On the Road with Maya: The Forest Blooms

A view of the mountains north of Pagosa Springs and an incredible Colorado sky!

After our wonderful time in Big Meadows, we stayed in a commercial campground in Pagosa Springs for the usual weekend chores. We had some grocery shopping and cooking to do as were planning a remote camping adventure near the border of the Weminuche Wilderness.

The Piedra River about 10 miles south of our campground, Cimarrona,

looking towards the Weminuche Wilderness.

Colorado’s largest wilderness area, the Weminuche contains almost half a million acres of rugged mountain land and spans both sides of the Continental Divide. Three peaks, Eolus, Sunlight and Windom rise above 14,000 feet and many others reach above 13,000 feet. During our stay at Big Meadows we had hiked a short distance into the eastern edge of this wilderness and now that Maya was feeling better we wanted to do a little more exploring.

Rock formations along the Williams Creek trail in the Weminuche Wilderness

With a few meals prepared, lots of food in the pantry and the RV water tanks filled to capacity we followed a fairly good dirt/gravel road about 30 miles north of Pagosa Springs to the Cimarrona Campground. There were a few other forest campgrounds along the dusty road, but we chose Cimarrona for its nearness to the wilderness and the trailheads and also because it was so small and remote.

Wild rose with wild geranium along the Williams Creek Trail

Thimbleberry in bloom

It turned out to be a great choice as there were only a couple of other campers there and one night it was only us and the campground host. The quiet was only broken by the gentle breezes, bird songs and the soothing sounds of Cimarrona Creek as it flowed through the campground. We owned our days. It was like this poster I saw in a camp store near the Great Sand Dunes National Park – “The forest has no internet but you will be connected.”

View from top of Ice Caves Trail

Ice Caves

These formations or faults were about 20 - 30 feet deep with ice at the bottom

We hiked four days but limited our mileage to less than 6 miles most days. Maya was back to walking ‘barefooted’ so we didn’t want to stress her too much. Two days we took trails up into the Weminuche Wilderness and the other two we explored shorter trails in the San Juan National Forest.

The Piedra River Trail led through a rocky canyon.

Piedra Falls

Besides tons of birds, we saw our first bear of the season. It was a cinnamon colored black bear and on the small side, so we were thinking young and possibly female. We got a great look at ‘her’ but were not close enough to get a good picture. And in a way, I am okay with that. I love to see bears, just not too close.

Cimarrona Campground

Sunflower in the meadow near the campground

However, of all the things we experienced, we had to give the biggest credit to the wildflowers. They were simply everywhere. Meadows, mountains, streams and trails – everything was decorated with flowers. Most were small and delicate, so photography (or perhaps the photographer) didn’t truly do them justice, but take my word they were breathtaking. On two different days we hiked trails lined with wild roses and though they are beautiful, it was the smell that was so incredible. The air was permeated with the delicate smell of rose petals.

Of all the wildflowers in the mountains, Colorado Columbines are the showiest!

Haven't identified this plant yet, but the leaves are so lush.

More wild roses with wild geraniums

Being stalked by Maya

It rained off and on our last two days but waited until we were leaving to really pour. That 30-mile dirt road turned into 30 miles of mud. Poor Silver was no longer silver... We headed for Durango to spend the Fourth of July weekend most likely washing everything we own!