The SW Colorado Ride - Revisiting Wolf Creek Pass and part of the San Juan Skyway

July 11, 2009:  In the morning I revisited Wolf Creek Pass to see what the early morning sun did in terms of lighting up the landscape. I had not even gone a mile from the timeshare resort when I saw the distant mountain range reflected in a small lake nearby:

Near the Wyndham Timeshare Resort

I rode north on US 160 away from Pagosa Springs, tanked up at the station outside of town, and enjoyed a brisk early morning temperatures ride back towards Wolf Creek Pass:

Approaching Wolf Creek Pass from the west
 

Above the Wolf Creek Pass Scenic Overlook

The lighting was disappointing at the pass itself though, dark shadows and bright sunshine combined forces and defeated my attempts at getting decent shots.

I turned back west on US 160, transited through Pagosa Springs again, and was soon at the Chimney Rock Archaeological Dig exit where CO 151 junctions with US 160. The Chimney Rock formation is visible from quite a distance away and is located in the Southern Ute Indian Reservation.

This is as close as I got to the rocks, the tour guides at the site did not recommend my taking the motorcycle up with the other tour vehicles. While I don't mind trying tough roads on my own, I draw the line at witnesses watching me drop my motorcycle! 

Chimney Rock

After I left the vicinity of Chimney Rock, I continued south on CO 151 all the way to the small town of Ignacio. The terrain turned into farmland and ranches soon enough and I found it a bit boring.

So I headed back towards the town of Bayfield via county roads from Ignacio. Once at Bayfield, I crossed over US 160 and proceeded on this county road towards Durango and Highway 550.

I got to Durango soon enough, tanked up again at Hermosa, and proceeded north on Highway 550 also known as the San Juan Skyway; it's part of the Million Dollar highway scenic byway.

The San Juan Skyway is an awesome motorcycling road with great views of imposing mountain ranges, near and far. Perhaps these pictures will give you some idea:

West Needle Mountain (I think)
 

Looking towards Engineer Mountain

Twilight Peak

I am guessing this is Snowdon Peak

Grand Turk and Sultan Mountains
 

In due course, I arrived near the town of Silverton and was greeting with this view of the town:

After a short drink break in Silverton, to re-hydrate myself as the day was quite warm, I rode the San Juan Skyway back south towards Durango:

Back at Durango, I got lost for a bit but found US 160 eventually. After enduring several miles of construction traffic I finally broke free of Durango and cruised east back towards Pagosa Springs.

A bit over 8 hours of riding and picture taking, 327 miles racked up on Brigitta. A good day of riding!

More to follow...

Here's the previous day's riding: Collegiate Peaks and sights enroute to Pagosa Springs

Ride Safe, Ride Aware