KUSA — From Interstate 70, it doesn’t look like too much, just an outcropping of buildings and trailers surrounding a paved street that eventually turns into a dirt road.
But, just above the busy stretch of highway between Vail and Glenwood Springs is what’s technically Colorado’s only active volcano … and flowing across the interstate and toward the Eagle River is evidence of a lava flow that existed in such recent history that there were actually people in Colorado.
Dotsero isn’t technically a city or town – it’s a census-designated place – but it has a storied history and a pretty great distillery to keep you entertained while you wait for the volcano to blow (spoiler alert: it probably won’t anytime soon).
This story is part of our weekly #9Neighborhoods series. Check out the 9NEWS Instagram at noon on Friday for a photo tour of Dotsero and the volcano. Have an idea for what neighborhood to explore next? Drop us a line at webteam@9news.com!
Railroads and volcanoes that remind you of soothing soft rock
Dotsero is located along I-70 west of Vail but east of Glenwood Canyon. On one side is the Eagle River and on the other is the volcano … and we’ll get to that later.
The reason why Dotsero exists, similar to many other Colorado towns, is the railroad. Basically, back in the day, getting from Salt Lake City to Denver required a detour through the Royal Gorge and up north through Pueblo. If that sounds inefficient, it’s because it is.
Meanwhile, there was another railroad line that extended from Denver west through the Moffatt Tunnel, to the Colorado River and to Craig, where it ended.
One railroad company had the brilliant idea of connecting these two lines, and where that happened was known as the Dotsero Cut-Off – which is also, at least according to lore, how this community got its name. Basically, the surveyors listed this point as 0.0, and the creative name stuck.
Another fun fact? There’s a railroad junction called Orestod near Bond on the other end of the Dotsero Cutoff. Orestod spelled backwards is Dotsero … so obviously, the railroad’s got jokes.
Pre-dating the railroad, of course, is the volcano.
It erupted as recently as 4,150 years ago – and because of that, is technically considered “active,” since it was within 10,000 years. In fact, the USGS lists the Dotsero volcano’s threat as “moderate,” but don’t let that scare you.
There’s no evidence whatsoever it’s going to erupt again anytime soon. You won’t see bubbling magma or even steam rising from the Earth’s surface. All that remains of the volcano is a crater that’s around 2,460 feet across and 250 feet deep, as well as a lava flow that I-70 cuts right through.
You can even see volcanic rock on the side of the Eagle River in the area.
And, as for that eruption itself, Dotsero is called a “maar volcano.” What this means is the eruption occurred when ground water came in contact with hot magma beneath the surface of the Earth creating a reaction similar to a pressure cooker, burying nearby trees in ash and rock.
To cut to the chase, this isn’t Mount St. Helens or a volcano you’ll see in Hawaii. Local writer Allen Best probably had the best description of it: “the Barry Manilow of volcanoes.”
What’s there to do in Dotsero?
While the Kardashians have been to Vail, it’s highly likely that they have been anywhere near Dotsero … something that’s got to be a draw.
But, with that being said, Dotsero doesn’t have Vail-like amenities. There’s not a post office, a grocery store or even a gas station. In fact, there’s just a collection of trailers on both sides of the highway and some private homes near the river.
The top industry in Dotsero for decades consisted of making cinder blocks out of the volcano.
And while there’s been talk of developing their stretch of the Eagle River Valley, the fact remains there still simply isn’t much at the exit.
One thing you can find? The Stoneyard Distillery, which opened in late summer 2014 and is known for making alcohol out of Colorado beet sugar. It was founded by two pilots on land that used to be part of a quarry (hence the name).
The tasting room is open from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays.
Beyond this, of course, are plentiful opportunities for outdoor recreation. There’s ample fly fishing along the Eagle River, as well as hiking on the other side of the highway.
You can hike up the dirt road toward the crater (it’s also drivable in a minivan) as well as drop into the rim itself.
In terms of camping, Dotsero is near the White River National Forest – which has ample opportunities for camping and hiking.
