Colorado Photographic Destinations
Let me help you to find a great location in Colorado for your next photography adventure. I will list many lesser known destinations, as well as the famous “Icon Locations” for photography. I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination. I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip. I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to insure a quality guide to the best places for photography in Arizona.
- Great Sand Dunes National Park
- Alta Ghost Town
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
- Ute Ulay Mine and Henson Town Site
- Pinkerton Hot Springs
- Crystal Mill
- Chimney Rock National Monument
- Animas Forks Ghost Town
- Ironton Ghost Town
- Red Mountain Mining District
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page.
Colorado Photographic Destinations
Colorado Destinations
Ute Ulay Mine and Henson Town Site
The Ute and Ulay mines were some of the best known silver and lead producers in Colorado. Between 1874 and 1903, the mines were responsible for 12 million worth of minerals which today would amount to more than 280 million in value. Located in Hinsdale County, the mines were largely responsible for the development of Lake City. The booming mining-based economy attracted many people to the area and the mines continued to produce on and off through the 1980s.
LKA Gold donated the ten-acre site to Hinsdale County. The site consists of 18 structures including residential cabins, a blacksmith shop, a boarding house, a red-cedar water tank, and assayer’s office. Over the past twenty years, the structures have continued to degrade during adverse weather and many are unstable. This project is a rare opportunity for you to see, first hand, mining structures that haven’t be altered or otherwise interpreted before the general public.
The Ute and Ulay mines, mill complex and surrounding Henson town site are rare examples of a more complete mining community with large amount of historic fabric remaining. The site’s location is along the Alpine Loop Backcountry Byway.
Henson is a ghost town in Hinsdale County, Colorado, United States. Its elevation is 9,235 feet. Henson’s name has historically been spelled several different ways, including Hansen, Hanson, Hensen, and Honsen; the Board on Geographic Names officially supported the current spelling in 1896. Henson was named for Henson Creek, which was named for a pioneer settler.
Where it is:
Henson, Colorado is a ghost town located about 3.5 miles west of Lake City on the Alpine Loop Backcountry Byway (County Road 20). The location is located just off of the road which is well maintained and is accessible with any vehicle coming from Lake City. County road 20 is closed from December to May.
Maps:
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view.
GPS:
38°1’11.232″ N 107°22’35.723″ W
Cost:
The is no cost to visit the Mine or Townsite.
Hours:
The location is accessible 24 hours per day. The road is closed from December to May.
Location Contact Information:
There is no contact information available for the location.
Facilities:
There are no facilities at the location.
Ute Ulay Mine and Henson Town Site Photo Gallery
Click Here for full page gallery
More Photographic Destinations in Colorado:
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page.
Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State
All the information in this post was believed to be accurate at the time it was published. Please be sure to double check with the location before relying on this information as everything changes over time, especially hours, prices, and whether the location is still open.
Great Places for Great Photos
Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure. I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography. I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination. I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip. I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography.
If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!
Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country. Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos.
Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group.
All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need. Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two.
If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom. This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance. [...]Read more...
Red Mountain Mining District
Located off Hwy 550 near the crest of Red Mountain Pass—this is the site of the National Bell Mine. During its booming years, there were as many as 10,000 inhabitants living in Red Mountain Town. In all of its glory, it had over 100 businesses, a post office, jail, schools, newspapers, saloons and gambling halls. Winters were extremely rough and only the most rugged individuals stayed. Several fires between 1892 and 1937 nearly leveled the town. However, regardless how difficult the environment, over thirty million dollars in gold, silver, lead, zinc and copper has been taken out of this area. You can overlook this town site from Hwy 550 at the Idarado Mine turnoff or park your car at the Red Mountain Pass area and hike into the town site.
What to Photograph:
There is a great deal to photograph here including the old mines and equipment, ghost towns, and the spectacular scenery along the Million Dollar Highway.
Best Time for Photographers:
The best time to visit is in the summer or fall.
Where it is:
Red Mountain Town is simple to reach for 2WD vehicles year round, located between Silverton and Ouray on Million Dollar Highway. The pass receives plenty of snow in the winter, so drive carefully if visiting during that time of year. It’s a major route from Durango heading north to I-70 and Grand Junction, so it’s well maintained.
From Silverton – Head north 11 miles on Highway 550 to reach Red Mountain Town. You’ll see the town remnants about a half mile from the highway, just north of Red Mountain Pass summit. Go another 4.5 miles to reach Ironton ghost town.
From Ouray – Head south 12 miles on Highway 550 to reach the ghost town, located on the Ouray side of Red Mountain Pass summit. You’ll pass Ironton 4.5 miles before.
Maps:
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view.
GPS:
37.915784, -107.702142
Cost:
There is no cost to visit Red Mountain.
Hours:
There are no hours, it is accessible at all times.
Facilities:
There are no facilities of any kind.
Links:
Red Mountain Mining District History
Location Contact Information:
There is no local contact
Red mountain Ghost Town Photo Gallery
Click Here for full page gallery
More Photographic Destinations in Colorado:
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page.
Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State
All the information in this post was believed to be accurate at the time it was published. Please be sure to double check with the location before relying on this information as everything changes over time, especially hours, prices, and whether the location is still open.
Great Places for Great Photos
Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure. I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography. I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination. I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip. I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography.
If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!
Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country. Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos.
Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group.
All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need. Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two.
If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom. This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance. [...]Read more...
Pinkerton Hot Springs
Pinkerton Hot Spring was discovered in the 1800s by explorer James Pinkerton. Pinkerton turned the site on his land into a tourist spa, including a hotel and a swimming pool filled with the soothing, supposedly curative waters. He even bottled the water and sold it to area health enthusiasts.
The hotel later burned to the ground, and all that remains is the rock pile, wildly colored by minerals within the oozing waters.
The rocks were assembled around a discharge pipe by the Colorado Department of Transportation around the year 2000 to focus the emission of water, whose temperature ranges from 95 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit. The rocks have filled in with colorful minerals from the hot water to make a picture perfect attraction.
What to Photograph
The only thing to photograph is the pile of rocks around the spring with the buildup of mineral deposits. The hotel is long gone and the location is now the home of the Colorado Timberline Academy.
Where it is:
The Pinkerton Hot Springs are located approximately 14 miles north of Durango Colorado on US Hwy 550 at a pull off on the right side of the road if traveling north. There is a small parking area and an informational sign. There are no signs on the road indicating it is there, but it is very visible from the road.
The physical address is 35554 US-550, Durango, CO 81301
GPS:
37°27’3.408″ N 107°48’19.271″ W
Maps:
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view.
Hours:
The site is open at all times, it is simply a pull off on the side of the highway.
Cost:
There is no cost to see the Pinkerton Hot Springs.
Facilities:
There are no facilities at the location.
Location Contact Information:
There is no contact information for this location.
Pinkerton Hot Springs Photo Gallery
Click Here for full page gallery
More Photographic Destinations in Colorado:
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page.
Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State
All the information in this post was believed to be accurate at the time it was published. Please be sure to double check with the location before relying on this information as everything changes over time, especially hours, prices, and whether the location is still open.
Great Places for Great Photos
Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure. I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography. I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination. I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip. I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography.
If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!
Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country. Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos.
Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group.
All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need. Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two.
If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom. This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance. [...]Read more...
Ironton Ghost Town
Ironton Ghost Town, Ironton was a town in Ouray County, Colorado, United States. It lay south of the present town of Ouray.
Ironton (aka Copper Glen) was built on flatter ground than surrounding towns. Settled in 1893, within three weeks three hundred buildings were being built. It was a staging area for supplies coming from Ouray. Ironton was a major transportation junction between Red Mountain Town and Ouray in addition to having some of its own mines. Ironton had a peak population of over 1000 and had two trains arriving daily from Silverton. There were many chain stores from the nearby cities of Ouray and Silverton. The town lived into the first part of the 20th century but slowly faded as mining operations declined. The final resident of the town, Milton Larson, died in the mid-1960s. The town site is still occasionally visited by tourists.
History
The slumbering remains of Ironton outside of Ouray, Colorado, were once home to many miners who worked the mines in the mountains surrounding Ironton Park and the neighboring towns of Guston and Red Mountain. Ironton’s mines made their wealth from silver and lead at first. In 1893, the Silver Panic brought a bust and put an end to silver mining. Mines began to close one by one. After a few years, mining activity picked up when in 1898, gold was discovered in nearly the same ores as the silver, and many of these mines, like the Yankee Girl, American Girl, Colorado Boy, Treasury, Genessee-Vanderbilt, and others were re-opened. Mining camps boomed again for a few decades.
A few mines remained open until the 1950s, and the Idarado Mining Company still manages its tunnel at the head of Ironton Park today; However, most of the camps and mines were mostly deserted by 1930. The last remaining resident and “Mayor”of Ironton, Milton Larson, passed away in the 1960’s when the town officially became a ghost town.
In 1938, investors in Ouray built a ski lodge for the new fangled sport of downhill skiing, but it never opened to the public and around 1950 it was sold to the Saint Germain Foundation for a religious retreat. The stone garage on the east side of Highway 550 was built at that time.
Ironton townsite on the east side of Highway 550 is mostly public land (Forest Service and county), and open to the public. If you go, spend some time and wander through the trees, and you may be surprised what can be found.
What to Photograph:
There is a great deal to photograph here including the old mines and equipment,the ghost town, and the spectacular scenery along the Million Dollar Highway.
Best Time for Photographers:
The best time to visit is in the summer or fall.
Where it is:
From Ouray – Take Highway 550 south from town for just over 7 miles to reach Ironton. There will be an interpretive sign marking the site. Continue south for four miles to reach Red Mountain Town, another former mining camp in the district.
From Silverton – Take Highway 550 north from town for 15 miles to reach the ghost town. You’ll pass the ghost town of Red Mountain first in 11 miles, on Red Mountain Pass.
Maps:
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view.
GPS:
37°55’59.885″ N 107°40’48.006″ W
Cost:
There is no cost to visit Ironton Ghost Town.
Hours:
There are no hours, it is accessible at all times.
Facilities:
There are no facilities of any kind.
Links:
Red Mountain Mining District History
Location Contact Information:
Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest
2250 South Main St
Delta, Colorado 81416
(970) 874-6600
Ironton Ghost Town Photo Gallery
Click Here for full page gallery
More Photographic Destinations in Colorado:
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page.
Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State
All the information in this post was believed to be accurate at the time it was published. Please be sure to double check with the location before relying on this information as everything changes over time, especially hours, prices, and whether the location is still open.
Great Places for Great Photos
Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure. I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography. I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination. I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip. I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography.
If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!
Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country. Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos.
Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group.
All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need. Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two.
If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom. This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance. [...]Read more...
Great Sand Dunes National Park
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve conserves an area of large sand dunes and an adjacent national preserve in the Sangre de Cristo Range, in south-central Colorado, United States. The park contains the tallest sand dunes in North America, up to 750 feet tall on the eastern edge of the San Luis Valley. The dunes cover an area of about 30 sq mi and are estimated to contain over 1.2 cubic miles of sand.
Sediments from the surrounding mountains filled the valley over geologic time periods. After lakes within the valley receded, exposed sand was blown by the predominant southwest winds toward the Sangre de Cristos, eventually forming the dunefield over an estimated tens of thousands of years. Ecosystems within the mountain watershed include alpine tundra, subalpine forests, montane woodlands, and riparian zones.
Evidence of human habitation in the San Luis Valley dates back about 11,000 years. The first historic peoples to inhabit the area were the Southern Ute Tribe; Apaches and Navajo also have cultural connections in the area. In the late 17th century, Diego de Vargas, a Spanish governor of Santa Fe de Nuevo México, became the first European on record to enter the San Luis Valley. Juan Bautista de Anza, Zebulon Pike, John C. Frémont, and John Gunnison all travelled through and explored parts of the region in the 18th and 19th centuries. The explorers were soon followed by settlers who ranched, farmed and mined in the valley starting in the late 19th century. The park was first established as a national monument in 1932 to protect it from gold mining and the potential of a concrete manufacturing business.
Visitors must walk across the wide and shallow Medano Creek to reach the dunes in spring and summer. The creek typically has a peak flow from late May to early June. From July to April, it is usually no more than a few inches deep, if there is any water at all. Hiking is permitted throughout the dunes with the warning that the sand surface temperature may reach 150 °F in summer. Sandboarding and sandsledding are popular activities, both done on specially designed equipment that can be rented just outside the park entrance or in Alamosa. Visitors with street-legal four-wheel drive vehicles may continue past the end of the park’s main road to Medano Pass on 22 miles of unpaved road, crossing the stream bed of Medano Creek nine times and traversing 4 miles of deep sand. Hunting is permitted in the preserve in the autumn, but prohibited within national park boundaries at all times. The preserve encompasses nearly all of the mountainous areas north and east of the dunefield, up to the ridgeline of the Sangre de Cristos.
Where it is:
To access the main park area, including the Dunes Parking Lot, Visitor Center, and Pinyon Flats Campground, take Highway 150 from the south or County Road 6 from the west. Both are paved highways.
From Denver, Colorado Springs, or Pueblo, the most common route is south on I-25 to Walsenburg, west on US 160, north on State Highway 150. For a more mountainous drive from Denver (same mileage as the I-25 route), you may also take US 285 south, then State Highway 17 south, then County Lane 6 east from Mosca.
From Albuquerque, drive north on I-25 to Santa Fe, then north on US 285 to Alamosa. From Alamosa, take either U.S. Highway 160 east and State Highway 150 north, or State Highway 17 north and County Lane 6 east from Mosca.
Maps:
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view.
GPS:
37°44’5.2304″ N 105°30’29.0459″ W
Cost:
Entrance Fees
Visitors will be charged only one of the following fees. Fees are charged only when the entrance station is open in the spring, summer, and fall seasons or when the visitor center is open in the winter season.
Basic Entrance Pass
(good for up-to seven consecutive days)
Non-Commercial Vehicle and Occupants (normal car): $25
Oversized Vehicle, 15+ passengers, age 16+ (large van): $15/person
Motorcycle and Riders: $20
All National Park Access passes are accepted
Hours:
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year round.
Visitor Center hours:
9-4:30 Labor Day – Memorial Day Weekend
8:30-5:00 Memorial Day Weekend – Labor Day
Facilities:
Visitor Center
Open daily, the building and rest rooms are fully accessible.
Convenience groceries, camping supplies and firewood may be available during warmer months at a Campground Store located between Loop 1 and 2 in Piñon Flats Campground.
A few convenience foods are available at the Visitor Center year-round.
The Oasis Restaurant and Store, located at the main park entrance, is the only restaurant within 25 miles of the national park. The Oasis is open April through October.
Location Contact Information:
Visitor Center
11999 Highway 150
Mosca, CO 81146
Call:
Visitor Center (for general visitor inquiries)
719-378-6395
Main Number (to access specific extensions, or listen to recorded park information)
719-378-6300
For administrative and business correspondence, write to:
Administrative Office
Great Sand Dunes National Park
11500 Highway 150
Mosca, CO 81146-9798
Fax Numbers:
Administration and Fee Office: 719-378-6310
Visitor Center, Interpretation and Visitor Services: 719-378-6340
Great Sand Dunes National Park Photo Gallery
Click Here for full page gallery
More Photographic Destinations in Colorado
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page.
Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State
All the information in this post was believed to be accurate at the time it was published. Please be sure to double check with the location before relying on this information as everything changes over time, especially hours, prices, and whether the location is still open.
Great Places for Great Photos
Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure. I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography. I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination. I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip. I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography.
If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!
Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country. Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos.
Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group.
All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need. Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two.
If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom. This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance. [...]Read more...
Crystal Mill
The Crystal Mill, or the Old Mill is an 1892 wooden powerhouse located on an outcrop above the Crystal River in Crystal, Colorado, United States. It is accessible from Marble, Colorado via 4×4. Although called a Watermill, it is more correctly denoted as a compressor station, which used a water turbine to drive an air compressor. Originally built with a horizontal wheel. The compressed air was then used to power other machinery or tools.
In the 21st century, the mill is usually called the Crystal Mill or the Old Crystal Mill. Many decades ago, when the mill was still in use, it was called the Sheep Mountain Power House at the Lost Horse Millsite, or simply the Lost Horse Mill. Sometimes it is erroneously called the Dead Horse Mill.
The mill was constructed in 1893 by George C. Eaton and B.S. Phillips, promoters of the Sheep Mountain Tunnel and Mining Company. It was built as a power plant for the Sheep Mountain Tunnel. Originally it had a horizontal waterwheel which generated compressed air for miners in the nearby silver mines. It fell into disuse in 1917 when the Sheep Mountain Mine closed. The mill was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 5, 1985.
History:
THE CRYSTAL MILL
This Structure located at Crystal City is considered by some to be the most photographed site in Colorado. It was constructed in 1893 by George C. Eaton and B.S. Phillips, promoters of the Sheep
Mountain Tunnel and Mining Company, as a power plant for the Sheep Mountain Tunnel. It was originally known as the Sheep Mountain Tunnel Mill and the name was commonly shortened to
“Crystal Mill,” though later writers sometimes called it by other names. It contained a horizontal wooden water wheel, turned by two one-inch water jets, at the base of the penstock shaft at river
level, and this powered a large air compressor. Power was transmitted via a steel driveshaft up to the gear house on the front Of the building, then to the compressor by a wide leather belt. The air was carried to the mine entrance by a 3-inch iron pipe, across the river and up to the base of Sheep Mountain. compressed air powered the air drills and provided ventilation for the tunnel which
in 1893 extended over 1500 feet into the mountain. The mill building has a privy in the overhanging corner which emptied directly into the river. The back end of the building contained a sleeping room for the attendant. In December 1893 the mill began operation, in spite of the 1893 silver panic, and continued sporadically until sometime in the 1920’s.
River water powered the water wheel and a wooden dam above the falls raised the water level to the top of the penstock shaft. High water runoff the next spring after construction washed out the
dam. It was rebuilt, and when it again washed out, water was obtained by building a long wooden flume which tapped the river far upstream on the east end of Crystal. Remnants of this flume can
still be seen on the south side of the river.
As the mine began to produce rich silver ore a stamp mill was built to the west of the mill to crush and concentrate the ore for shipping. It contained three large timbers tipped with iron which
were raised and dropped to crush the ore, and powered via a 12-inch wide leather belt from the power house. Evidence of crushed ore can be seen across the river but little other remains of the
stamp mill exist. This Structure never contained a saw mill and the powerhouse never had an electric generator.
The Crystal Mill is privately owned and not open for public inspection. A new wood shingle roof, just like the original, was installed in 1976 with help from a Bicentennial Grant of $2500, and
public donations. In 1984 several volunteers, with the advice of an engineer. installed supporting cables inside the building to raise and secure the gear house, which was pulling away from the
building and in danger of falling into the river.
Located in the Rock Creek Mining District this old power house is a picturesque remnant Of the
intense prospecting and mineral extraction activities which accompanied and supported early
settlement of this area.
OSCAR MCCOLLUM, HISTORIAN
FRONTIER HISTORICAL SOCIETY
1996
What to Photograph
Crystal Mill
Beaver Lake and Lizard Lake
On the way to Crystal Mill you will pass by two beautiful mountain lakes.
The town of Marble
The natural beauty of Marble inspires everyone, but especially those who are artistically or historically inclined and those who seek to refresh their soul. Marble is home to artists, artisans and galleries. The biggest art event of the year is of course the world renowned Marble Sculpting Symposium, which takes place every summer. Aside from the arts, there is also a fascinating wealth of history, which is evident all throughout town. If you are a history buff, Marble is for you. Refresh yourself and get inspired!
Where it is:
The Crystal Mill is located 6 miles east of Marble, just before the ghost town of Crystal. It is reachable only in the summer and fall months by a rough, one-lane, 4-wheel-drive road. If you are not interested in driving, or your vehicle does not have generous ground clearance, the trip to Crystal and The Mill can be reached by foot, mountain bike, or guided jeep tour. The Mill can also be accessed by horseback, but on a busy summer or fall day, riders will encounter many vehicles and the route is very rocky.
Maps:
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view.
GPS:
39°3’33.179″ N 107°6’16.859″ W
Cost:
There is no cost to travel the road to Crystal Mill or to photograph from the road, to access the site from the river (private property) they were charging $10 per person.
Hours:
There are no hours for this location.
Facilities:
There is a gift shop in the city of Crystal which is just above the mill
The nearest town is Marble which has a general store and a BBQ restaurant (which is very busy), no gas.
Location Contact Information:
Crystal Mill Photo Gallery
Click Here for full page gallery
More Photographic Destinations in Colorado:
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page.
Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State
All the information in this post was believed to be accurate at the time it was published. Please be sure to double check with the location before relying on this information as everything changes over time, especially hours, prices, and whether the location is still open.
Great Places for Great Photos
Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure. I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography. I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination. I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip. I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography.
If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!
Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country. Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos.
Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group.
All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need. Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two.
If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom. This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance. [...]Read more...
Chimney Rocks National Monument
Chimney Rock lies on 4,726 acres of San Juan National Forest land surrounded by the Southern Ute Indian Reservation. Chimney Rock itself occupies 1,000 acres of the site, and is approximately 315 feet tall. Next to Chimney Rock is Companion Rock, which is a popular nesting spot for the Peregrine Falcon.
The site was once home to the ancestors of the modern Pueblo Indians, who built more than 200 homes and ceremonial buildings high above the valley floor more than 1,000 years ago. Archaeologists believe that the site marks a connection to the Chacoan society who inhabited Chaco Canyon in northwestern New Mexico.
The area has 118 known archaeological sites, including the dramatic Great House Pueblo which likely was used as an observatory for the annual summer solstice. Other features include the Great Kiva, which was likely used for religious ceremonies and community activities; storage rooms; and residential pit houses.
History
The Ancestral Puebloan site, designated on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970, was a community inhabited between Durango and Pagosa Springs about 1,000 years ago with about 200 rooms. Rooms in the buildings were used for living, work areas and ceremonial purposes.
Housing approximately 2,000 ancient Pueblo Indians between AD 925 and 1125, the settlement included a Great House Pueblo with round ceremonial rooms, known as kivas, and 36 ground-floor rooms. A grizzly bear jaw found in one of the rooms when excavated suggested a reverence for the animal, and modern Chaco oral history suggests that the Bear clan originated in the Chimney Rock area.
The Chaco culture which inhabited the Chimney Rock area was hierarchical, with a priest class overseeing the area’s inhabitants. The construction of the Great House Pueblo at the top of the ridge, close to Chimney Rock and its neighbor Companion Rock, had a large ceremonial role in the later years of Chacoan presence. As the moon makes its lunar cycle across the sky over a period of 18.6 years, it appears in a lunar standstill between the two rocks for approximately 16 months.
Evidence suggests that Great House Pueblo was first built in AD 1076 during a lunar standstill and expanded and finished in AD 1093 during another. It consists of 36 rooms and two kivas. Archaeologists believe that Great House Pueblo was mainly ceremonial in nature, with only one or two families living in its rooms. During certain key ceremonies, it functioned as a hotel for visiting notables, some of whom came from as far away as Chaco Canyon, in modern-day Northern New Mexico, 90 miles from Chimney Rock.
Material to build the Great House Pueblo came from downhill and was hauled by hand up the ridge line from further below. Five pithouses, titled Room A through E, probably housed the workers who built Great House Pueblo. Rooms A and B were excavated in 1921-1922 by early archaeologists, but their insufficient knowledge of how to stabilize walls, coupled with a decision to use the wood they found in the ruins for their campfires, has left little knowledge of these ruins, with little left today. The pottery was preserved and is now stored in boxes in the basement of the Anasazi Center in Durango.
Halfway between the worker’s houses and the Great House Pueblo was a ruin that archaeologists named the “Guardhouse.” It stretched from one side of the ridge to the other, and housed one family. Rather than serving as a defensive post against invaders, it more likely performed crowd control, keeping undesirables out of the Great House Pueblo, and letting the elites through. After excavation this ruin became extremely unstable and was eventually removed by the Forest Service for fear of visitors’ safety.
The base of the trail up to Great House Pueblo begins next to a pit-house complex made up of three pit houses and accompanying workrooms. An extended, multi generational family would have lived in this complex. Excavations of the workrooms showed separate areas with grinding stones for corn and a sort of “man cave” where men would make arrowheads and tools.
The last two excavated sites are a singular pit house and the Great Kiva. The Great Kiva shows similarities to others across the southwest, with a central fire pit, diverting stone and ventilation shaft.
It also has unique features. Instead of a bench that runs the perimeter to store ritual items, several pits in the ground were built, and they are believed to be storage areas. When excavated, archaeological students found a lack of wood and other roof materials; their hypothesis was that it had no roof and was open to the air. An alternative hypothesis is that it was never finished for a number of reasons. One is that—built in 1084—it was abandoned before they finished. The other is that during construction, the builders believed it had bad spirits and didn’t wish to finish.
The inhabitants of Chimney Rock abandoned the site in 1125, burning the buildings when they left. Their modern-day descendants consider the site sacred with the spirits of their ancestors, and have asked the Forest Service to refrain from further excavation out of respect.
Since the 1960s, Dr. Frank Eddy of the University of Colorado and others have studied the site, and research continues. 8 villages or settlements have been discovered in the area so far, a majority of which have remained unexcavated since Dr. Eddy’s work in the early 1970s.
Utilizing the provisions of the Antiquities Act, U.S. president Barack Obama elevated the archeological site to the status of a national monument on September 21, 2012.
What to Photograph:
Chimney Rock and Companion Rock, which are best photographed from farther away. The archaeological ruins including a Great Kiva, a Pit House, a Multi-Family Dwelling, and a Chacoan-style Great House Pueblo. From the top you have dramatic 360-degree views of Colorado and New Mexico.
The ancient structures are not easily accessible nor visible from any road. The guided walking tour includes four stabilized structures. The audio-guided tour visits two stabilized structures.
Best Time for Photographers:
Chimney Rock is a rarity within the USDA Forest Service. Recently designated a National Monument by the President, it remains under the domain of the Forest Service. As such, it is open to all visitors. However, there are seasonal closures and restrictions on entry into the Monument via motorized vehicle.
Access to the Visitor Cabin is by gravel road about one-half mile from the entrance gate. The gate is open from 9:00am to 4:30pm between May 15 and September 30. From October 1 through May 14, the entrance is locked but guests may hike on the Monument. During tour season, if you pay for a tour or event or have a special permit from the Forest Service, you may drive the 2 1/2 mile winding gravel road to the upper parking lot.
Visitors may hike into the Monument, ride horses, bicycle (only on the road) or snowshoe. If you decide to join a tour, you will be subject to the rules for that tour and asked to pay the fee.
Public access to the Pueblo Trail is seasonally restricted beyond the falcon closure fence (between March 1-September 30.) During this seasonal closure, only guided tours operated by the Chimney Rock Interpretive Association may use the trail, under authority of the USDA Forest Service special use permit.
Horses and dogs are not permitted on the interpretive trails.
Where it is:
DIRECTIONS:
3 miles south of Hwy 160 on Hwy 151; 17 miles west of Pagosa Springs
Maps:
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view.
GPS:
37°11’29.868″ N 107°18’23.088″ W
Cost:
Tour Options
Guided Walking Tour ($14/adult & $7/child (ages 5-12)
2-hour tour available at 9:30am & 1:00pm
1-hour tour available at 10:00am & 12:00pm
Trained volunteer interpretive guides will bring this beautiful site to life so you can visualize what it might have been like to live here 1,000 years ago? To fit your schedule, choose a 1-hour or 2-hour tour. The 2-hour tour provides access to the Pueblo Trail., the Kiva Trail and all four excavated structures. You’ll walk a little more than one mile and climb 200 feet. The 1-hour tour of the Pueblo Trail takes you to the Great House Pueblo below the pinnacles.
Kiva Audio-Guided Tour ($10/adult and $5/child (ages 5-12)
Available between 10am – 3:00pm
Walk the Great Kiva Trail at your own pace; includes the excavated pit house and Great Kiva. This paved trail is one-half mile with little elevation change. There are two ways to enjoy an audio-guided tour:
Purchase your audio-guided tour at the Visitor Cabin and receive a audio device with pre-recorded audio commentary that gives in-depth information about the structures viewed and the people who lived there.
Download the San Juan National Forest app before you arrive at Chimney Rock, purchase your audio-guided tour at the Visitor cabin and receive a pin so you can use your own phone or device for the audio-tour.
Per federal regulations governing America the Beautiful passes, only the Senior and Access Passes are accepted at Chimney Rock, which entitle the pass holder to a 50% tour fee discount. The Senior Pass discount is extended to the spouse. (Non-transferrable). The America the Beautiful Annual Pass, which offers discounts for entrance fees at many sites nationwide, does not apply to “Expanded Amenities”, such as the interpretive tours offered here. Active Military personnel are provided a 15% discount on tour fees with proper I.D.
Hours:
May 15th-Sept. 30th
Gate Open: 9:00am-4:30pm
Last Tour at 3:00pm
Facilities:
There are restrooms and a visitor center with a gift shop at the site.
Location Contact Information:
Chimney Rock Interpretive Association
P.O. Box 1662
Pagosa Springs, CO 81147
Monument: (970) 883-5359 (only May 15th-Sept. 30th)
Reservations: 877.444.6777
CRIA Office:(970)731-7133
Chimney Rock National Monument Photo Gallery
Click Here for full page gallery
More Photographic Destinations in Colorado:
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page.
Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State
All the information in this post was believed to be accurate at the time it was published. Please be sure to double check with the location before relying on this information as everything changes over time, especially hours, prices, and whether the location is still open.
Great Places for Great Photos
Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure. I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography. I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination. I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip. I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography.
If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!
Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country. Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos.
Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group.
All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need. Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two.
If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom. This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance. [...]Read more...
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is in western Colorado and managed by the National Park Service. There are two primary entrances to the park: the south rim entrance is located 15 miles east of Montrose, while the north rim entrance is 11 miles south of Crawford and is closed in the winter. The park contains 12 miles of the 48-mile long Black Canyon of the Gunnison River. The national park itself contains the deepest and most dramatic section of the canyon, but the canyon continues upstream into Curecanti National Recreation Area and downstream into Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area. The canyon’s name owes itself to the fact that parts of the gorge only receive 33 minutes of sunlight a day. As a result, the canyon is often shrouded in shadow, causing the rocky walls to appear black. At its narrowest point the canyon is only 40 ft wide at the river.
The Gunnison River drops an average of 34 feet per mile through the entire canyon, making it the 5th steepest mountain descent in North America. By comparison, the Colorado River drops an average of 7.5 feet per mile through the Grand Canyon. The greatest descent of the Gunnison River occurs within the park at Chasm View dropping 240 feet per mile. The Black Canyon is so named because its steepness makes it difficult for sunlight to penetrate into its depths. The extreme steepness and depth of the Black Canyon formed as the result of several geologic processes acting together. The Gunnison River is primarily responsible for carving the canyon, though several other geologic events had to occur in order to form the canyon as it is seen today.
The Black Canyon of the Gunnison was established as a national monument on March 2, 1933, and was redesignated a national park on October 21, 1999. During 1933-35, the Civilian Conservation Corps built the North Rim Road to design by the National Park Service. This includes fives miles of roadway and five overlooks; it is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places as a historic district.
Where it is:
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is located in southwest Colorado.
The South Rim is 7 miles north on CO Highway 347 from the intersection with U.S. Highway 50 east of Montrose.
The North Rim is 11 miles southwest of Crawford. From CO Highway 92, turn west on Black Canyon Road approximately 3 miles south of Crawford. Follow the road signs to the park. The last 7 miles are unpaved. The North Rim is closed to vehicles in the winter.
There is no bridge across the canyon. Allow 2 to 3 hours to drive from one rim to the other. The North Rim is closed to vehicles in the winter.
Maps:
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view.
GPS:
38.5754° N, 107.7416° W
Cost:
ENTRANCE FEES
7 Day Vehicle Pass $30.00
7 Day Motorcycle Pass $25.00
7 Day Individual Pass $15.00 (pedestrian or bicycle)
Black Canyon Annual Pass $55.00
Entrance fees cover all persons in a single, private, noncommercial vehicle. There is no fee charged for persons 16 years of age or younger.
National Park Passes are acepted.
Hours:
South Rim
Open every day. The South Rim Drive is usually open to vehicles from early April to mid-November. In winter, the South Rim Road is open to Gunnison Point at the visitor center. The remainder of the road is closed to vehicles, but open to cross country skiing and snowshoeing when conditions permit.
North Rim
North Rim Road and ranger station are closed to vehicles in winter. The road typically closes late November and reopens mid-April.
East Portal
East Portal Road is closed in winter. The road typically closes mid-November and reopens mid-April.
SOUTH RIM VISITOR CENTER
Location: 7 miles north on CO Highway 347 from the intersection with U.S. Highway 50.
GPS: N 38.5550 W -107.6866
South Rim Visitor Center is open every day of the year except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
January 1, 2020 to April 25, 2020: Open 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
April 26, 2020 to May 21, 2020: Open 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
May 22, 2020 to September 7, 2020: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
September 8, 2020 to October 24, 2020: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
October 25, 2020 to Winter 2020: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Location Contact Information:
National Park Service
102 Elk Creek
Gunnison, CO 81230
PARK HEADQUARTERS PHONE:
(970) 641-2337
PARK HEADQUARTERS FAX:
(970) 641-3127
EMAIL
Facilities:
Restrooms and drinking water are available at the visitor center on the south rim (Water is not available during cold months).
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Photo Gallery
Click Here for full page gallery
More Photographic Destinations in Colorado:
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page.
Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State
All the information in this post was believed to be accurate at the time it was published. Please be sure to double check with the location before relying on this information as everything changes over time, especially hours, prices, and whether the location is still open.
Great Places for Great Photos
Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure. I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography. I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination. I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip. I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography.
If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!
Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country. Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos.
Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group.
All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need. Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two.
If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom. This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance. [...]Read more...
Animas Forks Ghost Town
Animas Forks is located on a system of roads known as the Alpine Loop. The loop is a 65-mile (105 km) system of unpaved roads which connects the small mountain towns of Lake City, Ouray, and Silverton. Most of the land in the area is managed by either the U.S. Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management. The Alpine Loop is visited by over 100,000 people each year. Animas Forks, at an elevation of 11,200 feet, is more than two miles above sea level. The unimproved road from Silverton to Animas Forks is passable in summer by two-wheel drive vehicles. The road beyond Animas Forks over Engineer Pass to Lake City may require four-wheel drive.
The site continues as a tourist attraction. A Colorado State Historical Fund grant to San Juan County, in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management, provided for stabilization of the remaining structures in 1997 and 1998. In 2011 the townsite was listed on the National Register of Historic Places which opened up opportunities for additional funding. The initial stabilization effort of the late 1990s was followed up with a comprehensive restoration of the buildings in 2013-2014. Work identified in the 2009 Historic Structures Assessment was completed under two subsequent grants from the State Historical Fund, beginning in 2013. Work was completed in 2014, just in time for the recognition of the 25th Anniversary of the establishment of the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway.
The site was managed collaboratively by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and San Juan County until a long awaited land swap was recently completed in 2009. The BLM is now the sole owner of the Townsite, and provides interpretive brochures and maps at an adjacent parking area. Entry into the buildings is unrestricted. The nine standing buildings within the Townsite have been stabilized and restored, repairing floors, walls, windows, and doors, to secure the envelope of each building. Cedar shingle roof sheathing has been restored on several of the buildings along with structural repairs and improvements to the drainage around the structures and across the site. The jail structure, the oldest building on the site, has had it gable roof reconstructed as part of the second phase of the project along with new interpretive signage installed in 2014.
History
The town’s first log cabin was built in 1873 and by 1876 the community had become a bustling mining community. At that time the town contained 30 cabins, a hotel, a general store, a saloon, and a post office. By 1883 450 people lived in Animas Forks and in 1882 a newspaper, the Animas Forks Pioneer, began publication and lasted until October 1886. Every fall the residents of Animas Forks migrated en masse to the warmer town of Silverton.
In 1884 a 23-day blizzard inundated the town with 25 feet of snow, the residents had to dig tunnels to get from building to building. Mining, speculation and processing mills helped Animas Forks grow. When mining profits began to decline investment in Animas Forks was no longer justified. Although mining made a brief 1904 rebound with the construction of the Gold Prince Mill the town’s mining days were nearing an end.
A rail line ran through the area and stimulated interest in mining in the community again but the railroad never reached its expectations. The Gold Prince Mill closed in 1910 and in 1917 most of the mill’s major parts were removed for a new facility in Eureka. The mill’s dismantling signaled the beginning of the end for Animas Forks. The town was a ghost town by the 1920s.
What to Photograph:
There is a great deal to photograph here including the old mines and equipment, and the ghost town.
Best Time for Photographers:
The best time to visit is in the summer or fall, May to October.
Where it is:
DIRECTIONS:
Silverton to Animas Forks Ghost Town is a 12.3 mile lightly trafficked point-to-point trail located near Silverton, Colorado and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for off road driving and is best used from May until October.
Maps:
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view.
GPS:
LATITUDE/LONGITUDE: 37.93123 / -107.57068
Cost:
There is no cost to visit Animas Forks Ghost Town.
Hours:
There are no hours, it is accessible at all times.
Facilities:
There are no facilities of any kind.
Location Contact Information:
PHONE (970) 642-4940
ADDRESS Gunnison Field Office
210 West Spencer Street
Gunnison, CO 81230
Animas Forks Ghost Town Photo Gallery
Click Here for full page gallery
More Photographic Destinations in Colorado:
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page.
Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State
All the information in this post was believed to be accurate at the time it was published. Please be sure to double check with the location before relying on this information as everything changes over time, especially hours, prices, and whether the location is still open.
Great Places for Great Photos
Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure. I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography. I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination. I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip. I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography.
If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!
Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country. Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos.
Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group.
All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need. Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two.
If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom. This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance. [...]Read more...
Alta Ghost Town
Alta is the most scenic Ghost Town that I have visited, it is located at 11,800 feet above see level and has tremendous views of Mount Wilson. Just up the road is Alta Lakes Recreation Area consisting of 3 pristine mountain lakes and a primitive camp ground. The site includes a number of nicely preserved buildings from the old mining town set against a fantastic Rocky Mountain background.
Constructed around the turn of the 20th century and active until the 1930s, the Gold King Mine at Alta Lakes, elevation 11,000 feet, was the first mine in the world to receive AC power. Built in 1939, Alta’s two-story boardinghouse comprises materials salvaged from the St. Louis mine’s boardinghouse. It stands as one of Colorado’s last extant major mining camp boardinghouses.
Alta was the center of gold mining activity from the 1870s to the 1940s, and in its heyday, hundreds of people lived there. Its demise came when a prominent mill burned down in 1948. As residents moved away, buildings and homes were left standing, abandoned and sacrificed to nature. Today, this Colorado ghost town is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and includes original buildings like cabins, a boarding house and outhouses.
Where it is:
Alta is located between Telluride an d Rico at an elevation of 11,800 feet.
Take Alta Lakes Road six miles south of Telluride on Highway 145. Turn left and stay on the road for 4 miles to reach the ghost town of Alta. This is a narrow and steep road but is maintained and does not require a high clearance vehicle. Alta Lakes Road is closed in the winter. To reach Alta Lakes, you’ll need a high-clearance 4×4, just follow signs from Alta.
Maps:
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view.
GPS:
37°53’9.816″ N 107°51’8.58″ W
Cost:
There is no cost to visit Alta.
Hours:
There are no hours, the location is accessible 24 hour per day.
Facilities:
There are no facilities in Alta. There are vault toilets at the Alta Lakes Campground further up the road.
Alta Ghost Town Photo Gallery
Click Here for full page gallery
More Photographic Destinations in Colorado:
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page.
Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State
All the information in this post was believed to be accurate at the time it was published. Please be sure to double check with the location before relying on this information as everything changes over time, especially hours, prices, and whether the location is still open.
Great Places for Great Photos
Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure. I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography. I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination. I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip. I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography.
If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!
Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country. Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos.
Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group.
All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need. Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two.
If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom. This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance. [...]Read more...
