Beautiful Day Hike

Awesome late spring trip to the Rocky Mountain "crossroads" area of Colorado and the Arkansas River Valley.  I saw this "crossroads" slogan in Salida near where US 50 and US 285 cross.  Poncha Pass, Monarch Pass, Cottonwood Pass, Independence Pass and Fremont Pass are all accessible from this valley via pavement.  85 miles of hiking and 670 miles of driving over 9 days, with proper social distancing!

Short hike on former ranch, on the way back to Denver. Near Como, CO. 

West side of Cottonwood Pass. Flows to Gunnison, then Colorado Rivers. Gunnison NF, near Buena Vista, CO. 

San Isabel and Gunnison NFs. Near Buena Vista, CO. Pass is open!

Loop along Brown's and Little Brown'sCreeks. San Isabel NF, near Salida, CO.