Parkdale, Colorado on the west side of Royal Gorge along the Arkansas RiverSaturday June 10 through Tuesday June 13 2006: Pueblo, Colorado (On I-25 100-miles north of the New Mexico border). We are in Pueblo West Campground N38° 20.522 W104° 43.097'. Pueblo West Campground is located on US-50 about 5-miles west of I-25. It is totally gravel with huge pull-thru sites (trees are limited); 50-amps, water and sewer, $20 per-night 719-547-9887. This is a campground and equestrian facility. Tuesday, our last full day in this area was spent doing the Mountain Valley scenic drive as suggested by a handout we obtained from the Canon City visitor center. This was a beautiful drive through some awesome mountain valleys flanked by snow covered mountains. A local we met somewhere along the way said that there were no stop lights in the entire county "Comal County" and I think he said 18,000 residents. Sparsely populated would be an understatement. Wide open spaces lush grazing areas and beautiful forested mountains. However, many if not most of the mountains on the western flank of this beautiful valley climb to over 14,000' which puts them 2,500' above the tree line. Snow can still be seen on many of these peaks. We are on the last leg of our all day Mountain Valley Scenic Drive. We came out of Westcliffe, Colorado heading north to US-50. On US-50 we spent time watching Rafters on the Arkansas River. Now we are heading east on US-50 and passing through the whistle stop of Parkdale. Actually, Parkdale is nothing more than a large place to launch and take out rafts on the Arkansas River. Well, it is also the place where the Royal Gorge Railroad switches the engine from one end of the train to the other to make the return trip to Canon City through the Royal Gorge. Now let's visit Parkdale.
Parkdale, Colorado on the west side of Royal Gorge along the Arkansas River
While Parkdale is located on US-50 along the Arkansas River we decided to do some exploring while there. In Parkdale we saw a sign that said something about the south entrance to Royal Gorge Bridge so naturally we had to take the road to the top of the gorge. The road starts at the river and climbs to the top of the cliffs that tower over Royal Gorge. When we got to the top of those cliffs the trees were visibly older and you could see how the dry climate at this altitude had affected their growth.
Above Parkdale near the back gate to Royal Gorge Bridge
Everything we saw on that cliff exuded the harsh dry climate.
Cactus bloom on top of Royal Gorge near the back gate entrance accessed via Parkdale, Colorado
The cactus bloom was representative of the plants on the top of Royal Gorge, in that extremely hostile envoronment yet as this cactus bloom shows so delicately beautiful. When we got back to US-50 Joyce put the camera away and we headed back to the motorhome in Pueblo and the end of another wonderful adventure. We started the day in Pueblo, Colorado and did what is known as the Mountain Valley Scenic Drive. The Mountain Valley Scenic Drive actually turned into six different travel adventures.....here they are: Mountain Valley Scenic Drive, Westcliffe, Colorado, Silver Cliff, Colorado, Rafting the Arkansas River in Colorado and Bigelow Divide Other Travel Adventures in this area that you may enjoy include: Skyline Drive near Canon City, Colorado Victor & Cripple Creek two old gold mining towns
Click here for some Colorado travellogsUntil next time remember how good life is. More Colorado AdventuresAdventures by State ** More 2006 Travel Adventures
Mike & Joyce Hendrix
Mike & Joyce Hendrix who we are We hope you liked this page. If you do you might be interested in some of our other Travel Adventures: Mike & Joyce Hendrix's home page Travel Adventures by Year ** Travel Adventures by State ** Plants ** Marine-Boats ** Geology ** Exciting Drives ** Cute Signs ** RV Subjects ** Miscellaneous Subjects
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