Life is what it is. We are chasing the all-mighty dollar. The cost of living has increased, and it seems that more and more, the world insists on keeping us at home and being a slave to the system.
Milky Way photography allows us to have a brief respite from all of that. We hit the road and travel to a remote location to enjoy a few moments away from the hustle and bustle of life.
Bonus points if our chosen spot has no cell service.
OFF TO COLORADO
I have been fighting the same rat race everyone else has, but I finally saw an opening to head to southern Colorado. The weather forecast was right, and the location was right.
The Spanish Peaks region of southern Colorado has been a low-key photography favorite of mine for some time. After spending a couple of years back in the 2010s fishing the area, I have returned several times for photography-centric trips. The first one was a senior photography session during the fall. The other trip was a real estate shoot.
But I have never had the opportunity to shoot the Milky Way there.
ABOUT THE AREA
The Spanish Peaks region is northwest of Trinidad and southwest of Pueblo. There are several small lakes in the area that are tourist draws during the summer. Many recreational homes dot the landscape. Small communities such as La Veta and Cuchara are scattered about, offering some amenities. The area lakes range from elevations of around 8000′ to over 10,000′, and the area mountain peaks top out over 13,000′ in elevation.
Several campgrounds are scattered throughout, ranging from free to $25 a night. There are also some private options available. A traveler can also find several spots to boondock if they wish. Caution, though, this area is packed throughout the summer. The area falls under the purview of the Pike and San Cristobal National Forests.
night photography basics
The area is classified as a Bortle Class 2 sky. One issue that I did notice was that while creating a basic night shoot facing north, the light pollution from Pueblo, approximately 60 miles away as the crow flies, made a big impact on the image. This problem will not be present while photographing the Milky Way.
Cell service tends to be very limited in the area, especially away from the towns. Download maps and have your plans ready to go before heading up.
The other thing to be aware of is the weather. Even in summer, the evenings are cool. The winds are fairly active, especially around the mountain passes. Years ago, during my annual August trip, I ran into a hunter a few hours after a hunt. He had been on the side of one of the mountains about 12,000′. I was at 10,000′. While we got rained on, he got rained on, snowed on and hailed on all at the same time.
NORTH LAKE
North Lake is a popular recreation location due to its location along the highway. During the day, many people will line the banks fishing, while non-motorized watercraft will be trolling the waters. Nighttime can usually be a little different. My lone non-summer time experience, there was no one there. During the summer, I really did not have to contend with people.
I did make a last quick trip there a few weeks ago, focused on fishing. My photography plan included a time-lapse of the lake at night. Not long after everyone had left the lake at sunset, and I was there by myself, two vehicle loads of young kids being chaperoned by irresponsible adults decided to cram in next to me, even overrunning my little space of the lake. Mind you, we were the only ones there. After about an hour of the total lack of respect, I packed my stuff up and left.
All in all, North Lake is a good location as it is easy to get to, the lake provides a good foreground and the sky is dark.
CORDOVA PASS
During this particular trip, I decided to take a shot up at Cordova Pass. While it may sound minor, I have grown accustomed to having a personal best when it comes to high altitude Milky Way photography. This started several years ago in New Mexico, once I realized that elevation plays a big part in the clarity of the sky.
Up until this trip, my personal high elevation best was 10,000′ from a 2020 trip to the Bristlecone Pine Forest. I had been eyeing this particular area of Colorado as the next location for an elevation record.
Cordova Pass checks in at 11,260′. While the location was fairly basic, the Milky Way lined up with the sign at the pass. The image scores a perfect 5 Stars for touristy Milky Way image, but I will take it.
conclusion
The North Lake, Cuchara area of southern Colorado is a great place to go Milky Way photographing. There are plenty of shots to be had. The area is somewhat remote, so make sure you have gassed up before leaving LaVeta or Trinidad. I still have more exploring to do in the area and hope to return next year.
STANLEY’S GEAR LIST
- NIKON 750
- NIKON Z6 III
- TOKINA 16-28 F/2.8
- THINK TANK BACKLIGHT 40L
- VANGUARD ALTA TRIPOD
- MILKY WAY PHOTOGRAPHERS SWAG
The proprietor of Milky Way Photographers, Stanley is an experienced photographer living in the Oklahoma Panhandle. With experience creating Milky Way Images across the American West, Stanley wants to bring and inspire others to create. Stanley is also a licensed real estate agent with Arrowhead Land Company.
