Millon Dollar Highway - Colorado Hwy 550

June 25, 2012, 09:58:31 am

I have to say that I had forgotten how beautiful the Million Dollar Highway was since not coming to Colorado in a number of years. We were so thrilled with Hwy 550 from Durango to Ouray yesterday that we will probably change our routing and go back the same way. Sure you have to pay attention. Sure there are some tight switchbacks. Sure there are some close to the road edge drop offs. But a more stunning ride through more rugged scenery would be hard to find. Let me just say that this is not a dangerous drive, just one in which you need to be attentive and accurate in you driving skills. It would be a crying shame to be intimidated and bypass this marvelous experience.
We are in Amphitheater Campgound above Ouray. We never should have attempted this but we missed the 23' limit sign that was totally sunfaded back down the hill. We did successfully shoehorn ourselves into the only site that was big enough to handle us and were then treated by a walk to the overlook to see the community of Ouray a thousand feet below us, looking like a sleepy Bavarian village nestled in the Swill Alps. Heart stopping!
My condolences to the residents of Mancos, Colorado between Cortez and Durango. We elected to take that route in spite of the smoke warnings and in driving through the town, we saw several couples standing on the street, holding hands or just an arm around each other, sadly watching the fires destroy the entire hillside on the south side of their town. You could not help feel for them.

Re: Millon Dollar Highway - Colorado Hwy 550

Reply #1 – June 25, 2012, 10:35:06 am

Yahoo Message Number: 80487

Darn it, I forgot to sign off again.

Stuart Thornton, 2005 Allure, #31217

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