Colorado's Million Dollar Highway
A stretch of U.S. 550 in Colorado is known as the Million Dollar Highway, which is also part of the San Juan Skyway Byway. This road trip takes drivers between the town of Silverton and Ouray along the San Juan Mountains. Travelers along this road will learn all about the mining history and Old West history of Colorado. Along this road there are stunning views, great driving, wildlife and much more.
Starting the trip in Silverton, visitors can learn all about this historic mining town. This town is filled with historic Victorian buildings. One of the major features of Silverton is the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and Museum. The historic train runs along the Animas River. During the winter the steam locomotive doesn't travel the entire route to Silverton and back, instead the trip stops at the Cascade Station, which is about half of the regular route. Even in the winter the trip is beautiful and you can still learn all about the historic steam locomotives and the narrow gauge track at the museum. During the winter this train also provides a Polar Express ride, on the trip to the North Pole you and your family will drink hot chocolate and listen to the classic story.
After exploring the town of Silverton, visitors can proceed along the road and can explore some of the ghost town's along the road. The road earned it's name because of all of the gold and silver in the mountains. There are a variety of ghost towns that are fun for drivers to stop and explore. Some of these ghost towns include Howardsville, Eureka and Animas Forks. The town of Animas Forks is a fantastic mining town that visitors can walk through the buildings and remnants.
Most of the road travels through the San Juan National Forest, which is a great sot to enjoy a a myriad of recreational activities. You can enjoy camping year round in forest, although if you want to camp in the winter you may have to do a little extra research to find an open campsite. At the San Juan National Forest you will find plenty of trails, you can go horseback riding and hunting among other recreational activities. The Chimney Rock Archeological Area is another great feature of the San Juan National Forest, which can be enjoyed through a guided tours.
Telluride is another wonderful stop along the Million Dollar Highway. Within the city there is plenty of fun to be found shopping, dining and more on main street. Whether enjoying the great outdoors or exploring the city of Telluride there are fantastic views of the forests, cliffs, mountains and much more.
The town of Ouray is the end point of the Million Dollar Highway. Known as the "Switzerland" of American, visitors can enjoy stunning vistas, while enjoying the comfort of this little town. All along the Million Dollar Highway travelers can enjoy watching wildlife and the fun of this mountain drive. There are many wonderful destinations to explore and much more along this fantastic Colorado highway.