Grand Mesa

Is the largest flat-topped mountain in the world with an area of about 500 square miles. From Grand Junction I headed east on I-70 to Highway 65 where you climb from ~6,000 feet to over 10,000 feet in elevation. After spending the winter in Arizona and the spring in Moab where the primary color is tan, it was a pleasant change of scenery to see so much green...

At the top of the mountain I headed over to the Lands End Observatory where you get a panoramic view of the valley below. There were dozens of chipmunks around the stone walls and they are so use to people that they will literally eat out of your hand...

From the Observatory I took a very crooked dirt road down the mountain to Highway 50...

And along the way went through some beautiful aspen forests...

As most of you know, landscape photos taken from the tops of mountains never capture the true feeling of what the eye is able to take-in so this is one of those drives that you have to take to fully appreciate.