Marshall Pass Leaf Peeping

 In the late 1800's the Denver and Rio Grande Narrow Gauge railroad laid rail across Marshall Pass, Colorado in what became the first railroad to cross the Continental Divide.

The railroad tracks were removed in 1955 and the massive structures built to withstand the winter snows quickly fell into disrepair.  

It has been decades since I last travelled over Marshall Pass and at that time you could still find large timbers that had slid down the side of the mountain from the road bed - this helped determine where many of the large snow sheds used to be located. Very little of that is to be found now.

The former railroad grade makes for an easy steady climb to the summit and a trip in the fall is timely for checking out the changing colors of the aspens. The former railroad right of way is black in many places due to the build up of cinders from engines under heavy loads when climbing.

I guess I should not be surprised as it has been almost 70 years since a train traversed these roads, but I was saddened to get to the pass where there are information signs telling about the Continental Divide Trail, the Colorado Trail and all of the bike trails in the area, but not a word about the incredible effort to install and operate a railroad in this terrain and winter weather. 

Rudi, the wonder dog, is always ready for a road trip

Beavers are active making dams part way up the west side of the pass

This short wheelbase Chevrolet Tracker is just the right size to explore these back roads

O'Haver Lake is found on the east side of the pass and offers many camp sites

The east side of Marshall Pass did have an information sign telling about the townsite of 'Shirley' and the 7.5 mile long aerial tramway that brought ores from the mines above to ship out on the railroad.

Little remains of the townsite today