• Introduction
• 1. Big Sur
• 2. Blue Ridge Parkway
• 3. Going-to-the-Sun Road
• 4. Hana Highway
• 5. Million Dollar Highway
• 6. Red Rock Scenic Byway
• 7. Sea Islands
• 8. Seward Highway
• 9. Sonoma and Napa Valleys
• 10. U.S. Route 1

Million Dollar Highway

Near Telluride but worlds away, a 24-mile stretch of U.S. 550 takes visitors back in time to when the West was still wild (the road conditions are not for the faint of heart). Connecting the old mining towns of Silverton and Ouray in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado, the Million Dollar Highway traverses the Uncompahgre Gorge to the summit of Red Mountain Pass, where a series of hairpin turns – sans guardrails – flank stomach-churning vertical drops. The countryside, decked in wildflowers during the spring, sustains elk, mountain goats, black bears, and deer. In the tiny towns of Silverton (a National Historic Landmark) and Ouray, Victorian buildings from the 1870s evoke the frontier era. Although the Million Dollar Highway is short, budget a day for it – all those twists and turns take time.

Smart Splurge Hotel: Lively Telluride is most famous for its skiing but offers great fun year-round, with abundant festivals and outdoor activities. The centrally located Inn at Lost Creek has 32 spacious suites with stone fireplaces and mountain views. www.innatlostcreek.com

Great Value Hotel: Embrace the quirky Old West spirit of Silverton at the Teller House, a well-restored, Victorian-style B&B. www.tellerhousehotel.com

See Maui Travel Guide | See Montana Travel Guide | See Napa Valley Travel Guide | See San Francisco Travel Guide | See Sedona Travel GuideSee Sonoma Travel Guide