Hunt for Basin Creek Waterfall

Monday we were torn on what to do.  We had visited Mesa Verde National Park a couple of times, been to other main attractions and thought we would visit a couple of state parks.  However, the ones we chose were closed to the public (on Ute Indian Lands and only open for hunting).  Found Basin Creek Waterfall as a waterfall that you did not have to hike to, could see it just yards from your car.  Let's go!

Traveled towards Durango and to the small town of Hesperus and turned north on a county road.  Some beautiful homes tucked into the sides of the mountains.  Traveled about 5 miles and the paved road led to hard packed dirt, some chuck holes from all the rain but still very doable.  Many national forest campgrounds on either side, we were climbing the mountains of Durango and Silverton.  Incredible views.

Passed a couple of waterfalls and kept going, the goal to get to Basin Creek first, could see the waterfalls we passed on way back down.  As we neared the last 3/4 mile, the road got very rocky and we just felt that we could not go on in our car, was near bottoming out at times.  Needed a high clearance vehicle to go on.  Bummer.  The picture on the internet looked fabulous, will trust it is beautiful, just wasn't our day to see it.

Stopped along the way back and took many pictures of the La Plata River.  And smaller waterfalls.  Enjoyable day. Saw a number of tourist companies, people stacked inside like safaris as they were leaving the area we were heading. Saw some cute retro RVs, old abandoned homes (cabins), the town platt of La Plata (just the meadow left - you had to imagine a thriving town in the 1880's), lovely areas to just watch the world go by.

Our last day at Circle K Ranch was spent driving back to Lizard Head Pass and sitting along the roadside and staring at the magnificent views.  "The hills are alive with the Sound...." Beautiful.  For some reason I stared into the forest edge and a deer came out into the open!  How cool.

Came back from the pass and pulled into a trailhead and looked around, then heard thunder in the distance, dark clouds coming, so we got into the car and snacked, watching the storm come in.  Torrential rain and lightning.  People who had been on the trail came running back to the parking lot, absolutely soaked. There were a number of people come running down the trail, hopped into the van and off they went.

On a side note.  I had a chat with the office manager of the Ranch we were staying at and found out some interesting things.  Why was the Dolores River (Spanish for Lady of Sorrows) sometimes a caramel color, and some times silver?  Her boyfriend who is working in Rico with upgrading their water and sewage systems, said the numerous mines from hundred years ago have contaminated the ground and runoff from the mines goes directly into the river.  The caramel color of the river is when it rains in Telluride, the trailings from the gold mines infiltrate the water, hence it's caramel.  If it rains in Silverton, the trailings from the mines there (silver mines) infiltrate the river and turn it silver.  By the time the river reaches the McPhee Reservoir in Dolores, the sediments have filtered out and dropped and therefore when you look at McPhee, you see blue clear water. 

And the horses - lots of them!  Stellar Jays and Magpies were very abundant.

Ophir, Ames, and Back to Trout Lake, Colorado

 Went on an excursion to the town of Ophir (pronounced oh-fir) which is about 20 miles north of where we are staying, elevation just under 10,000 feet. Passed Lizard Head Pass, then Trout Lake on our way there.  The town was settled with people prospecting for silver, gold, ore and whatever else they could get out of the mountains.  Settled in 1881, had 130 people when settled and today there are 184 folks.  Very bitter cold winters, low humidity, and of course snow in the winter.  It is located 2 miles from the Ames Hydroelectric Generating Plant, the world's first hydroelectric plant to supply alternating current electricity.

At the entrance to the town which is a dirt packed road, you are stopped in your tracks with dilapidated buildings.  Traces of foundations can be seen.  Waterfall is right at road side which I think was used for a mill possibly.  

Further on we saw homes, logging business, but had not really come into the town.  The town is a whopping .2 square miles big (or small!).  Once we came into the town proper, we found a road map listed on the service building which so many open areas (lots).  The homes are for summer use only, there is no access into the town once the main road is closed down due to snow.  However, if open, the residents can come in.  Nothing is plowed, so I guess you have to barge right in. 

Stopped before we drove to the end of town and heard water and cars were parked.  Hiking trail head was seen so we thought we would at least venture to the water.  Found a beautiful pristine river, took some snaps and then continued to drive to the end of town.  

When we rented a Jeep in 2018 while we were camping in Lake City, the rental company told us to not take the Ophir Pass.  They said we needed chains and wenches because there were boulders and large stones to transverse.  If we were in a side-by-side OHV - they again would not have permitted to go through Ophir Pass.  Now we understand why - no ORV (Off Highway Vehicle) are allowed in Ophir.  Not allowed to stage them (haul them in) or drive in or out through the streets. We did not know that the entrance to Ophir Pass was at the end of the road. 

Got the binoculars out and stared up at the pass - and WOW!!! saw a vehicle coming down. Look at the middle right on the next picture - you can see a white vehicle crawling up. Stayed and watched at least a dozen vehicles crawling down, then someone trying to go up and seeing them back up to let the down comers pass.  Do it again, travel over a pass in a Jeep?  Nope, been there, done that.

Felt like we were in the production of the Sound of Music - just glorious views anywhere you looked.  Stunning!

What we saw were Jeeps, 4 wheel drive vehicles such as trucks, Range Rovers, high profile vehicles.  And we saw 3 little boys selling lemonade and cookies to those who came off the pass.  They were so excited when we gave them a dollar! And those coming off the pass did stop and either buy cookies and lemonade, or just gave the kids some money.

We left Ophir and crossed over the main highway to the other side where Ames (ah-mess) Hydroelectric Generating Plant is located.  However, the road down to the plant was way too steep so we climbed back up and drove back to Trout Lake to enjoy the rest of the afternoon.