The trip up along the “Million Dollar Highway” today was well worth it. I’ve been down the “Tail of the Dragon” in Tennessee, and this road is every bit as good. The “Tail” is 13 miles or so, the “Million Dollar” is 50+. The scenery is excellent. There are places where there is no guardrail and over the edge it’s 700-800 feet straight down…..pretty exciting at times. Like the “Tail”, you had better be on your toes, as the switchbacks come upon you very quickly. Much of the 50+ miles that are exciting are also up above 10,000 feet in elevation.

I highly recommend this drive. The best parts are from about 25 miles south of Silverton and all the way up to Ouray, about 25 miles north of Silverton. You go over three high passes Molas Pass 10,910, Coal Bank pass south of Silverton at 10,660, and Red Mountain pass south of Ouray, at 11,018 14,000 foot peaks are everywhere. It is quite an impressive drive


On the way to Durango we went by Chimney Rock, Stopped long enough to take this shot.
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A shot coming down into Silverton (down below)
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Windy our way around toward Ouray.
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Some of the rugged terrain, fantastic geology!
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/toms94/other/DSC_3355.jpg[/IMG]

This is the way that you wind down into Ouray.
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This is a shot of an old abandoned silver mine between Silverton and Ouray.
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/toms94/other/DSC_3375.jpg[/IMG]

Here's a shot of one of the 14,000 foot peaks....I don't know which one.
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/toms94/other/DSC_3396.jpg[/IMG]

Tom,

Nice shots! Beautiful part of the country.

Guard rails mess up the view but do well in keeping you car from plunging down a 500' ravine. Nice pics. I love touring from the comfort of my air condtioned office chair.

That looks great. I love the twisties. Any scary parts?

Matthew

Man, that looks like a great drive - thanks for the pics!

Nice pics, Tom.
I really like Colorado, lived there for 3 years. Love the mountains.
The mountains here are almost identical, your last pic looks a bit like the view from my deck.

It looks a lot more scenic than the "Tail of the Dragon". Nice pictures, but you enjoyed it.

Yea, I enjoyed thoroughly it was a 275 mile round trip. Matt, you asked if there were any scary parts....you'd have to ask the wife. There were about 6 times she was leaning toward me or telling me how close we were to the edge, so I guess, yes there were some tense moments. That third picture is a taste of the drop offs.

While at Silverton, the narrow gauge railroad came into town. It runs from Durango to Silverton.

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Quote:

You have an air conditioned CHAIR, now? Damn, you made of money, yo.

A few other pictures

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[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/toms94/other/DSC_3338cropped.jpg[/IMG]

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[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/toms94/other/DSC_3367resized.jpg[/IMG]
After some research we have Windom, Sunlight and Eolus peaks all three are over 14,000'
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/toms94/other/DSC_3392resized.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/toms94/other/DSC_3393resized.jpg[/IMG]

Aren't you glad you didn't see this?

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Quote:

LOL.

Yea, Tommy that's wider than the road there.

Looks like a picture from Kalifornea.
Everybody walking in front of a moving train.

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