Summary
- Camping near the Million Dollar Highway offers a wild and rejuvenating road trip experience amid magnificent surroundings. Popular camping areas include Avil Camping Area and Ouray RV Park and Cabins.
- The Million Dollar Highway is dotted with must-visit destinations, including Molas Lake, Bear Creek Falls, Animas Forks Ghost Town, and Ouray's hot springs. Despite the dangerous route, these experiences are well worth the risk.
- The Million Dollar Highway does not have guardrails in some parts due to snowplow driver convenience. With over 400 deaths since 1992, it remains one of the most dangerous highways in the US. However, the million-dollar views and abandoned mining towns make it worth the danger.
Along the San Juan Skyway in southwest Colorado, traveling from Ridgeway to Durango is a portion of Highway 550 built in the 1880s that tests the most experienced drivers with narrow lanes, the road cutting into the mountain face, and many "S" curves that drivers can only travel at 10 mph.
The Million Dollar Highway, also known as the "Highway of Hell," weaves through three peaks in the San Juan Mountains and stretches from Ouray to Silverton for twenty-five miles. Despite its reputation as one of the most dangerous roads in the US, the Million Dollar Highway remains one of the most popular scenic drives in Colorado. But why is it called the Million Dollar Highway? Why should one drive the Million Dollar Highway? Let's find out.
UPDATE: 2023/10/01 19:53 EST BY REENA JAIN
More Fascinating Facts About The Million Dollar Highway
This list has been updated with two more amazing facts about the Million Dollar Highway in Colorado, including camping sites and not-to-missed attractions, that can make this risky drive worthwhile. Have fun, and be safe!
16 Travelers Can Camp For The Ultimate Road Trip Experience
Hiking and camping equipment in forest in Colorado
Road trips on the Million Dollar Highway can be more exhilarating if one can find camping facilities nearby. Not only is the experience genuinely wild in magnificent surroundings, but it also allows road-trippers to rejuvenate amid nature. The experience is truly worth a million dollars. There are many locations near the highway where travelers can enjoy such experiences. Avil Camping Area, situated on Forest Road 585, a few miles from Silverton, is one of them. Ouray RV Park and Cabins is another excellent option. Full hookups, bathrooms, showers, laundry, a general store, a car wash, a gas station, and a restaurant are among the amenities available at this RV park.
- Camping Locations: Lime Creek Campground, Avil Camping Area, Ouray RV Park and Cabins, Amphitheater Campground
15 These Are Not-To-Be-Missed Destinations On The Highway
Molas Lake, San Juan County, Colorado
The Million Dollar Highway is a popular tourist attraction and a paradise for day trippers searching for a rewarding trip. However, from Molas Lake to Bear Creek Falls to Animas Forks Ghost Town, there are numerous must-see sights along the Million Dollar Highway that may make a journey both thrilling and pleasurable. While the San Juan Mountains are famed for their breathtaking views, Ouray's hot springs are ideal for relaxing in a scenic setting. Bear Creek Falls is enchanted with its thunderous beauty, while Red Mountain Pass provides breathtaking views. So, no matter how dangerous the route is, the experiences available nearby are well worth the risk.
- Must-visit Destinations: Molas Lake, Bear Creek Falls, Animas Forks Ghost Town, Ouray's hot springs, Red Mountain Pass, Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, and many more
14 Some Parts Of The Million Dollar Highway Don't Have Guardrails
Many sections of the Million Dollar Highway don't have guardrails
The thought of driving on roads without guardrails scares most, especially when there are drops of up to hundreds of feet from the side of the road. Then, why are there no guardrails on the Million Dollar Highway? Back in the day, there were rocks to act as guardrails, but this became troublesome for snowplow drivers to remove the 300 inches of snowfall over the winter season, so they were removed. This route requires a driver who can focus solely on the road and not be bothered by jittery nerves. Ask your passenger to see the pictures of the splendor!
13 The Reasoning Behind The Name Is A Mystery
The Million Dollar Highway with mountains and wildflowers in the background
One common question is, 'Why is it called the Million Dollar Highway' and in reality, the answer is unknown. There are several theories surrounding the origins of the name; some locals joke that they'd need to be paid a million dollars to drive the dangerous scenic highway or that maybe it cost a million dollars per mile just to build. Other legends say the worth of the gold and silver in the area was worth millions or that it is because of the million-dollar views.
Related:
12 Million Dollar Highway Deaths Are Part Of Its Fame
Steep cliffs in Ouray, Colorado
The Million Dollar Highway was named the most dangerous highway in the US to drive. There are about forty crashes per year on the route, and sadly, they are often fatal. There are an average of seven deaths per year, and perhaps surprisingly, they are mainly during the dry season.
- Scary stats: there have been over four hundred Million Dollar Highway deaths since 1992
11 There Are Many Avalanche Paths Being Studied On The Highway
Snow-covered Colorado backcountry
There are over 120 avalanche paths during the winter that have claimed the lives of snow plow drivers. With the steep mountain cliffs on either side of the highway, an avalanche can gain speeds of up to 200 mph until it reaches the lower terrain to slow down. Thankfully, with studies conducted in the 1990s and through modern technology, there have not been any avalanche-related deaths in over thirty years.
10 The Million Dollar Views Are Worth The Danger
Stunning scenery along the Million Dollar Highway
With staggering views of peaks, creeks, and mountainscapes that can't be found anywhere else, this drive is worth it. The journey is breathtaking, and even if drivers are clutching their steering wheels with white knuckles, the danger is worth it. During the forty-minute drive, travelers will want to take as many pictures as possible...carefully!
9 Drivers Can See Abandoned Mining Operations
Remnants of mining operations in Colorado
There are abandoned mining towns that are both easily accessible and well-preserved. They include the homes of the miners, the saloons they enjoyed, and the equipment they used. This peek into Colorado's history will be an incredible journey for the entire family. Embark on The Old Hundred Gold Mine Tour in Silverton, where travelers can even try panning for gold themselves.
Related:
8 These Colorado Views Are Renowned
Taking in the panoramic views in Ouray, Colorado
It has been voted as one of the top ten scenic highways in America. The best time to venture on the Million Dollar Highway is during the fall time - this way, visitors can truly understand the meaning of Colorful Colorado.
Looking for more scenic drives in Colorado? Check out these other popular Colorado drives with spectacular views:
- Rim Rock Drive
- Loveland Pass
- Top of the Rockies National Scenic Byway
- Pikes Peak
- Mount Evans Scenic Byway
- Peak to Peak Scenic Byway
7 4-Wheel Drive Vehicles are Recommended
4wd is recommended for driving on some parts of the Million Dollar Highway
While a 4WD vehicle is not required to drive the Million Dollar Highway, it is recommended. In the wintertime, road conditions can deteriorate quickly and with little warning due to the elevation. During the milder months, having a 4-wheel drive (with high clearance) allows for detours to some breathtaking viewpoints and ghost towns that would be otherwise inaccessible. Off-road and ATV enthusiasts will also enjoy the exploration options that surround the Million Dollar Highway.
6 There Are Colorado Ghost Towns To Detour To
Abandoned buildings in a Colorado ghost town
There are still ghost towns you are able to view that are a short detour along the highway. Ironton and Idarado are also popular historical sites you can visit and learn about mining life from the late 19th Century and early 20th Century. Here are some of the best ghost towns on the Million Dollar Highway:
- Animas Forks Ghost Town: north of Silverton
- Red Mountain Mining District: between Silverton and Ouray.
Related: 10 Awesome Things That You Can Do In Colorado
5 The Million Dollar Highway Has A Toll Booth Built By Otto Mears
Rugged Colorado mountains
A Russian immigrant and entrepreneur, Otto Mears was renowned for the number of toll roads he had constructed in the area. He purchased a 54% interest in the project and kept the road near Bear Creek Falls narrow so no one could miss the toll booth. He also built a tiny store that sold whiskey and cigars so the travelers to cope with the treacherous road. Because of his greed, the men who were charged to travel on the road they helped build turned on Mears, and he lost his power to the State and San Juan County.
4 It Was Originally Constructed as a Wagon Trail
Dirt roads running through the mountains in San Miguel County, Colorado
The San Juan Wagon Road Company started construction in 1880 on what is now The Million Dollar Highway. It was the first road (although, at the time, it was for wagons) built across the 'impassable' cliffs of Red Mountain Pass in order to access the lucrative mines in the Red Mountain Mining District. Despite some financial issues along the way, the road was completed in 1883.
The first automobile descended the road in 1910 by an Ouray doctor in a Model T. It made the national news, and they were hailed as heroes.
- Fun Fact: It originally cost $5 for a team and wagon to travel the road, $2.50 for a trail wagon, and $1 for saddle animals.
3 The Million Dollar Highway is Part of the San Juan Skyway Scenic Byway
The San Juan Skyway running through San Juan County, Colorado
Spanning over 235 miles of southwestern Colorado, the San Juan Skyway is one of the top road trip destinations in Colorado (and the United States). While the Million Dollar Highway is among the most iconic sections of the journey, the San Juan Skyway Scenic Byway winds its way through dozens of popular and historic towns and stunning mountain sights. With the road making a full loop, it can be completed in 7–8 hours, but it can be easily stretched out over several days too.
2 High Altitude Highway: It is almost Two Miles Above Sea Level
Red Mountain Pass along the Million Dollar Highway
The Million Dollar Highway travels between the towns of Silverton and Ouray, and it reaches some staggering elevations. The highest point of the drive is Red Mountain Pass, in the San Juan Mountain Range. Here the elevation tops out at 11,081 feet; that's nearly two miles above sea level! There is also Molas Pass, located between Durango and Silverton. While not quite as high, this stretch of the Million Dollar Highway ascends to 10,970 feet, so it's pretty close.
1 There is World-Class Hiking Along The Million Dollar Highway
Box Cañon Falls hiking just off the Million Dollar Highway
Surrounded by breathtaking mountains, it is no surprise that there is excellent hiking to be found off of the Million Dollar Highway. Many of the hikes feature stunning alpine lakes and towering waterfalls. Due to the terrain, a lot of the trails are more suited for intermediate/advanced hikers, so it's important to know one's physical limits before embarking.
There are also hot springs along the Million Dollar Highway. Orvis Hot Springs is said to have healing properties thanks to its pure mineral waters. There are seven (clothing-optional) soaking pools and beginner-friendly hiking around the resort.
