Rocky Roads: A Journey Through the Rocky Mountains

One evening, on the way back from Telluride, the sight of a roadside packed with photographers forced me to hit the brakes, get out of my Jeep, and join the crowd. They were all out to view a magnificent sunset lighting up the snow-capped mountain range.

After capturing the moment, I hopped back in the Jeep and sped off to Ouray and I leaned over to my girlfriend and said, “Colorado will always have my heart.”

This memory was just one of many from my recent road trip to the always-colorful Colorado. The primary purpose the trip — experience the grandeur of Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, an item that had long been on my bucket list. But before we could make it to our final destination, we had to make stop through one of, if not my favorite, states in the Union. However, like every great adventure, ours had its fair share of obstacles. Car troubles, fast-changing weather, and unexpected park closures were just some of our challenges. Challenges that tested our resolve while creating lasting memories.

From Georgia to the Rockies

Setting off from Georgia, our route to Colorado spanned two days and many states. Our journey took us through Alabama's countryside, Mississippi's lowlands, a slice of Tennessee, and the vast expanses of Arkansas. We decided to break our trip with an overnight stay in the quaint town of Fort Smith, one I was familiar with from a trip I took three years ago.

Throughout the journey, we took advantage of the numerous state visitor centers. These stops were great ways to break up the trip. stretch our feet and grab some memorabilia for the trip. Each stop, we decided to pick up one of the free road maps the visitor centers offered. These maps would serve not only as navigation tools in the event of a lost signal but they were also little reminders of our time on the road. Our stops were highlighted with some quick photo opportunities and questioning from the attendants on where we were coming from and how many were in our party, adding some interesting, if not odd, moments.

The next leg of our journey was no less thrilling. We drove through the heart of Oklahoma, the desert landscapes of North Texas, and ventured into the wild terrains of Northeastern New Mexico. The two day journey felt mundane at times, especially compared to the magnificent sights awaiting us in the Rockies. But, it served to intensify our anticipation for what we were about to experience. When we finally crossed the Colorado state line, the terrain transformed nearly instantaneously. The landscape went from flat planes to rocky roads in an instant.

Initially, we planned to continue driving until we reached the Great Sand Dunes. Unfortunately, nightfall and the winding terrain caused us to stall until early the following day, making a Walmart parking lot in the tiny town of Trinidad our home for the evening.

Mother Nature Knows Best

Only twenty-four hours after we broke through the Colorado state line, Mother Nature decided to make her presence known. A dark cloud loomed in the distance as soon as we started up I-25. It wouldn’t be long before the rain began, and by the looks of it, lightning would be there, too.

Our plans at the Great Sand Dunes were quickly changed when we drove up to the visitor’s center only to see a sign saying “Caution: Lighting on Sand Dunes” was put out by one of the park rangers. While we had dreamt of hiking the dunes, warnings of potential lightning strikes forced us to be content with the visitor center's offerings and a walk in the lower dune area. And the weather forecast for the remainder of the day provided no hope for relief.

Instead of sticking around, we decided to head west to the town of Gunnison, but once again, nature had its own plans. The drive through the mountain range was a mix of wind and rain, with the potential for snow forecasted as the evening went on. The weather’s unpredictability made planning our next steps difficult since so many of the locations on our trip map were at higher elevations and fairly remote. While making the journey into these locations was sure to be eventful, the potential for problems was too likely to risk it.

Silver Jack Reservoir

The unpredictability of the weather also forced us to make quick decisions so we didn’t get stuck in one place too long. We also needed a camping spot for the night, but one that wouldn't risk having us snowed in. Luckily, a drive around US-50 led us to one in Cimarron Campground, which was close to our originally planned camping spot of Silver Jack Reservoir. It was a paid campground but paid equaled amenities like a bathroom with running water, which we were grateful for after a day of scrambling around the San Juans.

The next morning, we finally headed to Silver Jack Reservoir, a place of surreal beauty. This is where the real fun began when we encountered everything from friendly cows grazing the meadows to photographers trying to capture the Aspen trees' golden glow against the snow-covered landscapes.

But as was the theme for the first few days, weather wouldn’t let us have anything nice for too long. The high elevation of the surrounding area led to the freezing temperatures and snow we had been trying to avoid. So after a few hours, we decided to look for lodging in the nearby town of Montrose to stay for the evening, leading us to one of the more unique experiences of our trip.

Embracing the Unexpected

I had driven through the town of Montrose quite a few times during previous visits but never spent much time there. So when we found a quant little tiny home community right off the path I’ve taken so many times, I was surprised. Our tiny home came equipped with modern amenities, and believe it or not, we even had goats for neighbors! This central location became our base for several days, allowing us to explore the nearby towns of Ouray and Telluride, two of my favorites.

Our day in Telluride was nothing short of magic. We spent time visiting the local shops, the picturesque park and grabbed a drink from the wonderful Wood Ear Lounge. Our time was short but well spent. We couldn’t stay long though because we had to rush back to the town of Ouray for dinner reservations.

As we hurried to Ouray, dusk was setting in leading to one of the most memorable parts of our journey. As we drove down the highway, we rolled up to a roadside crowd, all clamoring to capture an epic sunset against the majestic San Juan mountain range. This moment, like so many others, was the result of luck, timing and being open to the opportunities as they presented themselves.

After a few days in Colorado, we were on a rocky mountain high but we had to prepare for the next leg of our trip the next day. We plotted the course through Utah towards Wyoming, one I knew was sure to provide some of the most scenic views of the trip. As we packed up the Jeep, I couldn’t stop thinking about how well our time in Colorado had went in spite of the weather difficulties. And as we rolled out, onto Hwy 50 heading towards the town of Delta, Colorado, I got yet another surprise — the dreaded check engine light.

Onward and Upward

Colorado has carved a special place in my heart with its breathtaking landscapes, wonderful people and yes, even its crazy weather. Our journey, though interspersed with challenges, showed us that with a little bit of optimism and a lot of adaptability, obstacles can transform into opportunities. Even a surprise check engine light offered us an opportunity to check in with a local auto parts retailer and grab some much needed supplies.

With our spirits high and memories of Colorado fresh in our minds, we were all set to embrace the wild wonders of Wyoming.