This is Heaven on Earth!

The San Juan Mountains and Ouray
Sun June 16 - Sun Jun 23rd

There is simply no place more beautiful than the San Juan Mountains in the spring and fall!  We were first introduced to this lovely place by family (Al and Doug) and each time we return here we cannot believe how gorgeous it is!  Even the national parks have a tough time competing with its natural beauty (the glorious snow-covered peaks, the abundant, vibrant wildflowers, the aspen, the active streams and rivers, and the combination of all of these.  It is one of the prettiest places in the world.
At one time, we used to wish it was a protected National Park and now, after visiting many over-crowded, bus-laden, abused national parks this summer, we are happy that it is not yet ruined by being loved by too many visitors. At least, here, a hiker can still hike to an un-named beautiful meadow filled with wildflowers and tall grass and see and hear nothing other than the birds!  We didn't even see any other hikers! Serenity still exists here! It remains as it was intended originally to be...

When we visit here, we have stayed at the little KOA in town.  The camping is modest, but they try very very hard to please their visitors and they work really hard to maintain the setting so that it is clean and nice and quiet.  A good owner attitude is nine-tenths of what we look for in places to stay now.  They work really hard to make this place a fun place for families and it shows!  No over-done flower pots and decorations, just nice little BBQ's served by the staff for family dinners, pleasant simple, home-spun music.... and nice, clean restrooms with plenty of hot water. What more can you ask for?

Here are some photos of some of the places we saw while in the area:

These are dandelions! Wild, untamed and out of control!  Gorgeous!

Sound of Music, anyone? Yep, the mountain peaks show up everywhere! No music; though!

Small agricultural canal fed from snow-melt off the top of these mountains.

We won't tell you where exactly this is, or how to get there, and we won't tell you where to hike. You will just have to figure it out by yourself! If you are a true adventurer, you will. If you are lazy, or don't know how read maps - well, you don't deserve to visit this place! Sorry...follow everyone else - somewhere else!

We are one of the few countries (other than Canada) that still has incredible wild places like this. Let's keep these places wild and untouched!