September 18th to September 29th, 2022

  11 nights/12 inclusive days  |  Maximum of 8 participants, and a minimum of 3 participants

Photography Tour Overview: Our exploration America's 'roof top' will bring diverse photo subjects such as wildlife, ghost towns, waterfalls, spectacular stands of colorful Aspen trees, sand dunes, red rock, and breathtaking mountain landscapes et cetera. Colorado is a name that is up there with the best of them when it comes to destinations that Americans would most like to photograph. The difference is that Colorado will linger on the palette many times longer than most places with similar terrain. As with all of our photography tours, early and late shooting is scheduled for each day.

Our itinerary . . .
But first things first! We suggest that you set your camera's clock to the local time, as your images will then synchronize with the times in our included photo tour field notes.

Days 1, 2 + 3  |  Rocky Mountain National Park
Our small group will gather late morning, and we'll kick things off with the included lunch plus a digital presentation of images you can expect to capture during this photo tour. Then away via select photo stops to Estes Park on the doorstep of Rocky Mountain National Park which is dominated by 14,256’ Long’s Peak.
On days 2 and 3 our park highlights will include trips up and down the Trail Ridge Road, and up the Old Fall River Road with both collectively providing towering mountain peaks, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, beaver ponds, lava cliffs, and wildlife hopefully including Elk, Coyote, Bighorn Sheep, semi-tame Ravens and more. We'll also be photographing in the Glacier Basin area.
Estes Park, 3 nights

Day 4  |  Colorado Mountain Passes and Old Towns to Aspen
More dawn light photography prior to leaving the Rocky Mountain National Park area today, we’ll return south on the opposite side of the continental divide, and via Interstate 70 to start our zigzag of mountain passes with Guanella Pass. Mt. Evans will appear in the east as we move on to Boreas Pass, a former railroad bed on which Elephants used to push circus trains to Breckenridge on the northeastern slope. Via Leadville with its ghost and modern town mix, to turn west under Colorado’s highest peak, Mount Elbert at 14,433’. Over Independence pass shooting as we go as the late light warms up, and onto Aspen for our 1 night stay.
Aspen, 1 night

Day 5  |  Crystal Mill, McClure Pass, Kebler Pass and Crested Butte
We’ll rise early for the first light on the Maroon Bells . . . a Colorado classic with mountain peaks, lake, and fabulously colored Aspen groves. Marmot and Mule Deer are easy to shoot here, and we’ll likely see Moose. After breakfast we’ll head for the Ashcroft ghost towns, and then we’ll hit the road for Marble via the brick kilns of Redstone. Marble provided the marble for the Lincoln Memorial, and from here we'll take a detour over rugged terrain in 4WD jeeps for the classic Crystal Mill shot on the Crystal River. Via McClure Pass and onto Kebler Pass where shoot the largest stand of in-color Aspen trees you'll ever lay eyes on. We'll photograph around Crested Butte both this evening and early on day 6.
Crested Butte, 1 night

Days 6 + 7  |  Crested Butte, Dallas Divide and the Telluride region
First light around Gothic, and following breakfast we'll photo-explore Washington Gulch prior to departing in the direction of Telluride. Shots of Blue Mesa reservoir in the Curecanti national recreation area as we make our way to some superb photography on the Dallas Divide. Things start with swathes of fall color in front of the San Juan Mountains topped by Mt. Sneffels at 14,150’, and continue with rustic zigzag fences, Mule Deer sightings and more great scenery on a back road loaded with shots that always slow our descent into Telluride. Evening light near Telluride, with Mt. Wilson and old barns being the main attractions.
On day 7 we’ll make early and late runs to the Last Dollar Road, which will provide classics topped by distant Mt. Wilson. A side trip southwards will also be a feature while we are in the Telluride area, plus much more.
Telluride, 2 nights

Day 8  |  Dallas Divide, Ouray, Million Dollar Highway and Silverton
First light on 14,017’ Mt. Wilson to start our day, then following breakfast we’ll turn towards Silverton, and once again we'll progress slowly over the Dallas Divide with many photo-stops scheduled. Ouray is next for street scenes, and the 'roof-top' view plus a detour to nearby Box Canyon falls. We’ll then continue south and traverse the 'Million Dollar Highway’ with photography stops on Red Mountain Pass. On to the old mining community of Silverton for the night. Silverton hasn’t changed a whole lot since those gold-mining heydays of the late 1800’s, and the flavor of the old west is guaranteed.
Silverton, 1 night

Day 9  |  Silverton to Alamosa
Shots of Silverton and surrounding peaks bathed in the early light, and following breakfast we'll explore Silverton . . . and most likely bump into some ‘time travelers! At midday we’ll rendezvous with the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad locomotive for a series of pictures prior to continuing south on the ‘Million Dollar Highway’ and turning east for Alamosa at Durango. Chimney Rock, and Wolf Creek Pass et cetera will be featured as we make our way to Alamosa to position ourselves for an early morning run to the Great Sand Dunes National Park.
Alamosa, 1 night

Day 10  |  Great Sand Dunes National Park and Royal Gorge
On day 10 we’ll take an early breakfast, check-out, and make our way to the Great Sand Dunes National Park for the early light on this ‘ocean’ of sand. Covering 55 square miles, some of the dunes rise to 700 feet, and a number of our pictures will most likely feature the backdrop of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range. Moving north via Poncha Pass and Salida, we’ll spend some time shooting rafters and kayakers in spectacular rapids on the Arkansas River if river levels are still high enough. On to Royal Gorge to shoot the highest suspension bridge in the world at 1,053’ above the Arkansas River. Mule Deer are easy to photograph here. On to Manitou Springs for the night.
Manitou Springs, 1 night

Day 11  |  Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak
Early light on day 11 will bring out the best in the Garden of the Gods. After breakfast and hotel check-out we’ll head for the top of Pikes Peak at 14,110’. The mountain is where one Katherine Lee Bates penned those patriotic and inspiring words, “O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain. For purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain”. We’ll then head to our last hotel via a variety of photo stops. The included dinner on the last night of our photography tour will feature an 'It's You!' presentation of clients in action by John.
Near the Denver airport, 1 night

Day 12  |  Departure day
As there isn't any photography scheduled for the day of departure on this trip, your flight home can be arranged for any time today. Transport to the airport is included unless you’re staying on for a day or more.

Photo Tour Photographer/Leader: John Baker, Travel Images Photography Tours
The preceding itinerary is a copyrighted work by John Baker Photographer LLC, and Travel Images Photography Tours

Enhancing Your Photography Skills
Describing the assistance you'll receive on one of our photography tours takes more than a few words, so for greater detail please go here.

Exertion level: This photography tour is classified as 'mildly strenuous' to 'moderately strenuous' due to the high elevations, especially in Rocky Mountain National Park
  There are no strenuous hikes involved, but at higher elevations even a mildly strenuous walk can leave you short of breathe if not taking your time
  Soft sand in sand dunes can be hard going, but again, just take your time. For capturing dune images, you can be at the top of the closest dune in 8 to 15 minutes
  In every other respect this photography tour is considered non-strenuous to mildly strenuous

Do you need a Visa for travel to the United States?
Travelers from all countries can do a quick check of visa requirements here or here
Our international clients may need to contact the embassy of their intended destination in their own country for a visa. Go here or here

Photography Tour Cost, Deposit, Cancellation Policy and Enrollment Guidance

Trip Cost: $5,170 USD per person not including airfare. A 5% discount is applied to all double occupancies. A single room supplement is required for single occupancy

Single Supplement: 14% of the base cost of the trip

The deposit for this photography tour is $300. Make a deposit, or pay your tour balance here

Cancellation policy: Go here

Enrollment guidance: Go here

Included in the Trip Cost: The following items are included in the trip cost . . .

• Photography instruction throughout the trip by John

• All accommodations with private facilities [en-suite]

• All breakfasts

• Lunch on day one of the trip

• Dinner on the last night of the trip

• On-vehicle snacks and bottled water

• All ground transportation

• Airport pick-up on day 1, and drop-off on departure day. Arrival prior to day 1 is not included

• Entrance fees for sites and activities listed below under ‘Admissions Included’

• Following the trip, field notes describing the time, place and subject of each photo stop, and a disc containing images of clients 'in action' on the trip

Not Included in the Trip Cost: The costs for these items are the responsibility of each participant . . .

• Airfare

• Travel costs between your home and the gateway airport and return

• Any transportation or travel costs incurred prior to or after the tour’s inclusive dates

• Pre-tour and/or post-tour accommodation

• Lunches and dinners except for lunch on day one of the trip, and dinner on the last night of the trip

• Alcoholic beverages

• Entrance fees or costs related to optional sites or activities not included in the itinerary

• Baggage fees

• Medical expenses

• Personal items such as the hotel mini-bar, laundry et cetera

• Incidental charges incurred at our accommodations such as movie rentals, internet and phone

• Travel insurance

• Passport or visa expenses

• Airport departure taxes, if applicable

Admissions Included in the Trip Cost:

• Admission to Rocky Mountain NP is included in our Commercial Organization, Commercial Tour Fees, and/or a Commercial Use Authorization [CUA] permit

• Also included is 4WD transport to the Crystal Mill near Marble

• All other possible rides, admissions or excursions are optional and not included