Southwest Colorado - Trains, Bikes, Towns and National Parks

Posted September 13, 200915 yr

Just recently my family and I took a short vacation to southwest Colorado where alpine, desert, canyons, sand dunes and towering peaks meet. The following pics are from the towns of Durango and Silverton, San Juan Skyway National Scenic Road and Great Sand Dunes, Mesa Verde and Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Parks. The scenery was incredible.

Hope you enjoy the tour.

Great Sand Dunes National Park is home to the largest Sand Dunes in the United States (750 feet high and over 200 feet deep).

Durango, Colorado is home to the Durango-Silverton Railroad, historic downtown core, Durango Mountain Ski area, Fort Lewis College (4,000 students with about 20% native American) and is at the base of the San Juan Mountain Range.

Railroad Station and Museum

The Strater Hotel was built in 1887 and is list on the Historic Hotels of America list by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Chimney Rock Archaeological area is located near the Southern Ute Indian Reservation and has great spiritual significances to the tribes.

Mesa Verde National Park is home to ancient Anasazi Indian communities, many built within the cliff walls of the canyons. Mesa Verde is also designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

San Juan Skyway is a National Scenic Byway. The landscape was amazing.

Silverton is an old mining town located along the San Juan Skyway and was founded in 1876. It is a Federal Designated Historic District. (Sorry, just a few pics, it was raining.)