At a Glance
- Pass Elevation: 11,018 ft
- Distance: about 24 miles Ouray to Silverton
- Drive Time: 45 min (without stops)
- Season: Year-round (winter closures possible)
- Highlight: Red mineral peaks, cliff edges
- Designation: Part of San Juan Skyway
America's Most Celebrated Mountain Drive
The segment of US 550 between Ouray and Silverton — known as the Million Dollar Highway — is consistently cited among the most dramatic mountain drives in the United States. The road was originally built as a toll route in the 1880s and improved multiple times since, but it retains its original character: tight turns, minimal guardrails, and terrain that commands full attention.
Driving south from Ouray, the road enters the canyon immediately and climbs through the Uncompahgre Gorge before emerging into the Red Mountain Pass area. The ochre and rust peaks of the Red Mountains appear on all sides, stained to vivid color by iron sulfides in the geology. The ruins of mines and mills — active within living memory — appear periodically on the slopes above the road.
The Drive from Ouray to Silverton
The full drive from The Lumberyard to Silverton takes about 45 minutes in normal conditions, but most visitors take significantly longer — the scenery demands stops. Silverton is a well-preserved mining-era town at 9,300 feet with excellent lunch options and its own historic character. The drive back through Red Mountain Pass in the afternoon light is different enough from the morning drive to feel like a separate experience.
In winter, the Million Dollar Highway is maintained year-round but subject to closures during heavy snowfall and avalanche mitigation. Colorado DOT conducts avalanche control on the pass regularly in winter — check road conditions before driving in January-March.