Another day, another breathtaking stretch of Colorado wilderness planned. We started in Leadville, grabbing morning coffee in the crisp, high-altitude air. The legendary downtown streets, quiet at this hour, felt like the perfect prep before a day of adventure.
From there, we climbed over Cottonwood Pass toward Oh Be Joyful Campground near Crested Butte. This stretch of water and road holds a lot of meaning for Marc, who spent college days kayaking the rapids—though today, we traded paddles for tires and boots.
Our Second National Park: Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
The second National Park stop of the trip was Black Canyon of the Gunnison, a narrow gorge with some of the oldest exposed rock in North America. Photos don’t begin to capture the scale or wildness.
On the way to Silverton, we passed abandoned mines, silent reminders of the mining boom that shaped this rugged landscape in the 1800s. It’s easy to imagine prospectors braving these mountains in search of silver and gold.
One of the day’s highlights: a narrow 4×4 road to Ophir Pass, where we caught an epic view of Williams Peak. Coors fans might recognize it from the label, but in real life, it’s even more impressive.
By evening, we were settled at Molas Lake Campground. Marc whipped up a gourmet camping meal that set the bar way too high for all future camp dinners, and the alpine lake views made it nearly impossible to imagine a better day.
Between first-time National Park visits, off-roading adventures, and fine-dining-by-headlamp, the day reminded us why Colorado deserves the long drive and every ounce of effort.