Tuesday April 5, 2022
I was beginning to think that my hastily planned trip east was jinxed when I learned that road work, which started only yesterday, had closed Route 50 and I had to take a 73 mile (117 km) detour today. However, that detour proved to be spectacular and I found myself saying “OMG” as I walked up to some overlooks.
Route 50 separates from Interstate 70, becoming its own road again, near Grand Junction and I knew I would be driving across the Rocky Mountains as I journeyed to Salida, CO today. I had driven much of this route and visited its main attraction, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, as part of my Alaska trip in 2017 (blogged here) but today’s experience was better. Let me tell the story with photos.
This is the point where Route 50 diverges from I70 just outside Grand Junction. A pretty scenic start to the day.
Here I had just started along the detour on route 92 and things are looking promising.
The first overlook I stopped had a great view of the Gunnison River valley. Click for a larger version.
The next overlook offered a panoramic view that included the partially frozen river. Click for a larger version.
This was an OMG moment. The Gunnison river created Black Canyon as described in the linked blog post but, in the National Park, the canyon is so deep and narrow that the canyon appears, well, black in photos. This was, in my opinion, more impressive as sunlight reflected from the water.
A different view of the canyon and river from further along the trail.
After completing the detour and returning to Route 50 I had planned a walk at Dillon Pinnacles near Blue Mesa Dam but the wind was so strong I literally could not stand still enough to take a photo and was being bombarded by blown dirt and sand so I abandoned that idea. Here is what the scenery was like as seen from the comfort of the car.
Route 50 passes over Monarch Pass at an elevation of 11,312 feet (3,448 m). The temperature, according to the car, was 34º F (1º C) but I did not venture out to confirm.
The view descending from Monarch Pass.
My journey today shows that the unexpected can lead to the best experiences.
What a journey, Steve. Stay safe
Thanks, I’ll try!
Does my memory play tricks. I seem to remember that at one point in the Black Canyon, there is an old steam railway engine that was used to travel through part of the canyon?
You are correct. I had never heard about it but it is mentioned on the NPS web site at https://www.nps.gov/blca/learn/historyculture/railroad.htm
Very pleased my memory was correct. It must have been mentioned in the guidebook we were using so we went for a look. It gives you a reason to return to a great canyon to check it out!
The railway builders were fearless in those days. I would not have expected anyone to take on that challenge.
Sounds like you lucked out yesterday! What fabulous views!
It was an unexpected pleasure.
Awesome photos. River valley photos are amazing. Wish I had time to investigate the reason or reasons for the sudden changes in width. Gut feeling is soft rock geology.
The geology out here is amazing. The rivers have achieved miracles cutting so deeply through the various layers to create canyons and the hard/soft rock results in incredible land forms.