Kebler Pass

Gunnison County Road #12

Gunnison County, Colorado

September 23, 2010

As a part of the famous 205-mile West Elk Loop Scenic Byway in central Colorado, the Gunnison County Road #12 connects Highway 133 and Crested Butte. The road follows an old railway grade, but is a wide, gravel road, that can be traveled over via passenger cars. The road offers incredible views of the surrounding West Elk Mountains and the Ruby Range to the north.

Near the east end of the road, Kebler pass, at an elevation of 10,007 feet (3,050 meter), offers a high point from which to view the surrounding mountains and valleys. Due to its location and elevation, this particular route is only open from late May to early October each year due to snow.

This route is one way to travel between Crested Butte, Colorado and Grand Junction. The total length of the road is nearly 30 miles, with nearly 28 miles of it unpaved. Although the distance seems short, expect to take at least one hour to make the trip. More time will be required if you stop along the way to enjoy the various views.

After we drove over McClure Pass (2,671 m./8,755 ft.) and the lunch break, we took pictures of the Raggeds Range, most of them at the Jacob's Ranch. Then we headed further south on highway 133 passing Paonia State Park. Soon after Paonia Reservoir, we left state highway 133 into Gunnison County road #12 toward east. Now, the road was not paved but the road surface was well maintained with compacted dirt without much gravel. Our non-4-wheel drive sedan ran comfortably very well. This area must be extremely remote as we had not seen any human dwellings since Placita much before the McClure Pass.

To me, this was the heaven with beautiful natures all around us with no one else visible.
As we drove on road #12, we made frequent photo-stops whenever we saw nice sceneries.
Unfortunately, we wanted to stay longer admiring and taking pictures, but had to hurry up as the time was getting late with a long return trip left before us.

The county road was going to the city of Crested Butte and somewhere at the end, we were to pass the Kebler Pass, the last destination of today.



To the north in Raggeds Wilderness, the first place we encountered at County road #12 was this scenery of aspen forest with Marcellina Mountain (11,348 ft; 3,459 m.) in the background. This group of aspens must have died or been dying recently due to some type of tree disese. There were hardly any leaves to change color in this autumn season.
Had the trees been turning into fall colors, it must have been a truly beautiful scene.

To the south, is the West Elk Wilderness Area in Grand Mesa-Uncompahgre-Gunnison National Forest.
Near the west end of County Road #12, directly to south, we see the massif of West Beckwith Mountain (12, 185 ft; 3,714 m.) with wide open fields. Most of the trees are aspens but they have not changed into fall color yet,  probably because of lower altitude and warmer southern location.  

To the south and slightly east, we see East Beckwith Mountain (at right, 12,432 ft; 3,789 m.).  The foothills started to show autumn color but most of aspen trees here are still in green.
Far left is the Anthracite Range.



To the southeast, faraway, we see the Anthracite Range. Here the wide-open foothills are covered with aspens but they are not in full autumn color yet. The highest Peak in the middle is Ohio Peak (12, 271 ft; 3,740 m.). The Ohio Pass is supposed to be just east of this range. It was in our plan to visit today.



Ahead of us, toward east, we see the Snowline Ridge running north and south.
Blue skies of Colorado and puffy cummulus clouds behind aspen woods that are about to turn yellow.
We were obviously a few days ahead of fall color season in this part of the country.



Toward north, we see Marcellina Mountain again with green-colored aspens.
This will turn yellow, possibly next week or so. Again, we were about a week or 10 days too early.



Looking back on county road #12, there's West Beckwith Mountain far away.



The road passes through a dense aspen forest here.



After passing the Snowline Ridge, we see the Ruby Range extending northwards.

To the south, we see the Anthracite Range with broad wide valleys filled with aspen forests.



Anthracite Range and aspen fields



Another close-up view of Anthracite Range and the endless aspen fields.



Further northern part of the Ruby Range with aspen woods and meadows in front.



The snow-covered peak is Mount Owen (13,058 ft; 3,980 m.) in the center. Ruby Peak at right.



The Ruby Peak (12, 644 ft; 3,854 m.) at left edge and an un-named ruby-colored peak next
with jagged rocky ridge extending to south.



Ruby Peak at left and Mount Owen (snow-covered) barely visible behind it.



A distant view of the Ruby Range and it's southern foothills. Some aspen woods are still in green.



The southern end of Ruby Range



Further southern end of Ruby Range



East Beckwith Mountain (12,432 ft.) toward southwest with vast aspen woods.



A view toward south at Beckwith Pass.



Another view, close up toward Beckwith Pass. We were not going there.



Another view of aspen forest north of Beckwith Pass.



Individual aspen groves, each with different degrees of fall coloration.



Another close-up view of individual aspen groves nearby.



Aspen forests toward the foothills of East Beckwith Mountain.



A close-up view of the aspen forests toward East Beckwith Mountain.



From near Kebler Pass, looking north, the southeastern end of Ruby Range.



The eastern slope of Ruby Range from near Kebler Pass



The eastern slope of Ruby Range from near Kebler Pass.

Being getting late, we decided not to visit Ohio Pass even though it's only a few miles south from here.

After a few more pictures as the last photo-stop for the day, we drove up the Kebler Pass and drove down to Crested Butte. The day was getting late and we still had to go a long way through the heart of Colorado Plateau. After short break and gas refill at Crested Butte, we took highway 135-South to Gunnison, then US Highway 50-East to Poncha Springs passing Monarch Pass on the way, then US Highway 285 to Fairplay, then State highway 9 to Breckenridge and to I-70. After a short stop at Keystone, I returned to home late evening.
It was total 640 mile-drive (about 1,000 km) in 16 hours from Denver to Denver.
Except having to hurry up, it was a wonderful trip.
It will be very nice to make the same trip again in a slow leisurely pace at exactly right time of the year.
I would guess that it should be about the very end of September.

A leisurely pace?? Well, knowing myself, it probably is just one of shameless dreams.
Such thing has never been a part of my life. Ha, ha.... Will it ever happen?