The document details wildflower photography locations in the San Juan Mountains, highlighting the best times to visit and accessibility via vehicle. Key areas include Last Dollar Road, Yankee Boy Basin, and Governor Basin, with recommendations for rugged 4-wheel drive access due to rough terrain. Additional insights on capturing the flowers and the scenic beauty of the area are provided, emphasizing the importance of timing and safety while exploring.

1. Wildflower Photography in the San Juan Mountains Where, How To Get There, and When Presenter: Doug Bennett

2. Last Dollar Road & Silver Pick Basin First Opportunity of the Season!!

3. 13 June 2010 F13, 27mm

4. 12 June 2010 f16, 45mm

5. 12 June 2010 f16, 60mm

6. 26 June 2010 F13, 27mm

7. Last Dollar Road & Silver Pick Basin Assessable by Car Middle to Latter Part of June Should Be Great Morning and Evening Both Good, Scout Locations During Day West Dallas Creek Rd Dangerous When Wet (Clay)

8. Yankee Boy Basin Widely Famous and Deservedly So

15. Yankee Boy Basin Can be assessable by a high clearance vehicle But dangerous if a big rain comes. . .saw a Nissan Pathfinder that had fell off the road Great combination of waterfalls and wildflowers Stay on the trails as this is private property (owned by a mining company who allow access) Mid to late July prime time for wildflowers. . .I’d say the 20th Morning and evening both good

16. Governor Basin Beautiful but tough to get to

19. Governor Basin At a higher elevation so the flowers peak later. . .around first week in August You need high clearance rugged 4-wheel drive Jeep, Toyota 4-Runner, Nissan X-Terra, etc No Toyota Highlanders, Subarus or other crossover SUVs (which now includes some Jeeps) Road is quite narrow and rough. . .you need to be an experienced off-roader

20. Imogene Pass My Favorite 4-Wheel Drive Road

25. Imogene Pass Rd The east side of the pass is best Most fun 4-wheel Jeep trail. . .in one part you are driving down a flowing stream bed Again, you need a rugged 4-wheel drive vehicle Ruins of the Tom Boy Mine are on the west side of Pass Great high mountain lakes!!!

26. Red Mountain Pass Area Lots of Varied Photographic Opportunities

31. Red Mountain Pass Area Rich in mining history and old photogenic mining structures Best sites are north of the pass along U.S. Hwy 550 (east side of highway) Watch out for deer in the evenings. . .highest concentration I’ve ever encountered as I drove back north to Ouray so drive SLOW

32. Stony Pass Great Paintbrush and Deserving Of More Exploration

36. Stony Pass Get a local map at Visitors’ Center in Silverton so you don’t miss the turn Highest density of paintbrush I have seen anywhere Road really rocky in places so best to have offroad tires

37. American Basin John Fielder’s Favorite for Wildflowers

40. 5 Aug

42. American Basin Often raining in the afternoons so I recommend shooting in the morning Lots of opportunities with the streams and wildflowers Road really rocky in places so best to have offroad tires

43. Black Bear Pass Rd My Favorite!!!! You’ll Find Treasures Here You Won’t Find Anywhere Else!!

45. 4 Aug

48. 21 July 2010 f36, 60mm

50. Black Bear Pass Rd Approach from the east side. . .do not go down the west side!!!!!! You can’t beat the combination of wildflowers and Red Mountain. . .great evening shooting!!! Have an early dinner in Ouray and go to Black Bear in the evening and spend time there! Watch out for the deer on the way back to Ouray!

51. Wildflowers in the San Juan Mountains Do Black Bear Pass Rd for sure!!!!! And if you can get to Yankee Boy Basin, you’ll love it!!! And if you don’t have a rugged 4-wheel drive, you can get to American Basin pretty easy from the Lake City side (come in from the east) Once you go, you’ll go back a lot!!!!! And the Fall Color in the San Juans is Spectacular!!!!!

52. Crested Butte Great Flowers & Hiking Reaps Even More Rewards. . .I Hear

53. 11 Jul, Kebler Pass

54. 11 Jul f5.6 @ 190mm

55. 3 Jul, Just north of Mt Crested Butte

56. 3 Jul, Washington Gulch Rd

57. Lead King Loop 1 August 2010 F9, 24mm

58. 14 Aug, f4.8 24mm T/S Maroon Bells

59. Woodland Park Burn Areas Offer Splendid Opportunities

60. Hayman Burn Area 19 Jun North of Woodland Park