The Million Dollar Highway

The twenty-five mile stretch of US 550 that runs between Silverton, and Ouray, CO, has been dubbed the Million Dollar Highway, but the name actually comes from a twelve mile stretch south of Ouray through Uncompaghre Gorge to Red Mountain Pass. Originally built in the 1880s as a dirt toll road, it was later paved over in the 1930s at great cost, hence the name.The road is winding and hugs the side of the mountains, often with sheer drops on one side, with and without guard rails. It's a tad harrowing, especially southbound. Happily, we were headed north.

We began our drive after lunching and shopping in Silverton, heading north for Ouray and ultimately Grand Junction. Many of the mountains in this area are a distinctive shade of red-orange due to the high iron oxide content of the rocks.

 

 

The scenery is indescribably spectacular...

 

And there are waterfalls and old mining structures everywhere.

 

 

Mineral Creek, a tributary of the Animas River, running high with snow melt.

More amazing mountain vistas and harrowing switchbacks...

 

Not a sign you see everyday.

The Denver and Rio Grande narrow gauge railroad opened up this part of the San Juans to miners and once ran all the way north to Montrose. The area, known as the Red Mountain mining district, is now only home to defunct silver mines and ghost towns. The tracks sadly were ripped out decades ago. The Idarado Mine and the Yankee Girl Mine opened in the early 1880s, and the latter, though in operation for only 16 years, proved to be one of the richest silver veins ever discovered in the country. In modern currency, the Yankee Girl produced the equivalent of more than one hundred million dollars worth of silver.

Red Mountain No. 3 and part of the Idarado mine trestle below it.

Red Mountain No. 2 with the Yankee Girl Mine shaft structure below. The silver vein went nearly straight down.

A wider view of the trestle and valley. The Yankee Girl is out of frame to the right.

Avalanche zone!

More amazing vistas awaited us as we got closer to Ouray. This is where the road begins to get exciting.

"Guard rails? We don't need no stinkin' guard rails!"

Bear Creek waterfall flowing under the highway

Rainbow over the falls

A series of swooping curves brought us down into the valley where the town of Ouray is nestled. It is known as the "Switzerland of America" for good reason. Like so many of the other mountain towns we passed through, Ouray owes its existence to the railroads and their mining interests.

More beautiful Colorado public art at the Ouray Elks building

North of Ouray, the land flattens out into the Uncompaghre Valley, giving way to rolling hills and grassy plateaus.

Some parts of the valley are more verdant...

While others are drier and more austere...

But all of it was beautiful, despite the rain showers we drove in and out of.

Looking west

Looking east

Wide open spaces

The closer we got to Grand Junction, the more arid the land became.

 

Grand Junction was in fact too bleak for my taste. Surprisingly (to me), it was named for the junction of two rivers (rather than two railroads), the Colorado and the Gunnison. Still, the drive to get there is pretty spectacular, so all we could do was laugh when we looked out our hotel window at the end of the day at this scenic vista.

Next time the last leg of the trip, Grand Junction to Denver.