Although Salida is a small town, I wanted to highlight the scenery around the area. Leaving Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP, we continued east on Hwy 50. After the town on Cimarron, the road hugged the Blue Mesa Reservoir which was frozen in parts.
After the town of Gunnison, elevations changed drastically. As the road twisted on switchbacks our ears began to pop. One daughter was started to look a bit green since she often gets carsick. It turned out we were crossing the Rockies at Monarch Pass at dusk. Cold air blasted through the open window when I took the following photos.
Crossing the Rockies at Monarch Descending Monarch Pass
After a good night’s rest in Salida, we hit a part of the Collegiate Peaks Scenic Byway as we headed up to Boulder.
