I routinely drive along the Arkansas River on my way to or from Gunnison, CO where all three of my kids went/are attending Western Colorado University. It’s a beautiful drive in all seasons. I try to make the time to stop along the drive to appreciate the diverse scenes over and between the mountain passes.

The Arkansas River isn’t very big, but it runs though a gorgeous valley that is popular with fishermen, rafters, hikers, campers, and anyone looking for a little respite in the outdoors. As I drive south on CO-24 and look out my driver’s window at the river rushing by in a blur, this is what it looks like. I see the churning waters, the riverbank covered in golden fall grasses, the black line of the railroad tracks, and more brush climbing the hill beyond. This is Chromascape 042. ~ Marc