Colorado Gold Rush: Chasing Fall Colors on a Budget

Colorado Gold Rush: Chasing Fall Colors on a Budget

Tiny Planet Fall Colors Celebration

Sometimes the best adventures are the ones you almost don't take. We were feeling the pinch of high gas prices, but the call of Colorado's fall colors was too strong to ignore. So, we made a pact: we would chase this epic trip in my tiny Rav4. That meant four days of the two of us (and my 6'3" husband, Todd!) sleeping in the back. We survived, we didn't kill each other, and we had one of the most delightful and breathtaking trips of our lives. This is the story of that adventure, of following hints from fellow creators, finding our own hidden gems, and capturing a truly priceless moment with a fearless bird.

The Golden Nugget 🌟

Don't Miss This: The Camp Robber Jay! In the VR video, you get to experience having a bird land directly on your head! We had a fearless little bird land on the 360 camera twice while filming. It's an unscripted, magical moment and one of the coolest things I've ever captured.

TRANSPORT YOURSELF TO COLORFUL COLORADO

Are you missing fall already? Luckily, I caught some of the most gorgeous fall footage in Southwest Colorado so you can enjoy the colors anytime. Just grab your VR headset and transport yourself on this fun new VR Getaway for a great boost from nature. Experience the Million Dollar Highway, the glow of aspen leaves, and the magic of the mountains.

"...what we didn't expect, is while I had the camera running hoping for that bird to land on Todd's head, it landed on the 360 camera... so in VR you get to have an experience of having a bird land on your head!"

Cinematic Tiny Planet Version

I love the Kinetic Text in this video, and the Driving Tiny Planets and Slot Canyon Waterfall shots are really something so fun and unique that if you give them a chance they have a big probability of winning your heart.  It was created as also a fun celebration of 35 year that Todd and I have been together!  Of course we have been through tough times, and it hasn't been all roses, but the victory of making it through the rough times and having such a strong and happy marriage after that long is somethng I am really happy about.  

 

Adventure at a Glance

• 🏞️ Region: Southwest Colorado (Telluride, Ouray, Uncompahgre National Forest)
• 🚶‍♀️ Activity: Scenic Driving, Hiking, Fishing, Bird Taming!
• ⭐ Shauna's Rating: 💎💎💎💎💎 (5 out of 5 Diamonds)
• ☀️ Best For: Peak fall colors (aspens), wildlife encounters, dramatic mountain views.
• ⏳ Best Time: Late September to early October for peak fall foliage.
• 🧭 Can't-Miss Sights: Dallas Divide, Million Dollar Highway, Alta Lakes, a very friendly Camp Robber Jay.

Our Budget Fall Adventure Story

Our trip started with inspiration from photographer Ryan Smith's blog, and from there, we just explored. We poked around every road near Telluride, drove up to Ouray, and then took on the legendary Million Dollar Highway. The views were breathtaking. Despite the tight quarters in our Rav4, we had a blast and even added three more lakes to our "100 Fish at 100 Lakes Challenge."

The most amazing moment happened north of Telluride. We stopped to admire a view and a cute bird, a Camp Robber Jay, started hanging around. We fed him some bread, and he was so fearless that Todd decided to put a piece on his head to see if the bird would land there. I got the camera rolling, and what happened next was pure magic. The bird flew down, but instead of landing on Todd, it landed directly on top of my 360 camera—twice! I was worried it would scratch the lens, but it survived! The bird eventually did land on Todd's head, but the shot of it on the camera means that when you watch in VR, you get to feel like a wild bird has just landed on your own head. It was an incredible, unscripted gift.

Your Colorado Fall Colors Guide

• ♦️ Our Route: We focused on the areas around Telluride and Ouray, including Alta Lakes, Trout Lake, Dallas Divide, Owl Creek Pass, and Silver Jack Reservoir. The drive down the Million Dollar Highway from Ouray is a must-do.
• ♦️ Google Map List: To make it easy for you, I created a Google Map list with all the amazing spots we visited! Download an offline map of the area, and you're ready for your adventure: My Google Map List of Colorful Colorado
• ♦️ Vehicle Choice: While many roads are 4x4, our little Rav4 handled most of the spots we flagged. Always know your vehicle's limits and check road conditions, especially for high passes like Owl Creek.
• ♦️ Budget Travel Works!: Don't let a small budget or not having a big camper van stop you. With a little creativity and a good attitude, you can have an absolutely epic road trip.

VR Video Treasure Hunt!

• 🔎 The Bird Landing: Find the incredible, unscripted moment where the Camp Robber Jay lands directly on the camera, making it feel like it's landing on you!
• 🔎 The Leaf Shower: Can you find the magical, authentic moment where the fall leaves started raining down on me?
• 🔎 Chimney Rock Drone Shot: Look for Todd's spectacular drone footage of the iconic Chimney Rock formation.
• 🔎 Golden Hour Drive: Can you see the footage of us driving down a narrow dirt road while the golden hour sun makes the yellow aspen leaves glow?

Poem from the Tiny Planet Version

They call it Colorful Colorado.

A fleeting, beautiful blaze, a final, brilliant breath of summer,

painted across canyon and peak before the long, quiet rest.

We trace the million-dollar highway,

a tiny planet spinning through gold and green.

The world bends around us, a sphere of wonder,

as patchwork mountains reflect in lakes, serene.

Thirty-five autumns we've seen this world turn,

chasing the light, chasing the sun.

This year a smaller vessel, a tighter space,

A test of will, a lesson in grace.

You slept diagonal, I curled up small,

But our laughter was big enough to fill it all.

We found the cosmos through the moon roof's glass,

Vowing to let the little moments last.

A promise renewed as the autumn colors burned,

The greatest adventures are the lessons learned.

It’s a season of breathtaking change,

this slow cascade, a lesson in the grace of letting go.

We watch the leaves surrender in a vortex of light,

a golden fall, soft and slow.

We hear it in the crunch under our feet,

the whisper of grass as we pass,

a tangible peace in the sound, a feeling that lasts.

But this path wasn't always gold and bright,

We've known the valley's coldest night.

Stood at a crossroads, torn apart,

But learned to trust a stubborn heart.

And chose the climb, back to the start.

So the most vibrant colors, the ones that truly hold,

are not just in the turning of the leaves.

They are in the journey we share, a story to be told.

In a hand held tight against the mountain air,

a quiet cuddle on a cliffside high,

a tender moment reflected in your eye.

This is the view that outshines the sky.

In the canyons, water carves the stone...

a constant, steady tune. A

world of falling water, spinning on its own. 

This love, like the aspens, only grows more golden with time.

A shared path, a steady, joyful climb.

And in the quiet moments, by a lake still as glass,

you find the reflections are what truly last.

Not just the mountain, perfect in the water below,

but a memory of shared wonder, a steady, gentle glow.

A final, brilliant color against the coming white,

A shared breath held in the fading light.

Thirty-five seasons of this beautiful blaze,

Reflected forever, in your loving gaze.

Conclusion

This road trip was such a delight, filled with stunning colors and unexpected moments of magic. From squeezing into our tiny car to being visited by a fearless new friend, it was a powerful reminder that the best adventures often happen when you embrace spontaneity. I hope as you watch this journey on your VR headset, you feel like you've been transported on a mini-vacation that was not only stress-free but also filled with a positive boost from the beauty of nature.

Sending Love and Positive Vibes,

Shauna from VRGetaways