As you drove up toward the pass along the Delores River, you got deeper into the mountains and there was more and more fall color. The Yellow aspens contrast with the darkness of the spruce/fir forest.
A somewhat remote road follows the Delores River to its source near Lizard Head Pass and then rolls down toward Telluride. When you start the vegetation is semi-arid but as you go deeper into the San Juan Mountains and gain elevation it transitions to conifers and aspens.
Rico is a remote town between Delores and Telluride in the Delores river valley. At over 8,000 feet it used to be the county seat but now is definitely the place to go if you want to avoid tourists.
