Colorado Fall Color – Last Dollar Road

Last Dollar Road – Dallas Divide to Telluride

 I almost hate to share this personal remote treasure. Bob first took the family down this road three decades ago in our International Scout. Rough, rutted and ungraded – 4WD is definitely advised even thought I did drive it once in a Honda Accord. I had to buy Bob a much needed cold beer by the time we got to Ridgway; he earned a couple that day hefting boulders out of the road to save the undercarriage. On a map, Last Dollar Road looks like a shortcut from Dallas Divide to Telluride; but, don’t count on saving a minute of time. It’s slow going, not only because of road conditions but you’ll want to stop frequently for photos. Aspens abound along the route, their white trunks crowding the edge of the road and branches forming an overhead canopy. When out of the groves of trees we’re treated to magnificent views of the Sneffels Range and the San Miguel Mountains. Development from the Telluride end has encroached since our first adventure but Last Dollar Road still calls, “Follow the path less traveled.”

                                

                                                                                           

                                                         

                                                                            Image these aspen in their golden glory.        

• The Route –  Colorado Highway 62 connects Ridgway and Placerville in Southwestern Colorado. From CO62 turn south off just one mile west of the top of the Dallas Divide. Last Dollar Road curves around the Telluride airport before intersecting with CO145 going into Telluride.