Today we drove from Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP near Montrose, Colorado down to Dolores, Colorado. We are nestled in the Priest Gulch area still about 24 miles north of Dolores and eleven miles south of Rico, Colorado. This is part of the San Juan Scenic Byway … 236 miles total around the entire mountain range. We have driven the southern and eastern side from Cortez, Mancos, Durango, Silverton (our fave place ever) to Ouray on the Million Dollar Highway. Now it’s time to complete the circle and explore the western and northern sections of the byway.
Driving here we passed the turn off to the town that we are so excited to go explore … Telluride, Colorado! We have tried numerous times in the past but it was way to far to make the drive from Durango and back in a day. And even on the edge of being to far from Silverton. Once we made it to Ouray but spent too much time exploring there and then found a Mexican Restaurant. Telluride sits in a box canyon that from Silverton you must drive in the shape of a tight question mark to get there. As the crow flies it’s right there! Right on the other side of the mountain range from Silverton. Oh so close but oh so far away.
Now that we are on the western side of the mountain range we are just a forty-five minute drive to Telluride. We are staying at the Priest Gulch Campground right on the Dolores River. The only way I got a reservation here is by calling because they don’t have an online reservation system. When I finally got someone they had nothing for the entire summer left on the river. They had one site left in center of the campground … worst in the park. But it would be better than a gravel staging area in Silverton that was still available.
As our time arriving here neared I got an email saying that a campsite opened on the river for a few of the nights we are here so they split our stay between two sites. Then two weeks ago I received another email that a cancellation had happened and we would now be in a river site our entire stay! I did not ask them to do this. I only mentioned that I would like a river front site in my first conversation with them. They took it on their own to do it! What customer service!
The other amazing unheard of thing about this campground is that the owners supply FREE firewood. Free cut, dry beautiful firewood. The owners love campfires and they want everyone else to enjoy one as well. Their gift to those who stay here! And the fire ban just lifted so we are golden!!
Priest Gulch to Silverton: 2hr 35min - 106 miles
Priest Gulch to Telluride: 45 minutes - 40 miles
Durango to Telluride: 2hr 52min - 120 miles
Silverton to Telluride: 2hr - 73 miles
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