Ridgway State Park, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, and Telluride, Colorado

We drove a short ride south from Montrose, Colorado to Ridgway State Park.  This was our second time at this park so we knew what to expect.  Our friend, Dave, who we met at Snow Canyon State Park in Utah over a year ago is a seasonal ranger at this park.  We got set up in our reserved site in the Dakota Terraces section and waited for Dave to swing by. 

 

This site was a short walk down to the lake where we checked on the water level and watched people on the launch ramp. 

One of the launch ramps at the lake in Ridgway State Park

Overlooking the campground

Dave was working and stopped by our site to say, "Hi", and let us know his schedule for the week.  We also were visited by his dog, Ellie Mae, who has been sick and not herself.

Ellie Mae

We had a nice view of the mountains from our site in Dakota Terraces

One advantage we had for knowing a ranger is that he was able to change our site.  We had two reservations for this campground after deciding to extend our stay so we needed to move anyway.  Dave was able to get us changed to a new site in the Elk Ridge campground after seeing a cancellation in their system.  This allowed us to move earlier in the week and then be settled until our departure.

Our new site in the Elk Ridge campground

 

We took a short walk from our site to check out the sunset one night. 

Dave turned us on to this local beer made with sweet corn from the nearby town of Olathe.

While waiting for Dave's days off, one day Al and I put our paddle boards in the lake for a nice paddle.  The winds pick up in the afternoons so we made sure to paddle in the morning.  

On Wednesday, the four of us, Dave, Ellie Mae, Al, and I, went to visit the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National park.  

Inside the park, we wanted to take Portal Road down to the river which required us to take a steep grade road where vehicles > 22 feet were not allowed.  Our truck is almost 22 feet long so we took Dave's truck. 

Fly fishermen

After our picnic by the river, we drove back up to the South Rim.  We drove along the South Rim making stops at various viewpoints. 

One of the lookout spots

Dave

Looking east

Looking west

Three Amigos

At the end of South Rim road, Al and I did the Warner Point Trail while Dave stayed back with Ellie Mae. 

The next day we drove about 30 minutes south to Telluride, a popular ski resort town.  

We actually drove to the town of Mountain Village and took the free gondola over to the town of Telluride.

Fun facts about the gondola: 

• The ride only takes 13 minutes.  
• The distance between the two towns is 8 miles but the gondola travels 3 miles.  
• The gondola is the only free transportation of its kind in North America. 
  

Waiting in line for the gondola at a safe distance.

 It was required to wear a face mask while inside the gondolas.

Approaching Telluride

We walked around town a bit to check it out.

Telluride Courthouse

Part of Main Street was blocked off for seating for the local restaurants.

 

A must-do hike when visiting Telluride is the Bear Creek Preserve Trail to a beautiful waterfall.  It was 5 miles round-trip with a 1000 ft gain.  We found the trailhead at the end of South Pine Street and started the hike. 

 

Our first glimpse of the waterfall

Butterfly Love

Dave

Nancy & Al

Looking from the falls back towards town

We're almost back down to town from our hike up to the falls.

Then it was back on the to gondola to get back to Dave's truck for the ride back to our campground.

After our day trip to Telluride, Al made us some yummy shrimp pasta with bacon after watching my cousin Rob make it for us when we were in Amarillo. 

Ellie Mae checking out our trailer

 

This is Dave's setup at Ridgway.

 

Ellie Mae

Sadly, it was time to move on and say, "see you later", to Dave and Ellie Mae.  We had a great time with them and enjoyed our day trips to Black Gunnison NP and Telluride. 

Our next plan was to head north towards Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks but we ran in to some trouble with the trailer in Wyoming.  More on that next time.