Mt. Princeton RV Park, Buena Vista CO
The road from Gunnison to Buena Vista has one main obstacle: Monarch Pass. The road was straightforward, climbing steadily with some switchbacks. On top of the ridge, we found a large parking lot, a small Visitor Center, and a tram. We were not in a rush, so we stopped to investigate. Monarch Pass is on the Continental Divide at 11,312 feet and the Colorado Divide Trail. It's a good stop for hikers who need food and other essentials.
We decided to take the tram up to the top at 12,012 feet. It was windy on top, but the views were amazing. We could see Monarch Sky Resort and many other high peaks, many of which were 14,000 feet or higher. We saw patches of snow and many wildflowers on the slope. Being this high up, you truly feel like you're on top of the world.
We began our descent on the Atlantic side of the Divide through Gunnison National Forest. Then we turned north towards Buena Vista and our campground, just north of town. The traffic was surprisingly heavy, but we later found out that a concert by Mt. Princeton had taken place over the weekend, so most people were heading back home now.
The Rocky Mountains, actually the Sawatch Range to the west of town, are known for their Collegiate Peaks, including Mt. Princeton, Mt. Yale, and Mt. Harvard, all of which are above 14,000 feet. We had a good view of Mt. Harvard from the campground.
We asked for restaurant recommendations and how best to avoid traffic, and the staff in the campground directed us to the Riverfront downtown area. Arkansas River goes through the east side of this valley, and we found a nice brewery close to the river. As we waited for our table, we saw folks rafting or getting off the river. The area had few restaurants, stores, and galleries and a vibrant, youthful vibe. We ate at Eddyline Brewery where the food was great, and the beer was even better. That evening, we had a crazy storm originating from Mt. Harvard, or at least that's what it looked like. Strong winds and rain, awesome nature's power. That's the weather in the high mountains for you.
This was only a day's stop, so we decided to drive up to Leadville, which is the highest-elevation city in the US at 10,152 feet. Alma, CO, is the highest incorporated town in the US, located at 10,518 feet. Leadville's Main Street retains many Victoria-era buildings. Though we saw tourists walking around Main Street, the vibe was just low energy. Maybe the elevation had something to do with it; I developed a slight headache myself after a short stay.
We decided not to stay in Leadville for lunch and made our way back to Buena Vista. We found Crave Restaurant; it had great beer and pizza (again!), and it fit the bill for us. Buena Vista had a much younger, more energetic feel than Leadville, with many outdoor enthusiasts around, including young families with kids biking or practicing bouldering in the town park.
The next morning, we departed for our last stop, Granby, CO.
