Photograph 43 Sunrises

From the west side of Standley Lake in Westminster, CO

I took this one on the way to work. Since it was just getting light and I was using the telephoto, I had to push the camera to ASA 1600. That cut down on the resolution, but I think that it looks cool- kind of like a painting, especially when you zoom in.

From the Lookout Mountain Road just west of Golden, CO

This was taken my first morning driving in to work after the time change back off of daylight savings time. I start work so early that even with the change it was just getting light as I headed in to work. It looked like it was going to be a nice sunrise, so I drove partway up the Lookout Mountain Road to take some pics.

It made me a little late to work, but it was worth it!

The lights below are in the city of Golden.

From the Saddlehorn Campground at Colorado National Monument, CO

One more morning fron the same campground. This one was much gloomier, and it didn’t seem like such a bad day to be packing up and heading home.

Although, if you look closely, you can see a segment of rainbow just left of the center of the photo.

From the Saddlehorn Campground at Colorado National Monument, CO

The next morning from the same site. This night wasn’t as cold as the night before, so I was able to stir from my sleeping bag before the sun had fully risen ;)

From the Saddlehorn Campgound at Colorado National Monument, CO

Another night out under the stars. This one was beautiful, but cold- down to about 27^oF, as near as I can tell.

I hate to let the cat out of the bag, but this is one of the hidden secrets of the National Park Service. I’ve spent many nights here and I think it’s one of the best “unknown” units of the hundred or so I’ve been to.

The escarpment in the backgound is known as Book Cliffs, a ~200-mile range of cliffs in western Colorado and eastern Utah. In front of that is the Colorado River valley, with the small town of Fuita (“Fruit-a”) below.

If you’re ever driving on I70 in western Colorado, don’t miss taking an hour or two detour into Colorado Nat’l Monument!

From the campground at Hovenweep National Monument, UT

I’ve driven close to Hovenweep National Monument many times over the last 28 years, but I had never managed to actually visit the park until this last vacation. It’s off the main routes, but definitely worth a visit, especially if you’re interested in archeology.

Here’s my early dawn view after spending the night out under the stars (far away from any major population centers, it’s also a fantastic place to stargaze!).

From the Soda Pocket Campground at Sugarite Canyon State Park near Raton, NM

First sunrise of vacation!

The reason that the horizon is so flat is that it’s the rim of Sugarite Canyon, which is carved through a basalt flow.

From the Cold Springs Campground near Blackhawk, CO

The horizon was kind of hidden by the foothills to the east, but my daughter and I still enjoyed it :)

the grass juts up into the view of the sunrise.

as the sun began to rise was amazing!