Leaving Moab, we headed back to I-70 for a short time and across the state line into Colorado. Grand Junction is where we split, taking US Hwy. 50 toward Montrose. Here we started to see some clouds! For the first time on the trip, it looked like we might get some good old Western storms. The mountains to the south were completely snow-covered with large thunderheads looming above. We rolled into Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park just as a big storm formed to our Southwest.

This is another one of my favorite places. The canyon here is cut into granite, rather than sandstone, and the canyon rim is broken into jagged and blocky points and spires. This park has the highest cliff in Colorado - 2300′ high, the Painted Wall is quite a sight across the valley. And the weather! It was marvelously cool, cloudy and breezy as we stepped out into the relatively lush landscape at over 8000′ in elevation. What a relief from the relentless heat of the desert! With that relief came a big thunderstorm, and we got blasted by a gust front as we hiked back from the rim at one overlook. Raindrops actually fell hard enough to wet the pavement.

From there we headed over to Gunnison and had a great pizza at a local joint. Through the lush valleys, and up and over Monarch Pass, where there was more snow in the woods roadside and beautiful snow-capped mountains all around. Colorado - though still mostly arid compared to the East - was looking incredibly lush and beautiful around sunset. Hit the hotel in Salida - within the boundaries of our old stompin’ grounds - for a good night’s sleep in preparation for the Royal Gorge.