It had been far too long since I’d seen my friend Ann. With a lagging-in-snow kind of winter and a forest-fire crazed summer, we just hadn’t been able to find the time and motivation to play in the outdoors together. So, when Ann said she was coming to visit in early September, I made sure to put some time aside to spend with my traveling friend. She requested that we hike Mt. Owen, being the classic mountain that it is, and one she sees regularly from the Marble area. Who could turn down a hike like that?

The Pass Creek Trail near Crested Butte, CO, offers bold aspen colors and stunning mountain views which are especially enjoyed in fall!

A little more off the beaten path, Yule Lakes are a beautiful sparkle of blue among the Ruby Range in the Elk Mountains near Crested Butte!

From beautiful aspen forests to scenic vistas, the Dyke to Dark Canyon Loop has it all – located on Kebler Pass Road near Crested Butte!