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Million Dollar Highway, Ouray, CO

Photo: Mike McBey, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

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Million Dollar Highway

Drive a cliff-hugging stretch of U.S. 550 over Red Mountain Pass between the mountain towns of Ouray and Silverton.

US-550 between Ouray and Silverton · Ouray, CO

About Million Dollar Highway

The Million Dollar Highway is the stretch of U.S. 550 that runs about 25 miles between Ouray and Silverton in the San Juan Mountains. The drive climbs through the Uncompahgre Gorge on narrow lanes with steep cliffs and no guardrails, then tops out at Red Mountain Pass at 11,018 feet. Along the way you pass headframes and ghost town remains from the Red Mountain Mining District. It is part of the 236-mile San Juan Skyway, and it pays to check winter road conditions before you go.

  • #scenic drive
  • #mountain pass
  • #san juan mountains
  • #ghost towns
  • #road trip

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What's around here?

The closest stops to Million Dollar Highway, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Tours
    Outdoor Adventure

    Telluride Outside

    $50+

    A Telluride guide company on West Colorado Avenue running 4x4, fly fishing, rafting, snowmobile and paddleboard tours.

    Transit: reachable by public transit

    6.1 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Sightseeing

    Telluride Visitors Center

    No admission fee

    Visit Telluride's visitor center on West Colorado Avenue, where staff help with general information and lodging and activity reservations.

    Transit: reachable by public transit

    6.1 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Stay
    Outdoor Adventure

    Red Mountain Motel & RV Park

    Under $25

    A family-run motel, cabins, and RV park in Silverton catering to off-road and winter recreation visitors.

    6.8 mi awaySwitch it up: Stay

  • Sports & Outdoors
    Outdoor Adventure

    Telluride Ski Resort

    $50+

    Ski and snowboard more than 2,000 acres of San Juan terrain in winter, then ride the free gondola to bike, hike and zipline in summer.

    Transit: reachable by public transit

    7.7 mi awayMore like this

  • Sports & Outdoors

    Ridgway State Park

    Under $25

    A year-round state park beside Ridgway Reservoir, at the foot of the San Juan Mountains in southwestern Colorado.

    22 mi awayMore like this

  • Sports & Outdoors
    Outdoor Adventure

    Soaring Tree Top Adventures

    $50+

    A zipline canopy tour near Durango reached only by historic train, with 27 spans across the San Juan Mountains.

    23 mi awayMore like this

Near Million Dollar Highway

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