Classic Colorado

There are several places in Colorado that have become ”iconic” in representing our Rocky Mountain scenery.

Perhaps the most photographed spot is Maroon Lake and the uniquely shaped Maroon Bells. Second only to that is the sub-range located east of Ridgway, with Mt. Sneffels taking the highest and most prominent position. Though these mountains are part of the overall San Juan Range, this particular group is often referred to as the “Sneffels Range” or “Dallas Divide,” which is the name given to the pass west of Ridgway that provides access to the San Miguel River and Telluride.

Flanked by her sister 13ers, 14er Mt. Sneffels, forms an imposing barrier and displays such prominence that these peaks may be observed from Grand Junction, nearly 90 miles away. Mt. Sneffels rises over 7,000 feet above the town of Ridgway. The range has become extremely popular for landscape photo-graphy, especially in the fall when the aspen and scrub oak are changing.

The summer and fall of 2019 had seen a resurgence of severe drought conditions for western Colorado. Many speculated that the fall colors would not be as vivid. One week before the time this photo was taken, we had spent a full day photo-graphing a vivid display of fall colors all along the range. But there was one thing missing – some fresh snow to highlight the peaks. That first dusting of snow arrived a week later. Making a quick drive back, we spent another day capturing various scenes. This shot was taken along County Road 7B which follows Beaver Creek back a few miles before terminating at private property. The mix of fall colors, tawny grasses and lightly-dusted peaks created a scene that one customer observed and said, “Now that’s Classic Colorado.”  

Photo taken 10/2019