Almont
A tiny river town where the Taylor and East rivers join to become the Gunnison.
About Almont
Almont is a small unincorporated community at about 8,000 feet in Gunnison County, roughly 10 miles north of Gunnison on Highway 135 on the way to Crested Butte. It sits at the confluence of the Taylor River and the East River, which meet here to form the Gunnison River.
The settlement is mostly resorts, cabins and fishing access, and it's the gateway to Taylor Canyon and Taylor Park Reservoir. For a landscape photographer it's a natural base for river scenes, canyon walls and the broad ranch valleys between Gunnison and Crested Butte.
Autumn is especially rewarding, when cottonwoods along the rivers and aspens up the side valleys turn gold.
A small community at the confluence of the Taylor and East Rivers, just north of Gunnison, where spring runoff genuinely swells both channels into a fast, photogenic tangle of moving water. The confluence itself makes for a naturally strong compositional anchor point — two distinct currents meeting in one frame, which is a harder effect to find than a single river alone.
History
Almont was platted in 1881 on the Fisher Ranch, and its post office opened on March 6, 1882. According to local lore, Samuel Fisher named the town after Almont of Kentucky, a horse that sired his favorite stallion. In the late 1800s, miners hauled ore down to Almont for shipment by rail to Gunnison. Today the community is small, with a modest year-round population and a couple of four-season resorts.
Photographing Almont
Best light: Early mornings bring mist and calm water along the rivers, and late September to early October lights up the cottonwoods and aspens. Sunset paints the canyon walls of Taylor Canyon east of town.
Shots to look for
- The confluence of the Taylor and East rivers with cottonwoods in fall color
- Taylor Canyon walls and river bends from roadside pullouts, 24-70mm
- Anglers in the river at first light, telephoto for compression
- Ranchland and fences along CO 135 with distant peaks toward Crested Butte
Photo tips
- Much riverside land is private; use public pullouts and fishing access points
- A polarizer cuts glare on the water and deepens fall color
- Watch for deer and other wildlife on the highway at dawn and dusk
- Nights get cold fast at 8,000 feet even in summer; pack layers
Know before you go
- Almont is unincorporated with limited services; Gunnison has full amenities
- Respect private property along the rivers
- Fishing requires a Colorado fishing license
Prints from Almont
Every photo is available as a print on metal, canvas, wood or fine art paper.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Almont, Colorado?
About 10 miles north of Gunnison on Highway 135, where the Taylor and East rivers meet to form the Gunnison River.
How did Almont get its name?
By local account, Samuel Fisher named it after Almont of Kentucky, a horse that sired his favorite stallion.
Featured in: Best Fall Color Spots in Colorado
Combine it with
Crested Butte · Gunnison · Taylor Park Reservoir · Ohio Pass (The Castles Overlook)
More Colorado spots
Hope Pass · Brainard Lake Recreation Area · Keenesburg (Wild Animal Sanctuary)
Sources & further reading: en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org. Conditions, fees and rules change; check with the managing agency before you go.