Colorado Landscapes
Click on any one of the photos below to see the photos in full-screen. Then scroll through the photos using the arrows on the left and right.
To remove the text, click on the “i”. To remove the filmstrip at the bottom, click on the little arrow just above.
Click on photo for large image.
Turn horizontal for landscape photos
Father Dyer Peak
This photo was taken by Tom Lebsack from the trail to Upper Crystal Lake in Summit County. The mountain in the background is Father Dyer Peak which is 13,615 feet high and is part of the Tenmile mountain range. Father John Lewis Dyer was a Methodist minister who visited the mining camps to preach to the miners in the mid-nineteenth century. He made many ascents of mountains in the Tenmile Range. The Tenmile Range is not actually ten miles, but contains ten peaks approximately one mile apart from Peak One at one end to Peak Ten at the other end. There is one 14er, Quandary Peak, in this range.
Island Lake via Ice Lakes Trail
Leslie Madson took this photo on the Island Lake via Ice Lakes Trail outside of Silverton, CO. The trail is 7.7 miles long, considered difficult but is popular for hiking, snowshoeing and rock climbing. It has some of the most breathtaking views in the state, including waterfalls, creeks and Fall colors. The color of Ice Lake is extraordinary.
Swampy Pass Trail
Swampy Pass Trail is a 10.9 mile out and back trail a bit southwest of Crested Butte off County Road 730. It is located in the West Elk Wilderness and is open to hikers or horseback riding. The flowers covering the meadow in the photo are Mule's Ears (Wyethia amplexicaulis). The photo by Steve Pearlman.
Marcellina Mountain, Ruby Range
This is a photo of Marcellina Mountain with aspens in full fall color. It is taken from the Ruby Range, which is just on the other side of Crested Butte from Keebler Pass. The Ruby Range has nine peaks, relatively close to each other, the highest being Mt. Own at 13, 058'. Marcellina Mountain is a 11,353 peak, and is is located in the Raggeds Wilderness of Gunnison National Forest. There are plenty of hiking trails both on Marcellina Mountain and the Ruby Range. The photo was taken by Bill Bowman.
Square Top Lakes Trail
Square Top Lakes Trail is one of several trails at the top of Guanella Pass which is an easy drive from Georgetown from the north or Bailey from the south on Route 62. The 4.5 mile round trip trail starts at 11,600' and has a 700' elevation gain, but it gives you sweeping valley views of South Park and spectacular views of Mt. Bierstadt, a well known 14er with its trailhead also on Guanella Pass. The red flowers in the foreground are Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja).
Photo by Daniel Bon.
The Rogers Pass Trail
The Rogers Pass Trail, located near Winter Park is a 5.0 mile out and back trail above timberline. It is not heavily used and is accessed by County Road 80 (Forest Road 149) from Winter Park. High clearance vehicle is recommended for the 11 mile trip. It is open to hiking, mountain biking, and running. The trail passes the lovely Rollins Pass Lake. The yellow flowers in the foreground are Old Man of the Mountain (Hymenoxys grandiflora). Photo by Leslie Madsen.
Black Powder Pass
Black Powder Pass is located between Bald and Boreas mountains. The Black Powder Pass hiking trail's trailhead is right off Route 10 between Como and Breckenridge. The 3.4 mile out and back trail is above timberline with spectacular views of the 10-mile Range and has meadows filled with wildflowers.
Photo by Anna Wilson.
Heil Valley Ranch
Heil Valley Ranch is located in Boulder County and is run by Boulder County Open Space. There are a series of trails which loop together to form the Heil Valley Ranch Trail. This trail is 9.2 miles long and has an elevation gain of 1,272". This photo was taken near the Wapiti Trail in the summer 2021 following the Cal-Wood Fire. The photographer, David Hirt said that not one of the Foothills Arnica (Arnica Fulgens), pictured in the foreground, was to be seen when he returned in 2022.
Hoosier Pass
Hoosier Pass, elevation 11,542 is located on State Highway 9 between Alma and Breckinridge straddling the Continental Divide in Park and Summit Counties. It serves as the dividing line between the Mosquito and Tenmile mountain ranges. There is a very popular 2.8 mile hiking trail at the summit of the pass with an elevation gain of 688 feet. In the foreground of this photo is the rare plant, Hoosier Pass Ipomopsis. Photo by Bernie Nagy.
Columbine Lake Trail, Silverton
The Columbine Lake Trail in Silverton, CO is located in the San Juan National Forest, about 4.8 miles north of Silverton on Highway 550, off Ophir Pass Road. The trail is popular, but considered strenuous, climbing 2,195 vertical feet in about 7.9 miles (out and back) through 16 discernible switchbacks. It goes through spruce-fir forests to alpine meadows (pictured here) and spectacular flowers, ending up in a basin at the glacial Columbine Lake.