For day two, we decided to take a bit quicker route so that we could hit the hot springs earlier in the day. During our trip to the springs on day one, we learned that the water slides close at 6pm. With that nugget of information, we decided to take Mineral Creek to Animas Forks. I didn't get any good photos on Mineral Creek, but shelf roads like this are typical terrain, but with some off camber rocks thrown in here and there.
View attachment 456728
Eventually, we got to Animas Forks.
View attachment 456729
We walked around the town and explored the old structures. Hard to believe they had 27' of snow there one winter. I wish I would have taken some photos of the historical signs; the old pictures of the residents skiing the area were incredible.
View attachment 456730
From Animas Forks, we took CR2 to Silverton and ate lunch in the park. On the drive back into Silverton, we bookended the off road portion of the trip with another moose sighting, this time a bull.
View attachment 456731
From Silverton, we headed back to Ouray and the hot springs.
Monday morning we packed up and headed back home, but stopped in Salida for lunch and so my daughter could play in the Arkansas River.
Overall it was a great trip, but unfortunately I didn't bring my photographer!