cwallace Wrote:
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> When I drove through (in a hurry) I did not see
> the Curecanti overlook/boat tour exit. Maybe it
> is not marked very well on the highway. Anyone
> have suggestions?
From the West: After hiway 50 climbs out of Blue Creek Canyon[1] it runs for several miles(about 1 North then 4 East) along Blue Mesa, the passes some buildings, drops a bit into Pine Creek which it crosses on a 180 degree loop and then there is a gravel road tuning off to the left, just before you start heading East again across Pine Creek Mesa.
From the East: After passing the Colo 92 jct hwy 50 runs across Pine Creek Mesa for slightly less than a mile then turns to the South to enter Pine Creek valley. Turn off is on the right.
So it's on the North/West side of the hiway, between Jct Colo 92 and the big turn crossing Pine Creek.
I haven't been down that road in about 10 years. At that time it went about 1/2 to the bottom before it was closed off t the public. From the parking lot there you walk down a bunch of stairs then along the grade to the boat landing. (I've never done the boat trip, personal reasons)
Signage *may* include reference to Blue Mesa Dam (where the road goes, after the gate,) Pine Creek access, etc. ISTR just a tiny sign that said "Pine Creek" but that could have changed, and might be a memory from the 1980's anyway!
hank
[1] Oddly enough, the creek that entered the Gunnison River (back before they drowned it) on the same side(South) as the Needle is Blue Creek whilst Curecanti Creek comes in from the North, just West of the Pioneer Point overlook I mentioned in my earlier post.
[2] The road down Pine Creek is the oldest(20th century) version[3] of what became hiway 50. This is the one that crossed the Lake City branch at grade at Lake Jct and was replaced by the new bridge (now drowned) over the Lake Fork featured in the much reprinted photos it's opening (ca 1926?)
[3] The pre-Railroad Toll road ran from Barnum, later on the Lake city Branch, over Blue Mesa joining the current hiway farther West.
