My Choices For Fall Adventures
Colorado Fall Colors and Hot Springs
The Million Dollar Highway in western Colorado provides access to a series of very nice natural hot springs, which I intend to visit in late September or early October.
This link gives predicted dates for peak colors: https://smokymountains.com/fall-foliage-map
October 4-6 look good for the area I want to visit. Here's my tentative plan:
Fri: Drive to Ridgeway CO and enjoy soaking at Orvis Hot Springs. Camp there or nearby.
Sat am: Drive the Million Dollar Highway over the mountains to Durango, then continue to Pagosa. Stop at viewpoints and take photos along the way.
Sat pm: Backpack the 4.5 miles to Rainbow Hot Springs, in the Weminuche Wilderness. Enjoy the hot springs and shoot photos of the river and foliage. Camp nearby.
Sun: Hike out and drive home.
The Million Dollar Highway climbs over the San Juan Mountains, which are heavily forested, and fall colors usually peak during that period. I look forward to relaxing in the hot mineral water, with the crisp air above me, surrounded by golden aspen leaves. Some of the hot springs in that area have been developed into pleasant resorts. Others are located in backcountry areas and are in primitive/natural conditions.
I've visited several of the hot springs on previous trips and they are wonderful. I keep learning about more and look forward to exploring the area more thoroughly. In the past, I've focused on the Orvis side of the highway including the intimate Wiesbaden pools in Oray, Orvis Hot Springs in Ridgway, and the Avalance Ranch pools. I still need to visit Penny Hot Springs along the Crystal River.
This will have to be a quick trip but should be fun.
Lake Powell
I plan to hit Powell again in late September, which is my favorite time of year for a family trip to the big reservoir. By then the air temperature will have moderated - not the blast furnace you get during summer - and the water will still be warm. Conditions will be perfect for skiing, pulling kids on tubes, and exploring. Fishing usually picks up in September for smallmouth, largemouth, walleye, and other species. We'll be camping on the beach out from Bullfrog and exploring up-lake.
Fall Fishing
Action improves at many of our favorite fishing spots as the waters start to cool. Strawberry, Flaming Gorge, Green River, Provo River, and many other waters become very good during fall. We'll be out after trout, walleye, smallmouth bass, and other species. Topwater fishing for bass will become very good during September and that is great fun.
Desert Hikes
Fall is the perfect time to hike and explore our low-elevation deserts including areas in and around Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Grand Staircase. Zion and the St George area are slower to cool and become prime during late fall and early winter. Grand Staircase will be my destination this year. I've been hiking there for years because I love its vast open spaces and the chance to hike away from the crowds. I'm working to schedule a backpacking trip to Reflection Canyon Overlook. That trek begins in Grand Staircase and crosses over into Glen Canyon to end at a spectacular viewpoint above Lake Powell. I want to camp nearby to get dusk and dawn photos. I also intend to do a day hike into the Golden Cathedral in Grand Staircase.
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I try to do one major outing a month, along with minor adventures as circumstances permit. I travel with family and friends as much as possible. Lately, I've been able to get out more often than my cohorts and so I need to expand my group of travel buddies. I can always use more friends.
I'm not a guide and I do not charge to take people on trips. I just go where I feel like going and invite people to join me. I'm old, married, and straight. I don't go as hard and fast as I did when I was young but I think I'm having more fun now. I enjoy helping people experience outdoor adventure. If I'm planning something you find interesting, contact me and maybe we can join forces.
Below I describe my upcoming trip plans. I'll share my itineraries as I get the details together. Hopefully, this will give you ideas about great adventure options during the various seasons of the year.
Sometimes I work with charter companies or hire professional guides and it is often less expensive if 2-4 people go in together.
I would love to hear about your travel goals and dreams. If there is an adventure in the SW United States that you would love to do, but don't feel like you can do it on your own, hit me up. I might be able to provide information and resources, or perhaps we can team up to make the trip possible.
- Dave Webb
