“Sunday Morning” takes us to San Juan National Forest in Colorado. Videographer: Scot Miller.
The San Juan National Forest covers the southern half of the massive and complex San Juan Mountains. There are numerous peaks, rivers, lakes, and remote stretches in the forest, including the Weminuche Wilderness, the largest in the state. Parts of the forest are accessible from Cortez, Durango, Pagosa Springs, Silverton, Telluride, and Ouray.
Explored the Colorado mining history in the San Juan Mountains near Ouray Colorado. Spend some time in Ouray and then ventured out to the Silver Cloud, Yankee Girl, Idarado and Chattanooga mines in one day. Great exploration, history, golden aspen trees… and a hidden hot spring! Visited October 1, 2020.
Ouray, Colorado is widely regarded as one of America’s most beautiful towns. Although the town was built by mining, it was the spectacular beauty of the area that gave Ouray long life as a tourist destination.
After the silver crash of 1893, when many mining communities were destined to become ghost towns, C.L. Hall remarked “Ouray is Peerless. She will be famous as a mountain resort when many of the now famous watering places are abandoned and forgotten”.
Piedra Valley Ranch in Pagosa Springs, Colorado
Blessed with tremendous views of the dramatic San Juan Mountain Range, Piedra Valley Ranch is distinguished by an unequalled combination of size, recreation, wildlife, scenery, and immediate proximity to a mountain resort community.
Located within ten miles of Pagosa Springs and the Stevens Field Airport, the ranch is easily accessed and provides the rare opportunity to possess a large and exceptionally private holding within a few minutes of the amenities and conveniences of town.
This vast 9,600± acre retreat is comprised of a single contiguous block that shares nearly nine miles of common boundary with the San Juan National Forest. The diverse landscape includes thousands of acres of aspen and pine forest, timbered mountain slopes, lush meadows, and open pasture interspersed with forested bluffs and ridges.
A private lake, numerous ponds, and miles of creeks provide excellent water resources for livestock, wildlife, and recreation. The ranch is appropriately improved with a six-bedroom owner’s residence and lakeside cabin complementing the natural landscape. A separate cow-camp house and shipping pens round out the improvements.
In addition to limitless recreational amenities including excellent big game hunting and angling, native grasses in multiple pastures provide cattle with strong summer pasture. With no existing conservation easement, the ranch is open to a wide variety of future uses.
Boomers Daily 