When I was a kid, my family took us on a trip over the Million Dollar Highway. It was such an adventure, and I still remember bits of it even now, decades later! When I came back for my last two visits, the drive still had that special charm and beauty, though it wasn’t quite as scary as it was the first time around (probably because I was only five then and much of the road has been improved since those early days). If you get a little nervous on a narrow, winding road with steep drops, there’s still that thrill to be had. Anyway, it’s a beautiful drive with lots of spots to pull over and explore.

The Million Dollar Highway is just a small 42 km (25-mile) stretch of the 379 km (236-mile) San Juan Skyway (part of US Highway 550). It climbs up from Ouray, gaining 610 m (2000 ft) to its peak at Red Mountain Pass, and then drops 914 m (3000 ft) down into the old mining town of Silverton. With lots of zigzagging switchbacks, it can be steep, sometimes with a grade of up to 8%.

As you leave Ouray on the highway, you’ll pass by many parking areas where 4-wheelers are being unloaded from trailers. After you’ve passed those, the first place you should stop to see is the Bear Creek Falls Lookout. The road crosses over the top of the waterfall, but you can park just before it to get amazing views.

There are many small lakes along the way, and if you’re lucky, you’ll see some beautiful wildflowers. I found the old mining Ironton Townsite really interesting, with lots of the original buildings still standing.

Near the top of the pass, you’ll reach Red Mountain Overlook, which, as the name suggests, offers a fantastic view of a huge red mountain (lots of iron ore in the rocks). In that same area, you can find a large mining region with an old mine shaft building and some of the trestles still standing (barely).

On the other side of the pass, you’ll find Silverton, which is what’s left of one of the original mining towns. Even though mining has faded, tourism has kept it alive. You can find great little shops with unique items and delicious food and drink. I had a wonderful lunch with my Jack Daniel’s in what looked like an old saloon. Silverton still has that old-west mining town feel from a time long past.

There are many more stops than I mentioned here, so be sure to check out the links I included.

And if you happen to be there in the fall, you’ll be dazzled by the mountain sides of golden aspens before the snows settle in.