ancients we planned to head to Mesa Verde. But first, since we were so close, I wanted to stop at Four Corners Monument since I’ve never been there before.

Silverton Colorado

The first stop of our SW Colorado tour was Silverton.

From their webpage: “Founded in an ancient caldera, Silverton, Colorado is called home by roughly 600 year-round inhabitants. The only township in San Juan County at an elevation of 9,318 feet, this town has roots in mining at the turn of the 20th century.”

A vibrant street scene showcasing colorful historic buildings with shops and cafes, set against a backdrop of mountains and blue sky.
Historic buildings in a colorful downtown area with shops and restaurants, featuring outdoor seating and decorative bunting, under a blue sky with clouds.
A picturesque residential area with colorful houses and a green lawn, set against a backdrop of mountains under a partly cloudy sky.
Two houses in a rural setting with mountains in the background. The house on the left is white with a 'For Sale' sign, while the right house is an old red brick structure showing signs of decay.

The town is surrounded by high mountains and as the host at our hotel said, when you hike from Silverton you can only go up, steeply.

Hike to Ice Lake

With that said, we spent our first day hiking to Ice Lake from South Mineral Campground. This was one of the most beautiful hikes I’ve been on. It was about a 7.5 mile round trip with a 2,400 foot elevation gain. The last incline felt like a bit of a slog, but it was well worth it. When we got to Ice Lake a thunderstorm just moved in, so we touched the lake, took a selfie and scrambled down to safer ground.

A topographic map displaying a hiking trail from South Mineral Campground to Ice Lake, passing Clear Creek Falls. The trail is marked in green, and elevation contours are visible.
A panoramic view of a lush valley surrounded by mountains, with dense pine trees and a clear blue sky dotted with fluffy white clouds.
A panoramic view of a serene lake surrounded by rugged mountains under a cloudy sky, with lush green terrain leading to the water's edge.
A person walking along a winding trail through a vibrant landscape of colorful autumn foliage, with rocky mountains and a partly cloudy sky in the background.
A gravel path winding through a grassy field with colorful bushes, leading up to rocky cliffs under a partly cloudy sky.
A scenic view of a rocky mountain landscape with a waterfall cascading down the cliffs, surrounded by lush green grass and blue sky with clouds.
A smiling couple poses for a selfie near a serene blue lake surrounded by green hills and rugged mountains under a cloudy sky.

Train Ride to Durango

This 45-mile branch of the original Denver & Rio Grande Railway has been operating since 1882. The route took us through the Animas Canyon along the Animas River with spectacular views of the San Juan National Forest. It was an awesome 3-hour ride down to Durango.

A view of a rural scene featuring a brown house, a black truck, and a steam locomotive in the background, surrounded by pine trees and a gravel road.
A scenic river flowing through a rocky landscape, surrounded by lush green trees and mountains under a partly cloudy sky.
A scenic view of a river flowing through a mountainous landscape, with rocks and trees lining the banks.
A train traveling through a mountainous landscape with lush green trees, rocky slopes, and a blue sky dotted with clouds.
A vintage train with bright yellow cars traveling across a wooden trestle bridge, surrounded by dense green trees and a flowing river below.
A vintage train traveling along a rocky cliffside with pine trees and a river below, under a blue sky with clouds.
Aerial view of a rocky canyon with steep cliffs and a river flowing through the bottom surrounded by sparse vegetation.

After arriving in Durango we walked over to the Beer Garden that’s right on the Animas River. We had a beer then walked back to the train station to await our bus ride back to Silverton, which is how we ended our day.

A man and woman cheerfully clink glasses filled with drinks at a wooden table, with a backdrop of greenery and soft lighting.

An AI Hike to Blue Lake

We packed up our bags and we started our hike, to see what the beautiful mountains are like!

The rhymes herein were generated from an AI request that described our hike to Blue Lake. Each of the pictures were generated from photos I took along the way – so we really did see these things, sort of.

We pulled up to Mitchell Lake trailhead quite early,
Before the day’s weather got sweaty and surly.
We sat in the car eating a breakfast of scale,
Then buckled our daypacks to start on the trail.

The path was so lovely, with bushes and trees,
That kept us all cool in the sweet morning breeze.
We passed a strange rock that looked ancient and grand,
Like a secret trapdoor to a magical land!

A rocky landscape featuring large boulders surrounded by lush greenery, including dense trees and vibrant purple flowers, with a moody, atmospheric lighting.

Then out in a meadow, with mountains behind,
We spotted a treat of the wonderful kind:

Scenic landscape featuring a lush meadow filled with colorful wildflowers in the foreground, with a serene pond surrounded by evergreen trees and mountains in the background under a dramatic sky.


A furry old mama moose grazing right there,
With her cute little calf without any care.

A moose and a calf walking through a colorful meadow filled with wildflowers and surrounded by lush greenery and trees.

We finally made it to stunning Blue Lake,
And ate a nice lunch for our big midday break.

A vibrant, illustrated landscape featuring rugged orange mountains, a clear blue lake, and scattered rocks and greenery in the foreground under a partly cloudy sky.
A smiling man and woman sitting on rocks by a serene mountain lake, with a backdrop of rugged mountains and a partly cloudy sky.

With bellies quite full and a smile on each face,
We turned right around and walked back from the place!

Biking Near Sturgis

We headed up to Sturgis, SD for a few days to do some exploring, hiking, and biking (well… the pedaling kind). Our friends have a house in Sturgis that they typically rent out during the world-famous bike (motorcycle) rally that takes place in Sturgis every August.

On the drive to Sturgis we stopped in a town called Deadwood. A lot of the real bikers spend time in this town which was very charming and had a lot of very interesting shops and history. We had a great lunch at Mustang Sally’s.

Exterior view of Mustang Sally's restaurant with outdoor seating, adorned with red, white, and blue decorations, located in a historic area surrounded by trees and buildings.
A street view of a historic downtown area lined with brick buildings, featuring storefronts with awnings and patriotic decorations. Motorcycles are parked along the side, and people are seen walking on the sidewalk under a blue sky.
A historic street scene with brick pavement in a small town, featuring buildings with awnings, shops, and several parked motorcycles along the curb, set against a backdrop of green hills and a blue sky.

Monday: Biking the Mickelson Trail

While I used “biking” and “Sturgis” in this post’s title to grab attention, I would say that promoting the George Mickelson Trail should gain as much attention. According to the website, “The trail is 109 miles long and contains more than 100 converted railroad bridges and 4 rock tunnels. The trail surface is crushed limestone.” Six of us adventurers set out for an out-and-back ride (about 22 miles total) on the Mickelson Trail.

A group of six cyclists posing together at the entrance of a wooden tunnel, with one person holding a bicycle.

The trail offered a great ride and a lot of beautiful scenery.

Two cyclists riding on a wooden bridge through a scenic natural landscape with green foliage and mountain views.
A serene forest scene featuring a flowing stream with small waterfalls, surrounded by lush green trees and rocky banks.
A cyclist in a bright green jacket approaches a wooden bridge structure with a car parked on top, against a backdrop of trees and cloudy skies.
A man sitting on a wooden bench beside a bicycle in a tunnel made of wood, with a dirt path leading out to a forested area. Another cyclist is visible in the distance, approaching the tunnel.
A view into a tunnel with wooden walls and a dirt path. A yellow bicycle leans against the wall on the left, and a bench is visible along the path.

Tuesday: Exploring SD Badlands and Wall Drug

Four of us were still together on Tuesday. Since the weather looked favorable (cooler) we decided to explore the badlands of South Dakota that I have never been to. Driving to Badlands National Park took about an hour and a half from Sturgis. We drove around and stopped at a few places to walk around. What a beautiful place!

A panoramic view of arid, rugged terrain featuring layered rock formations, canyons, and sparse vegetation under a cloudy sky.
A panoramic view of the Badlands with layered rock formations and a cloudy sky.
Panoramic view of a rugged canyon landscape with layered sandstone formations and greenery in the foreground.
A person standing on a rocky ledge overlooking a vast canyon landscape with layered geological formations and a cloudy sky.
Hikers ascending a steep, wooden staircase built into a rugged hillside with shrubs and rocky terrain.
A scenic view of rugged badlands terrain with steep cliffs and trails, where several hikers explore the landscape.
Two hikers exploring a rugged, dry landscape with steep, rocky formations under a partly cloudy sky.
A man sitting on a rock formation overlooking a canyon landscape, wearing sunglasses and casual clothing.
A person standing on a rocky outcrop in a barren landscape with striking rock formations under a cloudy sky.

On the way back we visited Wall Drug (established in 1930), in the city of Wall, SD. I’ve never heard of it before but it is apparently world famous and their story and what it’s grown into is amazing!

A busy indoor walkway in Cowboy Alley, featuring wooden decor, storefronts, vintage signs, taxidermy displays, and a mix of visitors, including a child in a light blue dress.
Interior view of a historic town square featuring shops with colorful facades, vintage decor, and visitors walking through the space. An American flag hangs prominently from the ceiling.

Wednesday: Driving Home

We took the scenic route home that consumed about 8 hours which included us visiting some sites, exploring some towns, and grabbing a bite.

Thanks Pat and Judy for hosting our stay; your hospitality is greatly appreciated!

A Beautiful Hike to Crater Lakes

We wanted to escape the heat in the lowlands (5,000 ft.) and get some exercise where it’s cooler (9,000+ ft.). An excellent trailhead for many of our hiking adventures is East Portal just outside of Rollinsville, CO. Here’s the hike map, courtesy of AllTrails.

Topographic map showing a hiking trail marked in green, featuring elevation points, lakes, and terrain contours, with a profile graph indicating elevation changes.

The going was steady. We stopped for a break and a bite to eat at the the lower lake on the north side of the trail. We figured it would do us well for the upcoming steep ascent to the upper lake. We sat on a log to have our snack and absorb the beauty including the scene with the fisherman in the lake.

A man and a woman sitting on a log in a forested area, smiling and holding drinks. The background features trees and a serene landscape.
A tranquil lake surrounded by tall evergreen trees, with a person fishing from a small boat on the water.
A scenic view of a lake surrounded by lush greenery and mountains under a cloudy sky, with a dirt path winding through vibrant wildflowers and evergreen trees.

The journey from there is a steep slog that includes a beautiful waterfall and a stream crossing.

A cascading waterfall flows down rocky terrain covered with lush greenery and pine trees under a clear blue sky.
A hiker stands near a flowing stream surrounded by lush greenery and wildflowers in a forested area.

The top of the steep ascent culminates at a very peaceful mini lake.

A serene mountain lake surrounded by lush greenery and rocky hills under a clear blue sky.

From the mini lake, a cross over some rocks and through a tightly foliaged path got us to upper Crater Lake.

A hiker standing on rocky terrain beside a small pond, surrounded by lush greenery and towering mountains under a clear blue sky.
A serene landscape featuring a calm river surrounded by large rocks and patches of green grass, with pine trees and blue sky in the background.
A man and a woman enjoying a sunny day by a lake, surrounded by greenery and mountains in the background.

A panoramic view of a clear lake nestled among rocky mountains, with trees lining the shore and a bright blue sky dotted with clouds.

We sat along the shore of the lake, relaxed, snacked, meditated and chatted a bit and then we worked our way back down the mountain and headed home where we enjoyed a take out Chinese dinner.

A Canoe Tour of Gross Reservior

We’ve been anxious to break out the canoe for what feels like a maiden run as it’s been a while since we took it out for a spin. There were a lot of remarkable sights.

A person standing beside a gray canoe on a dry riverbank, surrounded by sparse vegetation and trees in the background.
  • The water level was quite low.
  • The dam extension is well underway and built up to its new height.
  • The water in the morning was amazingly calm (it got choppy later).
  • There was no one on the north finger, oh… ooops, there was a naked sunbather.
  • We saw the golden eagle that hangs out in the area.

Here you see progress on the dam extension as well as how low the water is.

The water was very calm during the early part of our trip.

Leslie captured a rare glimpse of the lake monster.

Here’s the golden eagle and his crow friend looking the other way.

It was a beautiful day. We ended up covering almost the entire perimeter, and between paddling that distance and hauling the canoe back up to the shuttle point we got a pretty good workout.

4 E’s… Pshaw!

“Pshaw” was a Wordle word a week or so ago, and I realized I don’t use it very often. I feel this post is a great opportunity to use it now. This is also a great opportunity to get something off my chest that has been bothering me for some time now.

Several weeks ago I published a post: “Finding Balance in Retirement“. In that post, I came up with the 4 E’s: Expressing, Educating, Exercising, Exploring.

While I still think those are accurate and reflective of the pillars of my retirement, I realized I am missing one. One that I have pondered a lot over the past weeks and am convinced it belongs in this group of pillars. I have been frustrated about this in two ways. First, I felt bad that I left it out in the first place and that I have not yet made the correction here on my blog. Secondly, one of the factors that has delayed me is trying to come up with an “E-word” to capture the missing piece. I have not been able to find one!

I am now ready to add the fifth pillar and accept the fact that it won’t start with an “E”.

The fifth pillar: “Helping Others“.

This is not blind altruism as I am not that saintly, but I do want to spend some of my time helping others. I made a fairly decent commitment along these lines for some months now as I have signed up as a Victim Advocate volunteer working along side the local police department. After 40 hours of training I now commit at least 4 days a month being on call to act when needed by helping victims of crimes or events that the police get involved in. This is all part of an initiative that exists at the national level, but is more actively managed by the state to help victims find resources to help them get through the trauma of the event they were impacted by. Without this type of help victims are left on their own to sort things out which can further exacerbate the victim experience.

Not only do I find great value in having a purpose associated with helping others, but I also find this experience educational and adventuresome. With that said, I wanted to acknowledge that reality and officially add it as a fifth pillar of my retired life.

The 5 Pillars of My Retired Life

Expressing, Educating, Exercising, Exploring and Helping Others.

A Hike to Lake Dorothy…

… told me I need to get in better shape.

Wow. I’ve done this hike several times over the years and this year it was harder than it used to be.

Was it the heat?

We started the hike around 7:40am and the trailhead starts at about 10,000 feet elevation. It was warmer than usual, but I don’t think heat was the culprit.

Was it the altitude?

The elevation hasn’t changed much since my last venture up this trail, so given that I’m comparing my performance to the same trail at a different time, I think elevation is not the culprit.

Was it food and water?

I had plenty of water to drink along the hike and I had a healthy eggs, cheese and salsa with bread breakfast as well as a 250 calorie Cliff Bar on the hike. I’m sure that’s at least as much nourishment as I’ve had previously.

There’s not much left to blame.

I can’t do anything about my age, so I guess I need to work on getting into shape. Let’s see how I do in future blog posts.

In the meantime, here are a few pictures from the beautiful hike. This is truly one of my favorites and I thank Leslie for showing it to me years ago.

A vibrant meadow filled with a variety of wildflowers in different colors, alongside a flowing stream, surrounded by lush green foliage and trees in the background.
Beautiful Wildflowers
A moose standing near a pond with lush green vegetation and trees in the background.
See the Moose Leslie Found?
A close-up of a bright yellow wildflower with small insects resting on its petals, surrounded by blurred greenery.
Enjoy Nature’s Gifts
A scenic mountain landscape featuring a hiker walking along a winding trail on a grassy hill, with rocky terrain and a steep mountain slope in the background.
Spectacular Landscapes
A person standing on rocky terrain beside a serene mountain lake, with towering cliffs and patches of snow in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
We Made it to Lake Dorothy!