Winding Road To Gothic
WINDING ROAD TO GOTHIC
Near Crested Butte, CO
Images and location summary by Tim Wier
Trail Difficulty - EASY
I would rate the difficulty of this trail as a 1 on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being the most difficult). The location of this shot is right on Gothic Rd (CO 317). Easy peasy - just don't get run over by other vehicles passing.
GPS Coordinates & Elevation
9,583 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 1.5 miles. You will find yourself driving through a modest aspen grove. Find your favorite composition and set up your camera.
Photography Tips
This shot is pretty straightforward.
There are a few "S" in the road at this location. Walk around and find the composition that you like. Set up your camera and wait for the right light.
EXIF Data
Focal Length – 75 mm
Exposure – 60th sec @ f 8.0
ISO – 100
Date – Sept 19th
Time – 4:05 pm
Best Time of Day to Shoot
This scene is best when there is no direct light hitting on the trees or the road.
This might be an overcast day, early morning (before the sun crest the mountains to the east) or late afternoon (when the mountains block the sun to the west).
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 location can be photographed with anything from 24-105mm.
The image above was taken @ 75mm.
Birds-Eye View
Permits
There are no permits required on Gothic Pass.
Direction of the Shot
The direction of the shot is 317°.
Equipment Needed
No special equipment is needed other than your imagination.
Number of Other Photographers to Expect
The road to Gothic will draw many photographers during the fall color season. However, most people drive this road pretty slowly while looking at the beautiful aspens.
Weather
The Colorado weather is usually mild in the summer and cold (lows in the 20s) in the spring and fall. This location is almost 10,000 ft. elevation – so the temperatures are colder than most locations around this area.
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 – 3 miles 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