Finding peak color is hit and miss, and a bit of luck. I am told color is about 2 weeks late in this area but that all it takes is a few cold nights. Apparently Aspens cluster in families with networks of roots and so on some mountainsides you may see groupings of different colors, some at peak color, others with leaves already gone. My photography instructor directed me to areas outside of Ridgway with spectacular foliage – County Road 7, Dallas Divide, and Last Dollar Road. Unfortunately after driving an hour, we discover that this area has not yet turned color and yellows are spotty. Finding colorful trees in addition to photogenic spots, not to mention places to pull over, is just too challenging. We ended up driving back up to Red Mountain Pass. We spend the entire day up there, admiring and photographing. In one of the aspen groves, I meet a former Colorado forest ranger from Santa Cruz. she got to backpack and hike for her work.
At Ironton Park Downtown historical site is now a ghost town but was once a thriving downtown with hotel, stores, theatre, depot and courthouse, most built between 1870-1950. At its height, in the 1880-1890’s, Ironton (Copper Glen) was the second largest silver mining district in Colorado with a population of over 1,000. it was the major transportation junction between Red Mountain Town and Ouray, with 2 narrow gauge trains a day to/from Silverton. The fall colors provide a beautiful backdrop for the dilapidated buildings.
Further up the road are houses that were moved from the former Ironton and are to be preserved.
