As you make the drive around Mesa Verde, there are a number of overlooks into canyons with ciff dwelling ruins. This is one of several visible at one overlook.
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.
