Chicago Trip, Day 18, Durango, Silverton, Million Dollar Highway, Ouray, Crawford

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North America » United States » Colorado
May 16th 2023

Published: July 11th 2023

Jamie and Laura

Today was a drive from Mesa Verde to Crawford, Colorado. We drove through the Rockies and were awestruck by the towering snow covered mountain peaks. What beautiful country!

We were told that the Million Dollar Highway has that name because of either 1) the amount you'd have to pay someone to drive it with all of its hazards, such as sheer cliffs with no guardrails and hairpin curves; 2) the figurative price of the amazing views 3) the amount it cost to build or 4) the amount of gold ore now sealed under the road that can no longer be mined.

Additional photos below

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Here we are starting out on the road to Molas Pass

Here we are starting out on the road to Molas Pass

Here we are starting out on the road to Molas Pass

which takes us up to Silverton

which takes us up to Silverton

which takes us up to Silverton

We're getting pretty high up by now.

We're getting pretty high up by now.

We're getting pretty high up by now.

And here is Molas Pass itself, at elevation 10,910 feet.

And here is Molas Pass itself, at elevation 10,910 feet.

And here is Molas Pass itself, at elevation 10,910 feet.

We're heading back down, towards Silverton.

We're heading back down, towards Silverton.

We're heading back down, towards Silverton.

And now we're on the Million Dollar Highway, which shows plenty of evidence of mining.

And now we're on the Million Dollar Highway, which shows plenty of evidence of mining.

And now we're on the Million Dollar Highway, which shows plenty of evidence of mining.

It is, of course, beautiful up here.

It is, of course, beautiful up here.

It is, of course, beautiful up here.

This road was full of amazing waterfalls.

This road was full of amazing waterfalls.

This road was full of amazing waterfalls.

If you squint, you can almost see the rainbow that we got to see in person.

If you squint, you can almost see the rainbow that we got to see in person.

If you squint, you can almost see the rainbow that we got to see in person.

This is a very typical stretch of road.

This is a very typical stretch of road.

This is a very typical stretch of road.

This is also typical, with no shoulder, no guardrail, two way traffic, and a sheer cliff.

This is also typical, with no shoulder, no guardrail, two way traffic, and a sheer cliff.

This is also typical, with no shoulder, no guardrail, two way traffic, and a sheer cliff.

Now we're approaching Ouray. We saw a huge number of dramatic waterfalls, marmots, snowfields. frozen lakes, and mountain peaks.

Now we're approaching Ouray. We saw a huge number of dramatic waterfalls, marmots, snowfields. frozen lakes, and mountain peaks.

Now we're approaching Ouray. We saw a huge number of dramatic waterfalls, marmots, snowfields. frozen lakes, and mountain peaks.

Both Ouray and Silverton have creative uses for old skis and snowboards.

Both Ouray and Silverton have creative uses for old skis and snowboards.

Both Ouray and Silverton have creative uses for old skis and snowboards.

When we got to our hotel in Crawford we were greeted by an astounding number of ruby throated hummingbirds!

When we got to our hotel in Crawford we were greeted by an astounding number of ruby throated hummingbirds!

When we got to our hotel in Crawford we were greeted by an astounding number of ruby throated hummingbirds!

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