Taylor Canyon, River and Lake

The dirt road.

We had a choice of driving 130 miles around the Collegiate Mountains, south past Buena Vista to Poncha Springs to Hwy 50 over Monarch Pass to Gunnison and then back north towards Crested Butte but then turning off the highway and driving into the Taylor Lake Valley. Or we could drive 60 miles by going to Buena Vista and then west over Cottonwood Pass at 12,120 feet and down into Taylor Lake Valley.  We chose the shorter distance but it took longer to get there because the down side of the pass is a washboard dirt road.

We drove to the west end of the valley and about two miles into the canyon along the Taylor River, where John hopes to catch some trout, and camped in the Lottis Creek National Forest Campground. We were told to be bear-aware as a big cinnamon colored bear wanders into the campground periodically. We got John’s fishing license and then bought more flies at a resort about 25 miles from here. Before John could begin to grill the lamb for supper he had to get all his fishing gear ready. So we ate late, again.