Flying Colorado's Dolores River

Dolores River near the city of Dove Creek, CO.

Dark brown color on sectionals, indicating high elevations, used to worry us. After all, our Zenith 601HDS has a Rotax 912 engine whose 80 hp output at sea level rapidly declines with altitude. For example, for 14,000 ft altitude at 45 deg F, density altitude is 16,500 ft; Rotax engine output then drops from 80 hp to 30 hp. But maybe flying with minimal luggage and without a passenger, the plane could be coaxed to the higher elevations. This summer, we tested that idea on an extended trip to Colorado. This post is the first of two reporting the results.

We fly to Grants, NM, to meet the FBO again, this time consisting of three very friendly and helpful persons: Ray, Lynn, and Rory. Grants always has hangar space available and allows a very early departure: We just open the hangar, pull out the plane to get under a strong ramp light, preflight, and take off, without anybody else in attendance. 

Shortly after landing at Grants, Rory points out a plane in the distance. It is a V-22 Osprey of the US Marines. They frequently practice pattern work at the airport. We are in for a sight. First, the plane comes in from the east and sinks slowly onto the runway near the threshold.

V-22 Osprey at end of Grants, NM, runway.

The huge propeller blades whirl up the sand of the desert, but nobody minds. Residential housing is far away, and the airport folks love the spectacle. Then the bird lifts off, flies the pattern, and lands again.

V-22 Osprey in the pattern.

They repeat this process several times. We can only conjecture that they have a number of pilots on board, and they take turns landing the massive aircraft.

The next day we lift off just after sunrise and head north to Cortez, CO, 130 nm away. The eastern sun lights up the sandstone formations of the mesa.

Mesa north of Grants, NM.

Just before Cortez, we pass the west boundary of Mesa Verde National Park. Unfortunately, the sun from the east prevents us from making out cliff dwellings. 

We are ready for the main event of the day: Tracking most of the Dolores River. Its headwaters are the West Fork and East Fork, each beginning 40 nm NE of Cortez. They merge into the McPhee reservoir at Dolores, 15 nm north of Cortez. Roughly half of the water is used for irrigation in fertile fields. The rest begins a long and convoluted journey north and eventually drains into the Colorado River 85 nm away as the crow flies. 

Dolores River, CO. Map by Shannon1. Licensed under CC 2.5 Generic.

We follow the river for the 70 nm, starting north of the McPhee reservoir.

Route goes north along Dolores River, veers NE across a mountain ridge and then SE to Montrose, CO.

The terrain is low enough that we can fly at 10,000 ft and see everything in great detail. We have reached that altitude climbing 100-200 ft/min with a low power setting. Generally, it feels that the plane likes to climb, giving us confidence that we could go much higher.

The river cuts deep chasms into mesas, crosses valleys, and eventually joins the Colorado River in a wide valley. The title photo shows how deep the river has carved into the mesa.

In the northern portion, the river has eroded over eons a meandering chasm with tight turns.

Northern portion of Dolores River.

At the hamlet of Gateway, CO, the Dolores Rivers turns NW and after 15 nm enters the Colorado River. We skip tracing that portion of the Dolores River, and instead go NE into another canyon formed by the West Creek. After 30 nm, we exit into the broad valley of the Gunnison River. Turning SE, we reach the airport of Montrose, CO, in 40 nm. This marks the end of the Dolores River trip.

The FBO of the Montrose airport is named Atlantic Aviation, a somewhat strange choice. But nothing else is strange about that operation. After landing, we taxi slowly southbound, hoping for a sign indicating the FBO. Suddenly, Ken of Atlantic Aviation comes on the UNICOM frequency and asks about our intentions. He then directs us to the right hangar, arranges for refueling, and generally makes us feel welcome. What a pleasant surprise! 

It turns out that everybody working at the FBO radiates helpfulness and friendliness. It's just one super operation. The sign over the door confirms this with statistics.

Atlantic FBO at Montrose, CO, airport.

Not to be misunderstood: Atlantic Aviation's main business are large twins and business jets. Experimental planes and other single engine planes are small potatoes for them. But regardless of size, everybody receives first-rate service. It's great that the personnel have that attitude. It is a reminder how wonderful visiting airports can be. I said so when I thanked the good people there.

The Hampton Inn where we had booked a room turned out to be just 200 ft away, and personnel there were just as helpful. So stopping at Montrose altogether turned into a great experience.

The next day, we took off on a more complicated flight. It's a longer story, so we cover it in a separate post.

We thought we knew Colorado quite well. This is surely correct for car travel. But in the air, we were surprised and awed by the unexpected beauty and serenity of the landscape.

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