Hiking at Beaver Pond Trail No 516

We drove north of Gunnison along Ohio Creek Road, looking for the Beaver Pond Trail that we read was easy,  and very picturesque.  The road was eye candy, seeing the mountains in the distance, large ranches on both sides, cattle and horses grazing.  We had to maneuver past a herd of cattle being moved along by a ATV.  Very modern cowboy.  And then we stopped, Dave said look on that tree stump, and there were 2 marmots gazing down at us.  I think they were the guardsmen, who could continue on or not.  You would get a rock thrown on you if you were not to pass.  How Dave saw those 2, I haven't a clue.  Of course, you have to be very diligent in seeing animals in the wilds of Colorado.

Love how this cowboy herds his cattle 

Beautiful scenery

Castles in the distance, road too rough to get see it closer

Look on tree stump - the guardsmen

You can pass, I can hear them saying - Hey!!!!

The pavement ended, continued on a very flat dirt packed road, started up into the mountains and found the trailhead for the Beaver Pond.  Donned our usual hiking stuff plus lots of bug spray, and off we went.  Lovely walk in a heavily forested aspen grove.  Climbed gently upwards, we could see the mountain peaking through the aspens.  Then we saw aspens cut down, teeth marks on the base of the trees, and knew we were close to the pond.  Voala!  There it was.

I could live there

Driving up to the beaver pond, this is the main road

In the West Elk Wilderness area

Monkshood wildflower, love the dark purple 

No one but us, thank goodness

Definitely see the teeth marks, must be close

First glimpse of the pond

Walked around, took lots of pictures, and it was very picturesque!  Decided to head back and got spooked by a dog barking at us.   The dog disappeared, we headed back down the trail and saw 2 women with 2 children and that dog stopped on the side of the trail.  The dog was really scared of us - we think the walking sticks scared it.

There's the beaver home!

Closer look, saw all the logs had teeth marks

I like the reflection

Hello!

Fresh beaver tracks

Last look before heading back

Saw lots of wildflowers, bugs but were not biting us thank goodness, and got back to the car.  Another car pulled into the parking area with 2 women, asked us where the Lily Pond Trail was (we had no clue) and then we continued on towards Kebler Pass, stopped to look at interpretive signs - did not realize we had passed Ohio Pass (a goal for the day) and was at Kebler Pass.  Signage is really bad.  Another car with 2 ladies asked us if we knew were Lily Pond Trail was, nope, then we drove on to Crested Butte.  Crested Butte had double the amount of people in town than the previous visit, crazy!

Lovely, would love to see this in the fall when the aspens shimmer in gold

Berries, no bears (phew)

Rock slide

Meadow at Kebler Pass, campers tucked into the woods

This marmot was cute!  Just stared at me.

Was a nice day being in the wilds of Colorado.