Last week, I was tasked with photographing Curecanti National Recreation Area as part of an effort to pass the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy (CORE) Act. The landscape was beautiful, and a lucky November snowstorm helped take my photos to the next level.
Curecanti National Recreation Area is located in Western Colorado and contains 43,000 acres of land as well as Colorado's largest body of water, Blue Mesa Reservoir. It's a popular destination for fishing and boating, and has historically been home to the Ute tribe (read my full land acknowledgement here).
It also happens to be one of the four major areas which will be protected under The CORE Act, which is the reason I was assigned to come out and take over the Pass The CORE Act Instagram account.
I arrived in the night, and although camping is only allowed at designated campsites at Curecanti, the late autumn solitude made it feel like I was out in the backcountry. I set up the $30 Target tent that I've been using since 2014 and got a few chilly hours of sleep before my 4am wakeup call.
The early rise was worth it. I hiked two miles up the Dillon Pinnacles Trail before sunrise, set up my camera, and waited as the light show began.
As I had hoped, the early morning fog and sunlight made the Dillon Pinnacles the perfect model for my shoot. It was hard to take a bad picture that morning!
I was blessed by beautiful clouds and lighting throughout the week, and was able to take dozens of great photos.
Curecanti National Recreation Area is a pretty special place. There are no entry fees, the hikes are short and easy to navigate, and all of the best vistas are viewable from the road. You definitely don't need to be a seasoned outdoor veteran to get the most out of this beautiful location.
If we want places like these to last, it's important to keep up the fight against private interests who would sell them off and strip them for their natural resources.
To stay involved in this important work, follow Pass The Core Act on instagram, subscribe to my blog (signup form at bottom of page), or consider making a donation to Conservation Colorado!
Thanks!
Jonathan
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