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Along the 233-mile San Juan Skyway in Colorado’s rugged San Juan Mountains, you’ll encounter incredible views, intrepid history, and endless outdoor adventures, which make it the ultimate Colorado road trip. Many parts of The Million Dollar Highway, the section of road between Silverton and Ouray, have drop-offs that lack guardrails and will surely get your heart pumping! The San Juan Skyway was designated as a National Forest Scenic Byway in September 1988. It was later named a Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway in 1989 and an All-American Road in September 1996.
However, I missed a turn and had to improvise. I’ll detail the trip below and at the bottom, I’ll fill in my other stops.
Located on the southern edge of the San Juan Mountains, the City of Durango is the hub of southwest Colorado. Fort Lewis College gives Durango a bit of a college-town feel. The Animas River cuts through the middle of the town – it’s a boatload of fun to watch kayakers and rafters run the waters through town! 🙂
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The drive from Durango to Silverton is jaw dropping. You’ll catch glimpses of Durango Mountain Resort, Engineer Mountain, and the Needles as you rise over and fall down from Molas Pass. Nestled in the heart of the San Juan Mountains between Red Mountain Pass and Molas Pass, Silverton is a small town with plenty of charm and grit. Experience its mining history or get outdoors. You can go 4x4ing, backcountry camping and hiking, fishing, skiing, and so much more.
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The 25-mile long, nail-biting stretch of the byway between Silverton and Ouray is called “The Million Dollar Highway” because of how much money it took to build it (and the mining riches you’ll see along the way). The Town of Ouray is located in a stunning box canyon and is named for the Tabeguache Ute Indian chief who sought peace and friendship with white settlers in the 1800s.
Activities:
Telluride is an historic mining camp that is today an unbeatable ski and summer vacation destination. Its downtown, a national historic district, is well preserved and has incredible charm. And there are countless hiking opportunities that take off right from the center of town, most notably the Jud Wiebe Trail and Bridal Veil Falls Trail.
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The byway eventually loops to the south and visits Rico, Stoner, Dolores, and Mesa Verde National Park. Rico is home to Dunton Hot Springs, but visiting Dunton sure isn’t cheap! Mesa Verde contains the famed cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Puebloan people – including the Spruce Tree House (the best-known ruin). Mesa Verde is easily accessible from Cortez and Durango.
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As I mentioned, I missed a turn and had to improvise but it was still a great trip.
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