Dashing into Colorado

August 4, 2026

Black Subaru Forester with a roof cargo box parked at a dispersed campsite in the morning light, scrub oak all around

I travelled back east to pick up some large items from my family to bring back home to AZ. My first goal was to get out of the heat and into the beauty of the mountains of Colorado. It’s not the shortest route to where I need to go, but it only adds a little time and gets me out of the heat. Plus, camping in the mountains!

Out of Arizona

Two-lane highway through the green high country near Heber, big cumulus clouds overhead

I left the Phoenix metro by the Payson route. That happens to be the most efficient for this trip, and I like driving through that part of the state. Climbing up to the high desert, it’s not as nice as the Ponderosas, but it offers some stunning landscapes.

Long straight desert highway near Holbrook, the road running to the horizon

Past Holbrook, it’s back into desert terrain. I like forest and mountains better, but the sky was nice on this strip.

Golden Hour on US-491

A red sandstone mesa glowing at golden hour along US-491 north of Shiprock

The timing worked out perfectly. I hit the stretch of US-491 north of Shiprock right at golden hour. The mesas were lit up red and the light kept getting better the further north I got. This picture does it no justice.

Sunset clouds over buttes along the highway, a semi truck up ahead

…and another.

Camp Near Mesa Verde

Crossed into Colorado after dark and found a dispersed spot near Mancos, just east of Mesa Verde. I had an idea of the area from maps, and explored a little to find the camp sites.

Camp stove and fuel canister set up on the bare ground at camp in the morning

Tailgate kitchen open on the Forester — cooler, drawer slide, and the red thermos ready for tea

Morning tea and oatmeal off the tailgate. The camp setup is really great for my needs. (Although I have a couple improvement ideas for the future.)

Next up: handle some work while enjoying the Animas River in Durango, then throw a fly to see if anything bites.