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Explore Colors on Stunning Fall Drives in Gunnison-Crested Butte, Colorado

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GUNNISON-CRESTED BUTTE, Colo. (August 25, 2006) — Nature and the towns of Gunnison and Crested Butte are bursting with spectacular color and a wide range of activities throughout the month of September.

Whether blazing trails by foot, mountain bike, horse or automobile, there is something to please adventurers and explorers of all ages. Mother Nature is expected to play a big roll in making this fall’s leaf peeping one to remember. “If the cool temperatures at night continue and we have Colorado blue skies in September, it could be a spectacular year for leaf viewing. The right temperatures and the right skies will make the difference,” says Jon Morrissey, recreation staff officer for the Gunnison Ranger District of the U.S. Forest Service. To share the spectacular scenery and weather, Gunnison and Crested Butte have teamed up to present “September Splendor in the Rockies,” a month-long celebration featuring five themed weekends: Art at Altitude, Mountain Rhythms & Renewal, Colorful Trails & Alpine Tales, Western Ways & Autumn Ablaze, and Fall Finale. For a listing of September Splendor activities, visit www.septembersplendor.com. Also, consider the following five fall drive ideas to experience Gunnison County bathed in the glory of autumn’s amazing palette. FALL DRIVE ROUTES Ohio Creek Road to Kebler Pass Take a left on Ohio Creek Road in north Gunnison off Highway 135 (look for signs). About 12 miles up the Ohio Creek Valley, near a series of ranch buildings that mark the abandoned site of Castleton, travelers will see the spires of “the Castles.” These are erosion remnants carved out of volcanic debris that erupted from the West Elk Volcano, now extinct. Approximately 15 miles from the Ohio Creek junction are abandoned buildings and sheds of Baldwin, the company town for one of the largest coal mines in the region. Look for a fine view of the Anthracite Range from here. In a short distance, the road will become steep and flatten out again before reaching Ohio Pass, which is about 2 miles from the intersection with Kebler Pass heading west toward Paonia Dam and Kebler Pass Road heading east to Crested Butte. Before heading to Crested Butte, take a short detour and head north to the beautiful Lake Irwin. West Elk Loop Scenic & Historic Byway From Gunnison, the byway heads north on Highway 135 to Crested Butte, continues on Kebler Pass Road running west along Coal Creek (turns to gravel) and connects to the 30-mile-long Kebler Pass (also gravel and a popular fair-weather route to Aspen). Kebler Pass links with Highway 133 near Paonia Dam. At this point, travelers can go north on the West Elk Loop Byway over McClure Pass to Marble, Redstone and Carbondale. Going south on Highway 133 takes travelers to Somerset, Bowie, Hotchkiss, Crawford, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Sapinero and Curecanti National Recreation Area before returning to Gunnison. There is an excellent brochure, "Experience the West Elk Loop Scenic and Historic Byway," available at Chambers of Commerce along the route. Kebler Pass This is just one segment of the West Elk Loop Scenic and Historic Byway, but is a popular fall drive on its own. The 30-mile Kebler Pass road follows Coal Creek west from Crested Butte and climbs gradually past the old Keystone Mine. The graveled road follows the old Rio Grande Railroad grade toward Kebler Pass and the once booming mining camps of Irwin and Ruby, the lumber camp of Telco, and the coal mining town of Floresta. At the top of the pass, a road forks left toward Ohio Pass and Gunnison and right toward Kebler Pass. Kebler Pass heads into the Anthracite Creek drainage and through incredible Aspen groves, meeting Highway 133 at the Paonia Dam. This is a popular route linking Crested Butte to roadways that travel to Aspen, passing through the charming towns of Redstone and Carbondale along the way. Crested Butte to Gothic & Schofield Pass Drive three miles from Crested Butte to Mt. Crested Butte (where ski resort is located) and continue to Gothic, located on the east bank of the East River at the junction with Copper Creek. Gothic was a mid- to late-1800s boom town that now houses the famed Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory. The famous Crystal Mill is only 9 miles down the road from Gothic via Schofield Pass. Schofield Pass is not a passenger car road; a 4-wheel drive vehicle is required or hire an outdoor touring company. Almont to Various Scenic Routes Between the towns of Gunnison and Crested Butte on Highway 135 is Almont, where the Taylor and East Rivers meet to create the Gunnison River. From Gunnison, go east at Almont on Taylor Canyon Road to Taylor Park Dam and Reservoir. From here travelers have three choices: 1.) Go east on Cottonwood Pass to Buena Vista; 2.) Go north and loop back to Almont on Spring Creek Road; or 3.) Go southeast through one of the richest gold strike areas in Gunnison County traveling through Tincup, over Cumberland Pass, and through Pitkin, Ohio City and Parlin before reaching Gunnison. Visitor Information & Personalized Vacation Packages “The Gunnison - Crested Butte area is a great place for families, couples and friends to enjoy a fall Rocky Mountain vacation, whether you’re interested in culture, the beauty and natural surroundings of the mountains, or an adventurous escape,” says Jane Chaney, director of the Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association. To find out more about Gunnison-Crested Butte’s calendar of events or to book personalized vacation packages, call the Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association’s official reservations center at (800) 814-8893 or visit www.GunnisonCrestedButte.com. During the summer and fall, air access to the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport is provided by United Airlines. About Gunnison-Crested Butte, Colorado Gunnison-Crested Butte is nestled among almost two million acres of pristine wilderness in southwest Colorado. Winter sports enthusiasts know the area for its world-class alpine skiing and snowboarding at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and ice fishing. Gunnison-Crested Butte is also a haven for outdoor summer activities. In the warmer months, visitors can choose from recreational activities such as hiking, climbing, mountain biking, boating, whitewater rafting, kayaking, fly-fishing, camping and horseback riding. Year-round visitors enjoy distinctive restaurants, unique shops and stimulating cultural opportunities, and have a wide range of lodging options — from rustic inns to guest cabins and bed-and-breakfasts to full-service resort hotels. Recognized as the “Official Wildflower Capital of Colorado” by the Colorado Legislature, Crested Butte is the site of rich mining, ranching and skiing heritage and home to the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame and Crested Butte Academy, a private college preparatory boarding and day school with special emphasis on world-class alpine, snowboarding and high altitude distance running programs. Gunnison, a real western town, is home to the beautiful, high-country campus of Western State College, a four-year institution offering 22 majors in the liberal arts and sciences and professional fields, and the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport. Both Crested Butte and Gunnison have thriving historic central business districts packed with shopping and dining opportunities. In Gunnison County, visitors will find the Curecanti National Recreation Area, where dinosaur fossils were recently discovered; the Blue Mesa Reservoir, Colorado's largest body of water and home to the largest Kokanee salmon fishery in the United States; and The Black Canyon of the Gunnison, one of our country's newest national parks. Gunnison County includes the quaint and historic towns of Pitkin, Gothic, Tin Cup, Marble, Powderhorn, Almont and Crystal, plus the better-known communities of Gunnison, Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte.

 Printable Version  | published Aug 28, 2006