Re: NNNG Things to See/Do on the Drive from Montrose to Sapinero
| May 14, 2015 10:31AM |
A few that nobody else has mentioned.
When going over Cerro Summit on hwy 50 (Eastbound) the grade is (for all but about a mile) off to the South (right side.) From the place fromerly known as Cedar Creek up past the slide it is very visible until it turns up the mouth of Hairpin creek. At this point the grade goes South about a mile, does a loop on a 20 degree turn of which I've never seen a picture, then comes back to the main valley, about400-500 feet up on the side now. Depending on your vehicle, nerves and recent weather, there is a dirt road that turns off just after you lose sight of the grade and swiftly forks. LH fork climbs the mesa, crossing the grade at a higher point with some nice views back towards Cedar Creek and Montrose. RH fork runs up Hairpin Creek, mostly on the grade but the area of the hairpin curve is private property and posted No Tresspassing. At the gate there is one last curve in the canyon that you can't see around.[1] So you can't get in to see the loop
Just East of Cerro Summit (nothing left there) the highway does a big looping turn. Up to that point, the grade is right below the hiway (and does it's own tighter, loop) then it is out of sight until you cross it, twice within a mile.[2] After the 2nd crossing the grade crosses to the other side of the creek and is visible all the way to Cimmarron.
I'm not sure where 278 is these days but the drive down to the base of Morrow Point Dam, through the West entrance to the Black Canyon is well worth the 10 minutes or so it takes.
At the other end of the canyon turn off on Colorado 92, go across the Dam and continue on to Pioneer Point viewpoint(about 5 miles) to see the Curecanti needle. On the way back (when you'll be in the lane closer to the edge) there are several more places to pull out, some of which give a good view down into the unflooded part of the canyon.
I'll assume you don't have a couple of hours for the longer hikes.
hank
[1] I've walked in along the grade from above too. Nice walk but no joy on the hairpin from that direction either.
[2] Within the last 10 years widening of hwy 50 through here has wiped out a significant amount of the grade. Oh how I wish I had stopped and taken pictures back in the 1980's when I lived in Gunnison!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/14/2015 10:49AM by hank.
When going over Cerro Summit on hwy 50 (Eastbound) the grade is (for all but about a mile) off to the South (right side.) From the place fromerly known as Cedar Creek up past the slide it is very visible until it turns up the mouth of Hairpin creek. At this point the grade goes South about a mile, does a loop on a 20 degree turn of which I've never seen a picture, then comes back to the main valley, about400-500 feet up on the side now. Depending on your vehicle, nerves and recent weather, there is a dirt road that turns off just after you lose sight of the grade and swiftly forks. LH fork climbs the mesa, crossing the grade at a higher point with some nice views back towards Cedar Creek and Montrose. RH fork runs up Hairpin Creek, mostly on the grade but the area of the hairpin curve is private property and posted No Tresspassing. At the gate there is one last curve in the canyon that you can't see around.[1] So you can't get in to see the loop
Just East of Cerro Summit (nothing left there) the highway does a big looping turn. Up to that point, the grade is right below the hiway (and does it's own tighter, loop) then it is out of sight until you cross it, twice within a mile.[2] After the 2nd crossing the grade crosses to the other side of the creek and is visible all the way to Cimmarron.
I'm not sure where 278 is these days but the drive down to the base of Morrow Point Dam, through the West entrance to the Black Canyon is well worth the 10 minutes or so it takes.
At the other end of the canyon turn off on Colorado 92, go across the Dam and continue on to Pioneer Point viewpoint(about 5 miles) to see the Curecanti needle. On the way back (when you'll be in the lane closer to the edge) there are several more places to pull out, some of which give a good view down into the unflooded part of the canyon.
I'll assume you don't have a couple of hours for the longer hikes.
hank
[1] I've walked in along the grade from above too. Nice walk but no joy on the hairpin from that direction either.
[2] Within the last 10 years widening of hwy 50 through here has wiped out a significant amount of the grade. Oh how I wish I had stopped and taken pictures back in the 1980's when I lived in Gunnison!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/14/2015 10:49AM by hank.
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488 stops for water at Los Pinos tank on closing day Oct. 1979. Photo courtesy Don Richter
The NGDF was started by Don Richter and is currently operated in his memory by Nathan Holmes and others. Others who have contributed to the upkeep of this board are (in no particular order): Charles McCandless, Everett Lueck, Ted Wilton, Cole Adams, James Bane, John Moellmer, Jon Bentz, Linn Moedinger, lloyd lehrer, Rod Jensen, John Craft, Steven Forney, Herb Kelsey, Bill Ramaley, Russ Sperry (El Russo Loco), Josh McNeal, John West, Jim Armstrong, Bob Bergstrom, Greg Scholl, Blake Forbes Doug van Veelen and Mark Fuller.