Air Up / Down
Although the forest road is still fairly gentle for a while, this is a good place to air down before venturing up to Elwood Pass. Also, air up here before returning to pavement.

Boondocking Corridor 1
On one hand, this is a very popular area, so you will likely encounter other campers. On the other hand, there are a large number of lovely, stream side campsites for the next few miles, very spread out. If you are looking for free boondocking near Pagosa Springs, this is prime real estate.

Boondocking Corridor 2
On one hand, this is a very popular area, so you will likely encounter other campers. On the other hand, there are a large number of lovely, stream side campsites for the next few miles, very spread out. If you are looking for free boondocking near Pagosa Springs, this is prime real estate.

Chama Rail Yard
Working steam train here, with train ride tours.

Chinese Food
West of Pagosa Springs, a Chinese restaurant where Shannon and I met up for lunch.

Coffee Shop Bakery
In Chama, New Mexico, just south of the Colorado border, we stopped at this coffee shop. The baked goods were very good. Gets crowded in tourist season.

Corpse Cabin
Dilapidated cabin containing the decroded corpse of a cow. I didn’t go inside, because dead cow.

Creekside Campsites
Some decent campsites along this forest road, but very convenient to pavement and next to water. They look well used and are likely very popular in peak season, south of Pagosa Springs.

Dead End
A completely unremarkable terminus.

Elwood Pass
While the trail from the west was scenic and interesting, Elwood Pass is unremarkable and does not offer views. There are some parking spaces here for hiking trailheads, which could be very interesting.

Gas Station
On the easternmost side of Pagosa Springs, decent gas station across the street with diesel.

Gas Station
Modern and spacious Circle K in Safford, Arizona.

Gas Station
Located in Socorro, New Mexico.

New and spacious Maverick just off of I-25 in Pueblo, Colorado.

Decent place to top off in Leadville, Colorado.

Good place to top off near Puye Cliff Dwellings and Espanola, New Mexico.

Geothermal Vents
In an old, sulfuric mining area, the ground is hissing, gurgling, and bubbling here. Used to be an old bathhouse, but now it’s just rubble.

Gravel Parking Lot
Secluded parking lot in a recreational BLM area. I stopped here to stretch my legs during a long drive.

Grocery Store
Natural Grocers in Pagosa Springs. I was trying to eat healthily.

Group Camping Area
Not far from Valles Caldera or Los Alamos, this is an easily accessed, dispersed group camping area just off of a well groomed forest road. Looked like a club of LARPers were camping there when we passed by. It was a party.

Hiking Trailhead
Gravel parking area at the end of a gentle dirt road for a hiking trailhead.

Hiking Trailhead
There is a hiking trail that crosses the forest road here. Not much space for parking.

Hiking Trailhead
A congested parking area at the end of a rugged forest road spur, at a gate. This is where you part to hike up to the old sulfur mine where you can check out some of the vents and thermal features. The hike is maybe a half-mile.

History Info Kiosk

Hotel
Hotel we stayed at in Denver’s Tech Center. It was fine.

Improvised Campsite
In the middle of a meadow, this looks like it may have been used as a campsite in the past, but not often. It would be a decent spot to hunker down with a great view of the sky for satellite connectivity. No trees. Plenty of space.

Junction
Unexplored junction turns down the hill to the south. Might lead to a campsite.

Junction
Turn north for a decent view on top of the ridge. The road to the west terminates unremarkably.

Junction
Three branches for primitive two-tracks. The only one that is particularly noteworthy is the one to the far left that leads to a really nice campsite.

Unexplored in both directions.

Kip's Grill
My favorite place in Pagosa Springs for a margarita and street tacos.

Mexican Restaurant
Off of I-70 in Frisco, a Mexican restaurant where we enjoyed dinner.

Mexican Restaurant
A large, Mexican family restaurant in Espanola, New Mexico. Decent place to dine if you are passing through. My smothered burrito was zesty.

Old Ranger Station
A historic, forest service ranger station marks the entrance to the hiking trailhead to access Silver Falls. Some room to park your vehicle here for the short hike up the hill.

Preserved Log Cabin
An old log cabin halfway up the mountain that appears to be in decent condition and maintained by the forest service. It was open, but the door was sticky.

Private Gate

Puye Cliff Dwellings
Historic cliff dwellings on native land. This is a tourist destination with a visitor center offering tours. We went on a tour and it was very interesting!

Road Overgrown
While the forest road continues a little farther according to the map, it is impassably overgrown beyond this point with fallen trees and vegetation.

Scenic Chasm
A scenic mountain chasm off the trail to the south, with rocky outcroppings.

Scenic Highway
Made a note of this place due to the impressive landscape and red rocks. Looks fun to explore, but we were just passing through on the road.

Secret Ridge Camp
Not a designated campsite, although it is clearly used as such. Park a vehicle here to spend the night with a decent view of the valley to the north.

Spectacular Waterfall
I believe this spot is called Silver Falls. The waterfalls are a short and strenuous hike up from the forest road, but they are worth it. Lovely.

Stream Crossing
Shallow stream crossing on the way up the mountain to Elwood Pass.

Stream Crossing
A shallow stream crossing in normal conditions. A stock four-wheel drive vehicle with decent ground clearance is recommended. Be wary during rain events. Located on private property in ranch easement, so keep moving.

Stream Crossing
Groomed stream crossing, suitable for any four wheel drive vehicle. Be wary during flood events.

The forest road crosses this shallow stream at the bottom of the road up to Elwood Pass. No trouble for any vehicle, barring flood events.

Technical Rocks
The most challenging obstacle on the road up to Elwood Pass, a short stretch of very pronounced rocks. High-clearance four-wheel drive required. Stock vehicles with generous clearance might be okay, but lightly modified would be ideal.

Valles Caldera Visitor Center
The visitor center for Valles Caldera wildlife and natural area in New Mexico. Lovely landscape, akin to a smaller Yellowstone.

Vault Toilet