The Million Dollar Highway is the stretch of Route 550 in Colorado between Ouray and Silverton. The name came from a planning meeting in the 1920s where, while discussing rebuilding the highway between Ouray and Silverton, someone at the meeting remarked that the project would cost a million dollars -- an incredible sum for such a short span of road construction at the time. Once construction was complete, the name stuck, and the Million Dollar Highway was born.
Though the entire stretch has been called the Million Dollar Highway, it is really the twelve miles (19 km) south of Ouray through the Uncompahgre Gorge to the summit of Red Mountain Pass which gains the highway its name. This stretch through the gorge is challenging and potentially hazardous to drive; it is characterized by steep cliffs, narrow lanes, and a lack of guardrails; the ascent of Red Mountain Pass is marked with a number of hairpin curves used to gain elevation, and again, narrow lanes for traffic—many cut directly into the sides of mountains. During this ascent, the remains of the Idarado Mine are visible. Traveling north from Silverton to Ouray
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| The edge of the road is where the slope drops off |
allows you to hug the inside of curves; traveling south from Ouray to Silverton perches you on the steep outside edge of the highway. We went both ways. It was a fun and stunning ride.
From Montrose we headed south to Ouray and stopped at Box Canyon to view the falls there. The property is owned and run by the town of Ouray. The falls walk takes you along the side of a cliff to a box canyon through which there is a waterfall. The town built a walkway to make the walk easy for all.
After Ouray, we headed south for Silverton. We had never really seen a Colorado fall. At this elevation (Red Mountain Pass is 11,000+ feet), the aspens were at peak. While we have been around the country in fall, and have never seen such glorious color as is in New England in autumn, fall in the Rockies is pretty special. The golden trees set among groves of spruce and pines, highlighted by sunny, blue, blue skies and lit by full sun are a sight to behold.
On the way back, we stopped in Ouray again to see if we might be able to take a peek at the restoration of the historic Beaumont Hotel. No such luck. Covid regulations allow for guests only in the hotel.
We have noticed that a lot of people here wear masks on the trails. Half of those wearing masks wear them under their nose, or loose around their face. Many wear neck gaiters, which, as I understand it, are the equivalent of wearing nothing at all.
More photos are here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/buFAy72LLP8EwcYh7 By, the way, one of the photos (maybe two) looks like the the water is yellow. It was! We're not sure what caused it, but it wasn't the reflection of the trees in the water!
Edit: We now know what causes the water to turn yellow. https://www.telluridenews.com/the_watch/news/article_7084178e-0765-11e8-ad17-b75e13bd7439.html
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