Help identifying eastern CO trail

[NotaTRD]

This is probably a long shot, but any of our CO members able to identify this trail or scenery in the photos below? We were visiting my wife’s family in Grand Junction back in August 2008 and they took us on this trail (somewhere around Mesa?) that I recall began with a rocky archway and eventually lead up to a snowy summit and then back down the backside of the summit which lead to a little town. There were a lot of old rundown shacks from long ago, which I imagine aren’t unique to this part of CO. I’ve tried reaching out to my wife’s family to see is they remembered but they since moved out of the country and have lost contact. Any help in identifying the name of this trail is greatly appreciated.

 

[NotaTRD]

Found a few more photos

 

[MAST4R]

I have not driven Imogene but it sounds like it. You would have started Ouray, passed the archway, turned left crossing the creek, driven through what now is a rocky section, a waterfall, climbed above 13,000 ft, passed Tomboy and ended in Telluride.

The very first picture you have shows the Black Bear switchbacks from the Imogene Pass side of the mountain/Tomboy Rd. I was puzzled for a moment because that is the one perspective I have not seen in person (from the Tomboy side).

HOWEVER, the Red Mountains picture, the third from the bottom in the second post, has nothing to do with Imogene Pass at all. It is nearly identical to one I took from Spirit Gulch former 4x4 road in 2016. It is currently a hike, not sure if it was still a trail in 2008.

At a minimum, you have pictures from 2 completely different roads. The Red Mountains picture can also simply be from 550.

It is possible that most are from Imogene, which is one of a few trails I have not yet driven in the area.

 

[NotaTRD]

It is possible there are pictures of different places mixed in on my computer file and I may have confused them for the same day/trail. There was indeed a creek crossing after a left turn that I remember and have a picture of. There are also several pictures of small waterfalls that I’ve come across, so it does sound like Imogene may be it! I’ll do some searching on YouTube of Imogene pass to see if I can confirm further. Thank you, you’ve provided me with some good information!

 

[MAST4R]

It is possible there are pictures of different places mixed in on my computer file and I may have confused them for the same day/trail. There was indeed a creek crossing after a left turn that I remember and have a picture of. There are also several pictures of small waterfalls that I’ve come across, so it does sound like Imogene may be it! I’ll do some searching on YouTube of Imogene pass to see if I can confirm further. Thank you, you’ve provided me with some good information!

If you passed 13,000 ft, it is definitely Imogene. California comes close to 13,000 but it is just a tad lower.