Colorado · United States
Million Dollar Highway
US 550Ouray to Silverton
A spectacular, guardrail-free climb in the Colorado San Juans.
The US 550 Million Dollar Highway between Ouray and Silverton crosses the Red Mountain Pass at 3,358 m on a narrow shelf cut into the San Juan Mountains, famously without guardrails, with sheer drops to the valley. Demanding; mind the unprotected edges, the gradient, and snow and ice outside summer.
Guardrail-free hairpins carved into the San Juan rock between Ouray and Silverton, nothing but air on the other side. Keeps your hands busy and your breath short.
Why we picked it
Scenery
Best seasons
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Where it runs22.7 mi · point to point
Navigate to the start: Apple Maps · Google Maps
Character
Higher than 9 in 10 roads in the catalogue.
Corners
busiest around mile 6Elevation
under 4%4–8%over 8%2,374.6 – 3,386.8 mPoints of interest3 stops
- Red Mountain OverlookViewpoint11 mi in
- Red Mountain PassViewpoint13 mi in
- Bear Creek FallsLandmark2.8 mi in
Hazards
- No guardrails over sheer drops
- Ice and snow outside summer
- Rockfall sections
Sources
“this 25-mile stretch offers drivers panoramic views of jagged peaks”
Verified route: mapped from real road geometry and fact-checked by a human editor. How roads get checked
Driving the Million Dollar Highway: quick answers
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Nearby roads
The closest great drives to Million Dollar Highway.
