Carved Roadway: The path of the Million Dollar Highway was carved out of the side of mountains in several locations. The original ‘road’ was little more than a wagon trail but it was built by blasting the side of the mountains to form the road bed. The roadway features high towering peaks on one side of the road and deep gorges on the other side of the road. The highway is much wider today but it still lacks shoulders and guard rails, which frightens some travelers. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Red Mountain: Red Mountain actually consists of three peaks, which are all topped with swirls of reds and oranges. The coloring is a result of high deposits of iron oxide in the soil and rocks. These red topped peaks are beautiful when the sunlight hits them making them glow the red and orange hues across the mountain tops. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
By GARY WARREN
Photographer
Formerly of Los Alamos
The “Million Dollar Highway” is a short 25 mile stretch of pavement linking Silverton and Ouray, Colo. in the San Juan Mountains in southwest Colorado. While short in distance the roadway made a huge impact in the life and growth of this region of the state.
The original “roadway” was a rocky pathway wide enough for a wagon trail from Ouray to service the gold and silver mines in the 1880s. The road was built by blasting portions of the mountainside to carve space for the roadway. The original path lead from Ouray to Ironton, Colo. where mines were located and later expanded southward over Red Mountain Pass to Silverton, Colo.
Control of the road was taken over by the state of Colorado in the 1920s and improvements were made to allow auto traffic by the 1930s. The first paving on the road took place in the 1950s. Improvements have continued since that era creating the mountain byway we enjoy today.
Today the Million Dollar Highway is a portion of U.S. 550 and is well maintained and driven by thousands year-around. The road does present challenges to drivers as it is still more narrow with little or no shoulders in some areas. Another feature that frightens drivers is the lack of guard rails along the road. The lack of guard rails allows for snow plows to push snow over the side of the cliff leaving two lanes open to traffic.
The highway is maintained year-around today but there is still a need to check road conditions when driving this part of U.S. 550. The area receives abundant snowfall during the winter months and often gets closed while crews clear the roadway. The road can also be closed in the summer months due to heavy rainfall, rock slides and mudslides.
In spite of the narrow lanes, many hair pins curves, and steep cliffs this stretch of U.S. 550 passes through some beautiful mountain terrain and offers spectacular views of stunning scenery all along the way. One will see majestic mountain peaks, deep gorges, high elevation meadows, several waterfalls, and many old structures from the mining era.
While this portion of the highway is only 25 miles, caution should be observed and drivers should allow at least 45 minutes to travel between Silverton Colo. and Ouray, Colo.
When traveling the Million Dollar Highway drivers will cross mountain passes including the most notable Red Mountain Pass where the highway exceeds 11,000 feet in elevation. Red Mountain includes three peaks which are topped with beautiful swirls of red and orange coloring. The coloring seen on these peaks are a result of high deposits of iron oxide within the soil and rock. When the sun lights these peaks, a glow from the red coloring can be see across the mountaintops.
Why is the highway called the “Million Dollar Highway”? There are a few theories behind the name. One, it is said to have cost a million dollars per mile to build the road (a significant cost considering how long ago the road was built). Two, it is believed the roadbed for the highway has millions of dollars worth of silver and gold within the materials used to build the roadbed. Three, in the early days many would declare they would not travel that road for a million dollars (due to rough construction and steep cliffs along the route). Four, there is a million dollar view around every curve on the highway. In conclusion, any of the four theories make sense to me but … who knows? It’s a Million Dollar Highway!
The San Juan Mountains in southwest Colorado offer some of the most picturesque landscapes anywhere. Travelers are able to enjoy some of the country’s most beautiful scenery while driving in the comfort of their car along the “Million Dollar Highway” thanks to the work of many during the mining era as they carved the pathway for what is now U.S. 550.
Bear Creek Falls: One of the many interesting features seen while traveling the Million Dollar Highway is Bear Creek Falls. The water follows Bear Creek until it reaches the gorge where it falls hundreds of feet into the canyon. A viewpoint located near the falls is a must stop just south of Ouray, Colo. In addition to magnificent views of the mountains and highway, the viewpoint also features several placards, which describe the history of the area and the roadway. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Mining Structures: Remnants from the gold and silver mining era are visible all along the Million Dollar Highway. Shown on the right side of the image is a mine located near Red Mountain which can be seen close to the highway. Some old mines and equipment can be seen within a short walk from the highway. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Twists and Turns: Dozens of twists and turns along the Million Dollar Highway allow travelers to climb and descend the various mountain elevations as they drive the route. While the distance between Ouray and Silverton is only 25 miles, drivers should allow at least 45 minutes plus time for stops to complete the drive. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Mountain Valley: Mountain valleys are also a part of the journey as one travels between Ouray and Silverton. The stretch of highway south of Ouray, Colo. is the more treacherous portion of the drive while the stretch of highway just north of Silverton, Colo. is the less treacherous part of the drive. This mountain valley is located just south of the Red Mountain Pass which is a welcome site after negotiating the high mountain pass. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Weather Issues: While traveling the Million Dollar Highway one must be aware of weather changes along the way. We saw partly cloudy skies during our recent travels but a section of the highway was covered in fog and clouds making visibility more difficult. Shown are riders on a motorcycle as they enjoy make their way along through some of the most beautiful scenery in the country. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
