Mt Crested Butte From East River
MT CRESTED BUTTE FROM EAST RIVER
Near Gothic, CO
Colorado has many great photography locations - and some of the best are hiding in plain sight. I often find new locations by driving around and seeing what catches my eye. But for this location, it was all about fishing.
If you're a landscape photographer, you know that between sunrise and sunset, you have a lot of time to fill. For me, I sometimes bring along my rod and reel and try my luck at local spots. This location caught my eye while at a little fishing hole just north of Crested Butte. I just happened to turn around toward the end of the day and saw this opportunity. I was too late to catch the good light the first day, but I returned the next day for this shot.
As I have said before, I would rather be lucky than good…
Images and location summary by Tim Wier
Trail Difficulty - EASY
I would rate the difficulty of this trail as a 2 on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being the most difficult). The location of this shot a short 20 yd walk across the road from the parking area, but the drive to the location can be a bit bumpy.
GPS Coordinates & Elevation
9,609 ft Elevation
Downloads
View In Google earth
Directions
Directions to get driving directions to this location
From Crested Butte - drive on (CO 317) Gothic Rd for 4 miles until you reach the end of the paved road. You will see the Mt Crested Butte Water Treatment on the right.
Continue of (CO 317) Gothic Rd (now a dirt road) for 5.3 miles. At this point, you will cross over a small bridge and there will be a small parking area on the right side. The location of this shot is on the south side (opposite side from the parking area).
Photography Tips
This location looks like you just walk up and see this great opportunity. However, sometimes, you have to really work it to look this way. Sometimes, the little river (called East River) is too high or too low. Sometimes, the brush is knocked down by cows, and sometimes, it's just right. As I said, you might have to work it to get the image you are looking for.
If the conditions are right, the shot is pretty straight forward. Try to position yourself right on the stream and line up the curve with Mt Crested Butte. A polarizing filter will help to reduce the glare on the water. I shot this with a 3x ND filter to keep the shutter speed open for 6 sec to provide for a smooth look to the water.
I am not kidding about the cows - when I took this picture, a group of cows came up on me from behind and almost stepped on my camera bag - which would have been an expensive visit.
EXIF Data
Focal Length – 24mm
Exposure – 6 sec @ f 8.0
ISO – 100
Date – Sept 19th
Time – 5:52pm
Best Time of Day to Shoot
This location is best photographed at SUNSET.
Best Time of Year
This location can be photographed at any time of year. However, I believe it is best during the fall when the aspens and underbrush begin to turn colorful.
The image above was taken on September 19th
Lens(es) Needed
This shot was taken with a 24mm lens.
Birds-Eye View
Permits
There are no permits needed at this location.
Direction of the Shot
The direction of your shot is southeast at around 120°.
Equipment Needed
You will need a sturdy tripod, a polarizing filter, and a neutral density filter to slow the shutter speed to 1 + seconds.
Number of Other Photographers to Expect
This is a favorite fishing spot for locals. However, they mainly stand on the north side of the road.
Weather
The weather in Colorado is normally mild in the summer and cold (lows in the 20's) in the spring and fall. Having never been to this location in the winter, I don't know whether the road is open or maintained that time of year.
Cell Service
I use Verizon, and cell service is spotty at this location.
Lodging & Camping
The closest town is Crested Butte – about 5 miles away and has plenty of lodging. Remember that Crested Butte is one of Colorado's most beautiful and desirable locations and fills up quickly during the tourist season.
Camping - click on the campground below for directions
Gothic Campground – 1 mile away
Lodging - click on the lodging below for a TripAdvisor review
Lodge at Mountaineer Square
620 Gothic Road, Crested Butte, CO
Grand Lodge Crested Butte
6 Emmons Loop, Crested Butte, CO
Nearby Restaurants
As mentioned, the closest town is Crested Butte, home to plenty of very good eating and drinking establishments. It is a GREAT little town and one of my favorite places in all of Colorado. When in Crested Butte, make sure you stop by McGills or Butte Bagels for breakfast. They will both be busy but worth the wait. The secret for Butte Bagels is to call in your order and pick it up in the back.
For a nice Italian dinner, eat at Marchitelli's and for a great steak, try Elk Ave Prime (make sure you make a reservation for both).
Area Guides and Workshops
None