Million Dollar Highway
US 550Ouray to Silverton · Colorado
Distance22.7mi · 37 km
Drive time50 minon the road
DifficultyDemanding
MountainValley
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.
Where it runs
OurayStart · Colorado
SilvertonEnd · United States
Character
Corners38bends
Tightness7of 10
Max gradient10%≈ 1-in-10
Hairpins5tight bends
Climb1003 mtotal ascent
Summit3392 mhighest point · 11129 ft
SummerAutumn
Elevation
1021 m rangeKnow before you go
- No guardrails over sheer drops
- Ice and snow outside summer
- Rockfall sections
Along the road
- viewpoint Red Mountain Overlook
Sources
In these collections
Nearby roads
The closest great drives to Million Dollar Highway.
