Dillon Pinnacles Hike

October 13, 2019

After we left Black Canyon of the Gunnison,  Elizabeth and I managed to find a campground  in the Curecanti National Recreation we both liked, just before dusk. We enjoyed another evening around the fire before we got too cold to stay up.  In fact, I started the car and got warm before ducking into my tent and wrapping up tightly in blankets, sleeping bag, and comforter. I didn't have to wait to warm up and fell to sleep quickly.

We both go up early and had packed and eaten a quick breakfast and were on our way to our chosen hike - a four mile one that touted its beauty - just at sunrise.

We arrived at the trailhead minutes after the sun rose and started off.  We had to go round another mountain before the Dillon Pinnacles appeared. We hiked toward them, then along them as we climbed high enough to enjoy the reservoir and surrounding hills.

We hiked together for a few minutes until the trail began its rise.  I kept stopping for another picture of the same line of rocks as I was sure each new angle and closer distance was better than the earlier pictures.

The Pinnacles were too large for my lens   

I took this picture when I was at an angle to the Pinnacles and got most of them in 

The trail started along the lake, turning to go along an inlet.  Then it went along a lovely, wooded draw where I could have stayed for hours. 

The trail went to the right of the tree and is also that white patch in upper center

I had to take another picture almost immediately

I loved these leaves in French pinks and yellows

Most of the non evergreen trees were Gambel oaks

As the trail rose, I got larger views of the Reservoir

The leaf color in the draws was wonderful

There were interpretative signs along the trail. One explained that the rounded tops of the rocks were of a hard rock, while the pointed pinnacles were of softer rock that was being changed faster by wind and water.

A closer view of the pinnacles just before the trail turned to run in front of them. 

This is at the far end of the trail. I met Elizabeth coming back about here and she encouraged me to do the last bit

All that sage color is sage. I had to stop and rub my hands over it several tines. I'm addicted to that smell

Just another lake view

The trail was almost always this easy - the rest had a few small rocks on it

The varied vegetation added to the beauty

Those reds just glowed

These were the seed pods of a very tiny short bunch grass - need more practice with my new camera 

On the way back I determined not to take any more pictures  - till I had to

The dome on the far end, with the interesting intrusion

When I saw these leaves, they were pastel. But the light changed and the wind blew some away  - but they are still beautiful

Going back along the draw

This is the reverse picture of this tree and trail I took coming up

Even I was through before11:00  and, after stopping to remove my long johns, and change to tennis shoes, we were ready to go on to the town of Gunnison.  Elizabeth ensconced me in a lovely coffee house before going on another shopping tour. I edited pictures and caught on on mail and Facebook.

We got to my house around 4:30P.  I heated up our last meal - spaghetti sauce on spaghetti squash noodles while Elizabeth switch her camping gear to her car.  We decided to end the weekend a partial day early since we had planned to drive home early Monday.

It was a great weekend and the beginning of a great new friendship. Elizabeth will only be here for a year, so I'm already looking forward to meeting her at other refuges but hopping to spend more weekends with her next year.


I took a few minutes to put this out while having to do some work at the library. I wrote this on my next to last day.  I'll drive about 9 hours tomorrow going and coming from delivering my bees in Boulder. Then I have two days of cleaning and packing before starting a slow trip home. When it publishes, I'll be in the midst of playing across New Mexico with friend, Julie. We plan to visit all the National Parks and Monuments in New Mexico