Finding the Beginning of the Colorado River

The Colorado River travels over 1,400 miles, from the Rockies to Mexico, and supplies water to over 40 million people in the western U.S. and Mexico. Due to drought and increased usage the river has been under tremendous pressure over the last few decades and the water levels at Lake Powell and Lake Mead are at record lows. With the river being in the news so much recently, we wanted to go into the Rockies and see where the Colorado River begins. And we mean where it really begins.
We drove Colorado State Route 14 into the Rocky Mountains before driving down Long Draw Road, a 13 mile dirt road that is known for the amount of moose in the area. At the end of the road we reached La Poudre Pass, the Never Summer Mountains, the Continental Divide, and Rocky Mountain National Park, where we walked the rest of the way to the valley where the Colorado River begins.
○ Gear we use: www.amazon.com/shop/sidetrack...
►Please subscribe for weekly updates showcasing some of our adventures: / @sidetrackadventures
►Also please follow Sidetrack Adventures on Instagram: / sidetrackadventures
►Music in this video is from Epidemic Sounds; use our link for a 60 day free trial: share.epidemicsound.com/v927fj

Пікірлер: 1 000

  • @lbarnhill5493
    @lbarnhill5493 Жыл бұрын

    Even the Mississippi River has a modest begining. I think, many people, don't realize the enormous amount of watershed; any sloping hill may carry.

  • @cassiusdio6048

    @cassiusdio6048

    Жыл бұрын

    Yes it begins in lake Itasca Minnesota.

  • @allangibson8494

    @allangibson8494

    Жыл бұрын

    @@cassiusdio6048 And Mississippi used to drain the Great Lakes (until the Niagara river got unblocked).

  • @AuRowe

    @AuRowe

    Жыл бұрын

    Very true.

  • @mjproebstle

    @mjproebstle

    Жыл бұрын

    Itasca State Park in Minnesota is one of the most beautiful state parks you will ever see.

  • @74bshs

    @74bshs

    Жыл бұрын

    We walked across the Mississippi River at its source at Lake Itaska, MN some years ago. Very cool.

  • @SidetrackAdventures
    @SidetrackAdventures Жыл бұрын

    I doubt they'll see this, but just in case I wanted to make a note to thank the Ranger that we ran into in two different places that was super helpful. I didn't catch her name but she was great.

  • @evsta100

    @evsta100

    Жыл бұрын

    Cool vid. never knew that. I did watch a vid were people did a course I must have forgot but when they followed it down all the way to LA in the basins it trickled out short of the Pacific. OH Yeah THANKS

  • @kosjeyr

    @kosjeyr

    Жыл бұрын

    If you do these regularly, maybe try to find the origin of the Snake River or go to Two Ocean Pass where there's a creek that forms near Grand Teton and then splits into a creek flowing east known as the Atlantic Creek and the other flowing west as the Pacific Creek.

  • @ChrisBChronisterJr92

    @ChrisBChronisterJr92

    Жыл бұрын

    It was my wife.

  • @myaccount5204

    @myaccount5204

    Жыл бұрын

    These videos are relaxing and educational. Thumbs up!! Nice job

  • @elainesteffen4968

    @elainesteffen4968

    Жыл бұрын

    Great filming adventures captured for us.

  • @donnythompson9233
    @donnythompson9233 Жыл бұрын

    Great video! I’ve been in The Never-Summer Mountain Range, while fly fishing the Colorado River and its tributaries years ago. One day on my trip, (it was late August) I was standing at a scenic overlook, way up above the tree line, and a National Park officer came over to me and started talking with me, he was very nice. I pointed to a large patch of ice and snow that was down in a valley, and shadowed by a mountain, and I said, “I bet that patch of snow and ice down there in that big shadow will take until next year to melt”, at which point he laughed, good naturedly, and said to me, “Well, that particular patch of snow has been there since 1960, so I’m guessing probably not!” It was then that he told me that I was in The Never Summer Range, and that there were many patches of snow and ice in the range that had been there for decades. It was such beautiful country, and I’ve always wanted to go back. Perhaps one of these days I will. 🙏

  • @bluez2677

    @bluez2677

    5 ай бұрын

    That's a very wonderful story. I'll bet you have some amazing ones from the places that you have been fly fishing. You should write a book of them . I definitely would love to read it

  • @marymcmahon659
    @marymcmahon659 Жыл бұрын

    I've lived in Colorado for 50 years and have just about seen it all. It was so incredibly beautiful but after the massive amount of people that are here now I don't go up much anymore. But I know what it was like when it was wide and open and free.

  • @Vladviking

    @Vladviking

    Жыл бұрын

    Indeed, I was born in AZ . After about a decade+ I went back for a visit and was deeply disappointed and won't return.

  • @transwomenaresexistmen

    @transwomenaresexistmen

    Жыл бұрын

    @@Vladviking so sad. Colorado and Arizona have special spirits. I love them both so extremely much.

  • @dr.pepperoni5415

    @dr.pepperoni5415

    Жыл бұрын

    Its not like the entire state has been taken over. There is plenty of wilderness in Colorado, you just have to drive over an hour. How terrible.

  • @tracy2762

    @tracy2762

    Жыл бұрын

    go to florida and you can feel some pain..yes its crowded in denver etc but you can get away pretty easily..

  • @debcarpenter8519

    @debcarpenter8519

    Жыл бұрын

    I have lived on the front range for 20 yrs, plus I lived in Estes Park for 8yrs. I used to spend every day in Rocky Mountain National Park, cleaning up after residents and tourists. They've trampled that beautiful park to death. I live in Loveland now. I may get up to RMNP once a year during the rut. It's a sad situation.

  • @energizme100
    @energizme100 Жыл бұрын

    I live 6 miles south of Breckenridge Colorado, The Blue River's headwater at the top of Hoosier Pass is one of "The start of the Colorado River." There are many tributaries to the Colorado River. The Blue River flows north from here and confluences with the Colorado River near Kremmling, Colorado. Thanks for highlighting the importance of this awesome body of water which is so important to so many animals and humans.

  • @dianesaldivar824

    @dianesaldivar824

    Жыл бұрын

    Very enlightening. Thanks

  • @DrJohn493

    @DrJohn493

    Жыл бұрын

    Gotta sample the fly fishing in the Blue before I get too old!

  • @WOODLASE

    @WOODLASE

    Жыл бұрын

    I've camped and did some trout fishing on the Blue River in the early Fall of 1975. AWESOME place..

  • @lesxylophone3347

    @lesxylophone3347

    Жыл бұрын

    Blue river is beautiful! Some of my favorite camp spots for sure.

  • @matthewcowen1390

    @matthewcowen1390

    Жыл бұрын

    Visiting your area in recent years.... some of the most beautiful country this nation has. You're blessed haha

  • @johngood542
    @johngood542 Жыл бұрын

    Interesting trivia: 101 years ago, the Colorado River didn't begin anywhere near here. The river whose source you're investigating was then known as the Grand River (whence the name of the nearby ditch). It didn't pick up the name Colorado until it reached Utah and its confluence with the Green River. A 1921 proclamation of Congress changed that: Grand became Colorado.

  • @davidmorgan7818

    @davidmorgan7818

    Жыл бұрын

    Yes! Thank you! Colorado actually stole the Colorado River. It should actually be called the Green River, which is much larger, even though it’s designated as a tributary.

  • @noahmichael-7652

    @noahmichael-7652

    Жыл бұрын

    They say all by design, but it’s actually all by redesign!

  • @SPR8364-0

    @SPR8364-0

    Жыл бұрын

    Actually, the Grand River had (and has) a larger flow of water than the Green River at the confluence. However, the Green River has a larger drainage basin. At least that is what Wikipedia says under the listing for the Green River. If you look at the confluence on Google Maps, the rivers appear to be pretty similar in size. Also, I think the Missouri River is bigger than the Mississippi River at their junction as well.

  • @letsdanceonhere

    @letsdanceonhere

    Жыл бұрын

    Texas also has a Colorado River that starts and ends in Texas.

  • @Michael-sb8jf

    @Michael-sb8jf

    Жыл бұрын

    @@SPR8364-0 No your thinking of the Ohio and Mississippi Hydrologically speaking the "ohio river" is the river that flows into the gulf but due to ehh some flubbing of names to gain bigger territory via treaties. Or you could say it in another way the Mississippi river starts in Pittsburg Pennsylvania. Because the Mississippi was named at its mouth by the French I probably over complicated that explanation

  • @mikelyons372
    @mikelyons372 Жыл бұрын

    I went to high school with members of a family born and raised in Poudre Canyon. They shared so many spots and facts shared by their grandparents to their parents and then them. I aways felt honored to learn from them. One thing I never knew was that sign marking the source of the Colorado River. Just shows there is always something to learn. Thank you for your videos!!

  • @galardmills5306
    @galardmills5306 Жыл бұрын

    Timely and pertinent video! I thought I was the only person obsessed enough to seek the headwaters of the Colorado. I hiked up to the meadow from RMNP. You certainly added important context. Thanks for showing everyone how important things can start in simple ways.

  • @SidetrackAdventures

    @SidetrackAdventures

    Жыл бұрын

    The hike looks great, I was really interested in checking out the Lulu City ghost town, but just didn't have the time unfortunately. Hopefully I can get back soon.

  • @mikemoren532
    @mikemoren532 Жыл бұрын

    I took a six-month road trip around the western U.S. and Canada in 2008, and during that trip I crossed the Colorado a few times. I was driving through RMNP and noticed on my map that the Colorado River started in RMNP! So I decided to hike up to the headwaters to this incredibly important river. As I came up to this engineered channel and followed it up to the divide (and what I learned was the Grand Ditch), it hit me that right from the very beginning of the Colorado, its waters are robbed and diverted away. There was a lot more water flowing in the Grand Ditch to the east of the Divide than in the actual Colorado River. Using our river and groundwater is part of our human existence, but it's still a little sad to see the water diverted right from the very beginning. Nice video, it brought back some great memories of that day and my trip around the West.

  • @deetrvl4life875
    @deetrvl4life875 Жыл бұрын

    I love source videos!! It's always amazing to me, how sometimes the tiniest things become the huge roaring necessities in life ;) Rivers and streams included! Thank you for doing this one, I always enjoy your vids.

  • @SidetrackAdventures

    @SidetrackAdventures

    Жыл бұрын

    I recently saw a video on the source of the Thames in England and it was so fascinating since there aren't huge mountains there.

  • @OrdinaryAverageMan

    @OrdinaryAverageMan

    Жыл бұрын

    yes man a small trickle turning to a raging river is amazing

  • @fredcarani6764

    @fredcarani6764

    Жыл бұрын

    It's fun finding the source of major rivers. The Salmon River in Idaho starts in a high basin near Galena Pass with a couple of creeks coming into it. Probably springs in the basin too.

  • @wolfcounselor8346
    @wolfcounselor8346 Жыл бұрын

    Good job and perfect timing. The Colorado has gone viral and you have provided a great perspective on the subject.

  • @shredead
    @shredead Жыл бұрын

    Living in socal I occasionally find myself at the Colorado River by way of Bullhead, Needles, Parker, Blythe, etc and have always been curious about this. Thank you for making this beautiful and informative video

  • @6thwatergateplumber
    @6thwatergateplumber Жыл бұрын

    I've always wondered about where this river starts, and thanks to your energy, and willingness to make the hike, I'm better informed. It's remarkable that this rather small stream is responsible for providing water to so many people.

  • @ronmcmartin4513

    @ronmcmartin4513

    Жыл бұрын

    "willingness to make the hike" ...At 10K feet, even when you're in shape at sea level, you get Gassed quickly going up hills at 10K. You're saying "What happened?!"

  • @daybird2
    @daybird2 Жыл бұрын

    Living on the Colorado River in northern Arizona, I have often wondered just exactly what the start of it looks like. Well, now I know. Many thanks for this enjoyable video.

  • @rapturebound197
    @rapturebound197 Жыл бұрын

    Grew up near there. Amazing the quality production one guy with a camera can put out. Excellent work all the way round my friend. Thanx for the video! 👍

  • @jasonmason8413
    @jasonmason8413 Жыл бұрын

    Majestic things have humble beginnings. Thank you for this. I had the pleasure of living next to co river for a year in the western slope of the rockies. We have such a beautiful country

  • @SidetrackAdventures

    @SidetrackAdventures

    Жыл бұрын

    The Western Slope is great too. Really need to get back.

  • @scottburton6607
    @scottburton6607 Жыл бұрын

    As someone who grew up in San Diego, I really enjoy your videos. Hope you enjoy Colorado.

  • @SidetrackAdventures

    @SidetrackAdventures

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks. Colorado was great but we are back home in San Diego now.

  • @martyinsd
    @martyinsd Жыл бұрын

    Thank you Steve, excellent video. I live in San Diego, so I definitely depend on the Colorado River and have been closely monitoring the drought situation.

  • @rrios283s73
    @rrios283s73 Жыл бұрын

    Thanks for going up there.

  • @markomaticd4106
    @markomaticd410611 ай бұрын

    Another very enjoyable video. Thanks for taking us along!

  • @spencerkimble3824
    @spencerkimble3824 Жыл бұрын

    That’s how you say “Poudre,” alright. I live in Fort Collins and drive up 14 all the time. Beautiful area

  • @keeponlivin81
    @keeponlivin81 Жыл бұрын

    For those wondering about the blackened trees, this damage is from the Cameron Peak fire in 2020. Scorched more than 208,000 acres and started just a stones throw from Long Draw.

  • @roberthenry9319

    @roberthenry9319

    Жыл бұрын

    I searched the comments for the anser to that question, and you provided it. Thank you.

  • @StickyKeys187

    @StickyKeys187

    Жыл бұрын

    Some of the trees have signs of pine bark beetle damage too. I think all the dead trees caused by the infestation really helped contribute to the massive wildfires during that year.

  • @keeponlivin81

    @keeponlivin81

    Жыл бұрын

    The pine beetle infestation coupled with extreme drought conditions equalled a catastrophic 2020 fire season

  • @goofsaddggkle7351
    @goofsaddggkle7351 Жыл бұрын

    This was fascinating and beautiful. Thank you so much!

  • @semiproactive9625
    @semiproactive9625 Жыл бұрын

    Thanks Steve, very enjoyable. I'll be back again.

  • @SidetrackAdventures

    @SidetrackAdventures

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you.

  • @PinInTheAtlas
    @PinInTheAtlas Жыл бұрын

    What a fantastic and fun little adventure, to think all the beauty that river meanders through and has helped create.

  • @SidetrackAdventures

    @SidetrackAdventures

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks. It was so crazy to think of how that tiny bit of water was the start of such an important river.

  • @swankles3877
    @swankles3877 Жыл бұрын

    Wow!! Great research Steve, I always learn something new from your videos 😊

  • @SidetrackAdventures

    @SidetrackAdventures

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you, we appreciate it!

  • @matthewl2980
    @matthewl2980 Жыл бұрын

    Love the video! I’m a wildfire hydrology researcher and wildland firefighter. Collect TSS, water chemistry, and chlorophyll samples at long draw every week!

  • @gtrpkr2487
    @gtrpkr2487 Жыл бұрын

    Your pronunciation is correct. I floated the Poudre in 2010 out of Fort Collins. Had a great time.

  • @nix4644
    @nix4644 Жыл бұрын

    As a Colorado native I say a hearty "well done". It's been several decades since I've been to the places in your video. I need to get back there.

  • @denvermatlock4809

    @denvermatlock4809

    Жыл бұрын

    Your not a native🤦‍♂️

  • @wilsonpicket8505
    @wilsonpicket8505 Жыл бұрын

    Your best vid yet! Thank you, it was very informative! Beautiful country.

  • @SidetrackAdventures

    @SidetrackAdventures

    Жыл бұрын

    Wow, thank you!

  • @timmyjones1921
    @timmyjones1921 Жыл бұрын

    Thank You Mr. Steve .

  • @alonzochubb7061
    @alonzochubb7061 Жыл бұрын

    Beautiful scenery, thank you.

  • @wildlyunrulyadventures3942
    @wildlyunrulyadventures3942 Жыл бұрын

    Absolutely fascinating video about natural history, human history, and the current significance and importance of the Colorado River. Thank you for sharing this.

  • @rogersnead7059
    @rogersnead7059 Жыл бұрын

    Your photography is great, your explanations and historical facts are well presented. It is refreshing to see a video that is so well put together. Thanks. It made me subscribe to your channel and I look forward to reviewing all your material.

  • @daveh4283
    @daveh4283 Жыл бұрын

    This has been on my bucket list for a while

  • @SidetrackAdventures

    @SidetrackAdventures

    Жыл бұрын

    You should go if you get the chance! its such a great job and the area around the Colorado River start was so peaceful.

  • @lizdietrich6798
    @lizdietrich6798 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you Sidetrack Adventures! I’m a Native Coloradan, I’ve been to the Poudre River & Colorado River but never to the beginning of it! LOVE IT! Amazing & Beautiful, I LOVE this State! ❤🥰

  • @TouchingClothProd
    @TouchingClothProd Жыл бұрын

    Makes me think of Robert Plant singing that line from Ten Years Gone: "And though the course may change sometimes, Rivers always reach the sea" and how that no longer applies to the mighty Colorado ... the river that carved the Grand Canyon is so dammed and used, that it's now barely a trickle as it disappears into the sand several miles before it reaches the Gulf of California. What have we done?

  • @lewstone5430

    @lewstone5430

    Жыл бұрын

    *Zeppelin!*

  • @mikekuczynski1552

    @mikekuczynski1552

    Жыл бұрын

    I think Jim Morrison said it in 1967 What have they done to the earth, yeah? What have they done to our fair sister? Ravaged and plundered and ripped her and bit her Stuck her with knives in the side of the dawn and Tied her with fences and dragged her down I hear a very gentle sound With your ear down to the ground We want the world and we want it (we want the world and we want it!) Now Now? Now!

  • @zonacrs

    @zonacrs

    Жыл бұрын

    I thought the exact same thing. Funny how watching something can trigger lyrical memories.

  • @superoffended6737

    @superoffended6737

    Жыл бұрын

    It will see the ocean again. Once our dumbasses are out of the picture.

  • @Kahless_the_Unforgettable
    @Kahless_the_Unforgettable Жыл бұрын

    Great video. I upvoted near the beginning. Then you showed us something else amazing, and I actually tried to upvote again. To be honest, this happened a few times during the video. Granted, every time you showed us something cool, I'd look it up. So maybe my memory isn't quite as bad as it seems. I turned a 12 minute video into an hour long video doing this.

  • @SidetrackAdventures

    @SidetrackAdventures

    Жыл бұрын

    Wow, thank you.

  • @droach5241
    @droach5241 Жыл бұрын

    Adding to my list!! My Fiancé would love this trip! Thanks

  • @dennissullivan2518
    @dennissullivan2518 Жыл бұрын

    Amazing, and grateful to you for getting this information condensed down to about 9 minutes. Great work.

  • @Nuk3mB455
    @Nuk3mB455 Жыл бұрын

    Awesome video, Steve! This one might be my favorite.

  • @SidetrackAdventures

    @SidetrackAdventures

    Жыл бұрын

    Awesome, thank you!

  • @awitnessuntoallnations
    @awitnessuntoallnations Жыл бұрын

    Well done! It's always great to see things first hand. During our visit to RMNP, we found this spot to be very interesting too. Glad we found your channel! 👍

  • @SidetrackAdventures

    @SidetrackAdventures

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks. Hoping to check out more of RMNP in the future.

  • @johnrodgers1968
    @johnrodgers1968 Жыл бұрын

    That was awesome beautiful country

  • @josepep4970
    @josepep49709 ай бұрын

    Thank you Steve for such a tremendous and educational video. You did a great job of explaining to us so nice and very understanding about this great river in this great country of ours. Thanks again. JP

  • @gb8894
    @gb8894 Жыл бұрын

    Seriously wanted to tell you, that I am so pleased by your channel. KZread has gotten to the point where almost every single video annoys me, whether it be someone with annoying narration, pointless jump cuts, or general obnoxiousness, or poor quality/somehow misleading. This video did none of the above. It was exactly what was described in the title, plus good camera work, explanations, pleasant voice. Absolutely great job, keep up the good work!

  • @SidetrackAdventures

    @SidetrackAdventures

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you. I appreciate it.

  • @robertlubnau1317
    @robertlubnau1317 Жыл бұрын

    As someone who went to college in that area (University of Wyoming) you got the name of The Poudre right. Amazing area and it has been years since I have been there. Enjoy your videos, especially the history along the 8 and 10. I travel track and forth to San Antonio from SoCal and your videos help understand the history

  • @SidetrackAdventures

    @SidetrackAdventures

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you. I have a few things planned out that way but have just been waiting on it to cool down some.

  • @1STGeneral

    @1STGeneral

    Жыл бұрын

    So the French pronounced powder as in gun powder the way it was pronounced in this video ?

  • @mas5867

    @mas5867

    Жыл бұрын

    @@SidetrackAdventures when you show the map and the line draws on the map along your route, what software are you using?

  • @Tylow75

    @Tylow75

    Жыл бұрын

    I’ve never been to this area but the name is French. It means powder as in gun powder. I’m French and in French « poudre » is pronounced : poo - dr . The last E is not pronounced (unlike in Spanish).

  • @kingkrimson8771

    @kingkrimson8771

    Жыл бұрын

    @@1STGeneral Hard to come up with an exact pronunciation in text form but it sounds like poo-druh with a tongue roll on the letter d

  • @craigwhite9927
    @craigwhite9927 Жыл бұрын

    WOW!!!!!! Dude, that was SUPER cool!

  • @RoaldvdM
    @RoaldvdM4 ай бұрын

    I've been watching about 15 videos in a timespan of 2 days - they're all awesome!

  • @SidetrackAdventures

    @SidetrackAdventures

    4 ай бұрын

    Thanks! I appreciate it.

  • @InterstateKyle
    @InterstateKyle Жыл бұрын

    Interesting how you went up to the source of the Colorado from east of the divide. I always thought you would get to it easier from the west side since that's the way the river flows. Great content here! Thumbs up!

  • @SidetrackAdventures

    @SidetrackAdventures

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you. We happened to be on the eastern side so it worked out for us. it looked like driving from the west you really have to circle around everything to get to the road.

  • @hermandegroot1946
    @hermandegroot1946 Жыл бұрын

    Interesting video sir, it is astonishing for me that there is so much vegetation at an altitude of 10000 feet. In Europe you just find bare rock at this altitude. Shame that the Colorado does not reach the sea. Greetings from the Netherlands where the highest mountain is 1000 feet.

  • @mudkips8399
    @mudkips8399 Жыл бұрын

    3:12 I love how right before you get into "haven't seen any wild life yet", a little forest critter runs by in the background

  • @TheRunningFatGuy
    @TheRunningFatGuy Жыл бұрын

    Fabulous video. Than you Steve!

  • @Kobewankenobiofficial
    @Kobewankenobiofficial Жыл бұрын

    I literally camped over there at Grandview campground and walked to the headwaters as well and lulu city site in July. It’s beautiful out there man

  • @SidetrackAdventures

    @SidetrackAdventures

    Жыл бұрын

    I wish I would have time to go to the Lulu City site. At least it gives me a reason to go back.

  • @sueantoniotti8520
    @sueantoniotti8520 Жыл бұрын

    Great video. I'm glad you were able to breathe at that elevation. I was 29 when I moved to Colorado Springs and it was hard to jog.

  • @SidetrackAdventures

    @SidetrackAdventures

    Жыл бұрын

    No trouble with the elevation there. Went up higher later on and definitely got winded though.

  • @dcbrit2003
    @dcbrit20035 ай бұрын

    This is what KZread is all about. Great video and great channel

  • @AlanDayley
    @AlanDayley Жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the journey and views. I enjoyed the vicarious visit!

  • @SidetrackAdventures

    @SidetrackAdventures

    Жыл бұрын

    Our pleasure!

  • @CactusAtlas
    @CactusAtlas Жыл бұрын

    OH THIS IS FASCINATING. With our news focusing so much on what's going to happen to our water source (and a recently trip to the Hoover Dam), this really puts some perspective on things. And the landscape of Colorado... 🤩 So fascinating to see the origin of the water that ultimately carved out the Grand Canyon over time. We've been talking about going to Colorado for a while (well, we tried and kind of did recently) but I think this needs to go on the list. It just looks so ... humbling? And beautiful. Great video!

  • @SidetrackAdventures

    @SidetrackAdventures

    Жыл бұрын

    Colorado is amazing. I wish we could have stayed longer and explored more. I guess that's the problem with everywhere though, so much to see and so little time.

  • @LeftThumbBreak
    @LeftThumbBreak Жыл бұрын

    Love the scenery and music and history.

  • @RalphGuest
    @RalphGuest Жыл бұрын

    Great story, Steve. I see you sporting that SD cap. Slam Diego, baby! Just found your channel and subscribed. You have 141 videos and counting. I’m going back to the very beginning of your videos to December of 2019 at the Hawaiian villa and power watch to present day. See you at the end of the trail, partner. I left you a comment on that video introducing myself

  • @coloradomallcrawlers
    @coloradomallcrawlers Жыл бұрын

    I work the railroad line that follows the Colorado through the Rockies and really enjoyed seeing this! I also need to get back that way and film more off-road trails near Ft. Collins. Great vid!

  • @SidetrackAdventures

    @SidetrackAdventures

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you, appreciate it. I imagine the railroad through there is amazing.

  • @sjh60633
    @sjh60633 Жыл бұрын

    Amazing that it all starts with a little stream. Great content. Fantastic video.

  • @SidetrackAdventures

    @SidetrackAdventures

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you, we appreciate it.

  • @deborahlh7747
    @deborahlh7747 Жыл бұрын

    Very well done Steve. Hope you enjoyed your trip.

  • @SidetrackAdventures

    @SidetrackAdventures

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks. We did. Wish I could have stayed longer.

  • @winkie51
    @winkie51Ай бұрын

    Yay, the beginning! So interesting, thank you! It is absolutely beautiful there. I really enjoy your videos! thank you and your family, Steve!

  • @SidetrackAdventures

    @SidetrackAdventures

    Ай бұрын

    Thank you very much!

  • @jTroutuorT7034
    @jTroutuorT70342 ай бұрын

    This is a great insight. I love Colorado, lived there and fly fished all over. To see this spot is just amazing. Next visit to Colorado, I do need to get up there for sure!! Thanks!

  • @danothemano4129
    @danothemano4129 Жыл бұрын

    We first visited this beautiful area in 71, the massive changes and beetle kill is both staggering and frightening.

  • @ObamAmerican48
    @ObamAmerican48 Жыл бұрын

    I'm a native Coloradoan and it's really special to be at the headwaters of the Colorado River. It's at the base of the western side of Rocky Mountain National Park. And yes, it's Poo-der (Poudre).

  • @chasbodaniels1744

    @chasbodaniels1744

    Жыл бұрын

    I’ve wondered about that pronunciation for decades. Finally!

  • @jalexb503
    @jalexb503 Жыл бұрын

    So informative and such great delivery. I have decided that I will visit here because of your video. Thank you very much!!

  • @davidhook487
    @davidhook4879 ай бұрын

    Great stuff! Thanks so much! Love your videos and very informative! Keep them coming !

  • @markbridge_music1
    @markbridge_music1 Жыл бұрын

    Great video and content-thanks for your work putting this together and sharing! Mark

  • @DreamcastQ
    @DreamcastQ Жыл бұрын

    Beautiful video, I haven't been up there in many years, might be time for a trip

  • @SidetrackAdventures

    @SidetrackAdventures

    Жыл бұрын

    You should if you get the chance. Aside from a few park rangers and someone from the water district we were the only ones around.

  • @zHumanfactor
    @zHumanfactor2 ай бұрын

    I have greatly enjoyed your videos. You are a natural host. Very informative, well-researched, and well-delivered. Thank you for all the time you dedicate to your channel, it is much appeciated.

  • @atcjoe1600
    @atcjoe1600 Жыл бұрын

    One little piece of this beautiful country ! Thanks for sharing.

  • @SidetrackAdventures

    @SidetrackAdventures

    Жыл бұрын

    Our pleasure!

  • @jagz926
    @jagz926 Жыл бұрын

    I really enjoy all your videos, but this one is extra cool. Thanks for sharing!

  • @SidetrackAdventures

    @SidetrackAdventures

    Жыл бұрын

    Glad you enjoy it!

  • @oxigenarian9763
    @oxigenarian9763 Жыл бұрын

    Yes - as a long time Coloradoan who lived where your video goes, it's pronounced, "poo-der". Locals don't use the full name, Cache La Poudre, we just call it "the Poudre River". It's is beautiful up there and have hunted and cross country skied that area many times...

  • @kurtloptien185

    @kurtloptien185

    Жыл бұрын

    So true, all of us old Larimer County kin. And for those who don't speak french, the name "Cache la Poudre" translates to "powder cache". The French trappers named it such and apparently cached their gun powder in the area. The Poudre is one of the few rivers along the Front Range to be designated a "Wild and Scenic River", as it is not dammed. Thanks for the vid!

  • @mlss1229
    @mlss1229 Жыл бұрын

    I lived in Colorado for 8 years. As we headed west (from Denver highway 70 to San Diego destination) we stopped near Glenwood Springs at a rest stop next to Colorado river what a beautiful and mighty river, it was flowing very rapidly and the view surrounding it was spectacular😊❤.

  • @bisket2003
    @bisket2003 Жыл бұрын

    This is great! Thank You for making this! Wit all the lake Mead talk as of late, I hopped on maps a month or so back and started to explore this very subject.

  • @tweitner
    @tweitner Жыл бұрын

    When I lived in Colorado, I'd go from Castle Rock to Fort Collins and then on Highway 14 to my fishing spot. Yeah, it took 2-3 hours to get there, but the drive through the Poudre River canyon and over Cameron Pass was worth the trip. I'd end up at Ranger Lakes which has spectacular scenery. I was devastated to hear about the Cameron Pass wildfire a few years ago.

  • @jimijefferson82

    @jimijefferson82

    Жыл бұрын

    When I lived in Colorado I bedded more broads than I expected the view was amazing mounds and gorges I went back for seconds it was spectacular. I heard about the beaver bush fire a few years ago, I was happy to hear that thing got a trim it was overgrown.

  • @ck-qs1xl
    @ck-qs1xl Жыл бұрын

    Every river and creek where I grew up I explored the headwaters of for fishing purposes mostly and discovered tributary after tributary builds these rivers into what they become

  • @williamjones7163
    @williamjones7163 Жыл бұрын

    Thanks for this video. I lived in Arizona for 36 years so I benefited greatly from the Colorado River. I just never knew where it started other than in Colorado.

  • @retirednavy8720
    @retirednavy8720 Жыл бұрын

    I grew up in that area. If you drive Hwy 14 at either dawn or dusk you will see hundreds of mule deer and elk and possibly bighorn sheep. If you didn't see any game then you were in the middle of the day.

  • @HikingWithShawn
    @HikingWithShawn Жыл бұрын

    It reminds me of the Mississippi River. The starting point of it is a small creek that me and you could walk across. But if you get in it where I live in Southern Illinois, it'll take you with it. Great video, really enjoyed it!

  • @SidetrackAdventures

    @SidetrackAdventures

    Жыл бұрын

    I'm always surprised at how wide the Mississippi gets because I'm so used to our western rivers.

  • @godfatherd349

    @godfatherd349

    Жыл бұрын

    @@SidetrackAdventures the Mississippi river is a beast

  • @ETAisNOW

    @ETAisNOW

    Жыл бұрын

    Mississippi queen, you know what I mean..

  • @roefamily
    @roefamily Жыл бұрын

    Some facts... the Green River in Utah contributes more water to the Colorado river as does the Gunnison River which flows thru Gunnison Colorado so where does the Colorado River really start

  • @SidetrackAdventures

    @SidetrackAdventures

    Жыл бұрын

    Up until 1921 it started where the Green River meets it but after some politics they declared the Grand River as part of the Colorado.

  • @jamesgantner6809

    @jamesgantner6809

    Жыл бұрын

    The Gunnison River flows into the Colorado at the town of ......Grand Junction. The Gunnison River starts about 10 miles north of Gunnison the town, at Almont, where the East and Taylor rivers meet..

  • @TheCrappieReports
    @TheCrappieReports Жыл бұрын

    Great video, thank you for your travels to bring this to us all. It truly is a beautiful America...

  • @SidetrackAdventures

    @SidetrackAdventures

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you.

  • @karlek67
    @karlek67 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you for doing this for those 0f us who cannot travel.

  • @jerroldkazynski5480
    @jerroldkazynski5480 Жыл бұрын

    Nice! I'm in Idaho near where the Snake and Missouri Rivers begin. And the Yellowstone, etc! The world's humans settled along rivers.

  • @twostop6895

    @twostop6895

    Жыл бұрын

    lol, all of Idaho is west of the Continental divide your statement is a huge miss, the Missouri river starts in Montana east of the Divide, and the Snake River starts in in Wyoming in Yellowstone

  • @jerroldkazynski5480

    @jerroldkazynski5480

    Жыл бұрын

    @@twostop6895 the rivers I mention all begin in the MT, WY, ID juncture, a few hours drive for me. So yeah, I'm near, telling a guy out of San Diego

  • @DrJohn493
    @DrJohn493 Жыл бұрын

    Loved this video finding the Colorado River headwaters. I've sampled the fly fishing on a short section of the La Poudre but never traced the headwaters. I've explored the source of the Rio Grande and Arkansas Rivers headwaters but haven't ventured to the source of the Colorado River...yet. Thanks for some great Colorado scenery. Too, a great tribute to a very important western river.

  • @ericligotke3542
    @ericligotke35424 ай бұрын

    About 25 years ago I drove my Toyota Corolla (81) up the long draw road in May. There was so much snow that spring in the northern mountains. Pretty soon I was driving in one lane that was carved out between 12 feet of snow on each side. Felt like I was in a slit canyon, and I worried that the walls could cave in! I hit a point where they’d stopped plowing and fortunately they carved in a turnaround spot. One of the best drives I ever had!

  • @ericligotke3542

    @ericligotke3542

    4 ай бұрын

    Edit: slot canyon

  • @DesertCruiser1
    @DesertCruiser1 Жыл бұрын

    Nice video, well done. I've been to Granby, CO and new it began up there somewhere. The Grand Ditch was something completely new to me. Thanks again for your quality presentation!!

  • @bluedragonfruitnursery
    @bluedragonfruitnursery Жыл бұрын

    Amazing you went to the origin of the Colorado River. Thank you for showing us and we hope to go there one day to this historical landmark.

  • @elizabethbogle3533
    @elizabethbogle3533 Жыл бұрын

    I love Colorado; thanks for sharing this!

  • @penboyasgod6103
    @penboyasgod6103 Жыл бұрын

    I spent most of my childhood in Colorado --- we lived in Golden. I will forever appreciate Autumn colors to my grave because of living in Colorado.

  • @bruceengland9140
    @bruceengland9140 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you for showing our grand state and its beauty. I spend most of my time mountaineering 14ers, but have been to the head waters of the Colorado from Hwy 34, north.

  • @prafter7
    @prafter7 Жыл бұрын

    Thanks for this informative video. I am in UK and teaching my Grandchildren about rivers. One is the Colorado and this video does the job. Thanks. Keep safe.

  • @SidetrackAdventures

    @SidetrackAdventures

    Жыл бұрын

    Glad it was helpful! I saw a video recently on the source of the Thames was amazed at that, having only seen it as it goes through London.

  • @stakknation123
    @stakknation123 Жыл бұрын

    Love my state still haven't explored it enough

  • @bbauer53
    @bbauer53 Жыл бұрын

    Beautifully informative! Thank you!

  • @ferrari_guy3570
    @ferrari_guy3570 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much for this video!!! I want to go to the start of the Colorado River this summer.

  • @mbunds
    @mbunds Жыл бұрын

    Awesome!!! Thank you for taking us to visit these headwaters!

  • @marct9587
    @marct9587 Жыл бұрын

    I've not hiked all the way up, but I've been there on US 34 where it runs along the river. At that location, the Colorado is a beautiful, clear mountain stream, and the surrounding vegetation is gorgeous.

  • @christinasmith984
    @christinasmith98410 ай бұрын

    You did an amazing job on this video. It was very informative and entertaining to watch.

  • @picklerix6162
    @picklerix6162 Жыл бұрын

    I traveled this route along the Poudre River many years ago. It’s very beautiful up there.