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Old 08-12-2017, 06:10 PM   #1
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Million Dollar Highway - north from Silverton CO

We are in Silverton CO, arrived today via 550 from Durango. Plan is to stay here a week then move on to Buena Vista via 550 north to Ouray, then east on 50. 40' DP towing a Jeep.

I see negative comments from folks about this path, especially Silverton to Ouray. How bad is it? If bad, is there a viable alternative?

Thx
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Old 08-12-2017, 06:23 PM   #2
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Hope I do not meet you going the opposite direction on my motorcycle. No way will you be able to stay in your lane on lots of the curves.
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Old 08-12-2017, 08:47 PM   #3
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How bad is it? If bad, is there a viable alternative?
I drove that route, for the first time, a few months ago in my RV with a dingy. It was not too bad.

As for on coming traffic and curves/switchbacks, only a few are real tight. You run into the same scene with city driving when taking turns from/to narrow streets. If you need to, stop and wait for the other guy to get past/move. Keep an eye out ahead for turn congestion.

I did find the next day, from my wrist to my shoulders was a bit sore. No need for pain killers, just a bit sore. Lots of turns.

As to a viable alternative route, you can take the western route through Utah. I also drove it and it was fine. GPS said it was about 1 hour longer but, I am not sure that is correct, taking in all the slow hill ascents/descents on the million dollar route.

The million dollar route is a demanding drive. Your full attention is required; at least my full attention was needed.

Would I drive it again? I might. The view coming into Ouray is stunning. Plus it is a nice accomplishment.

My2c.
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Old 08-12-2017, 08:56 PM   #4
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Looks like you are committed to 550 unless you want to back track, I did not want to take 550 to Montrose so I went around too 160 from Durango then up 145 then 62 even though it has some steep grades it did not have the switch backs and narrow roads like 550.

You are going to get plenty of pro and cons.

Here are a couple of pics I took of 550 driving in a F250


We still hit an elevation of 10,000 ft Lizard Pass this route also has spectacular views, so don't let the "view" persuade you
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Old 08-12-2017, 10:40 PM   #5
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Since you're in Silverton, why not just take your car and drive it and you be the judge if it's right for you. It's a beautiful drive and we've done it in both directions a few times with our 40' motorhome but we love those mountain roads.
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Old 08-13-2017, 09:14 AM   #6
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We just did the drive from Silverton to Ouray last week. I have a 45' Monaco with a 22' trailer. Yes it is a technical drive, but very doable. I had no issues staying in my lane. My local mountains have tighter switchbacks. ( Big Bear) My only issue was it was a little unsettling how close the edge was in some spots. I say drive safe and you will be fine.
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Old 08-13-2017, 09:43 AM   #7
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We just did the drive from Silverton to Ouray last week. I have a 45' Monaco with a 22' trailer. Yes it is a technical drive, but very doable. I had no issues staying in my lane. My local mountains have tighter switchbacks. ( Big Bear) My only issue was it was a little unsettling how close the edge was in some spots. I say drive safe and you will be fine.
Thanks. We are from Escondido. Have made the drive up to Big Bear many times.
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Old 08-13-2017, 10:09 AM   #8
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I have driven it quite a few times with and without a trailer so may be biased I personally feel it is not that bad and have no trouble doing it. The speed limit is mostly 25 mph with some curves at 15. It is very scenic and does require your attention but so should all driving. Semi trucks and rv's do it every day both from the Durango side and the Ouray side. If you drove up from the Durango side you wont really find the hills any steeper or the curves any tighter just more exposed and the scenery is more intense not that you should be looking at it while driving that route there are pull offs for that. It is 23 miles from Silverton to Ouray and 48 miles from Silverton to Durango. If you choose to go back to Durango 48 miles to Durango, another 45ish miles to Cortez and then another 118 to Ouray approx 210 miles vs 23 so I would not go that way since you are heading to Buena Vista. If you go back to Durango go east on 160 over Wolf Creek Pass to South Fork (I would not go up to 50 at South Fork) stay on 160 to Del Norte take the cutoff to 285 and follow that up to Buena Vista (285 turns east a couple miles from Buena Vista doesnt get any easier than that here but it will still cost you 60-70 miles due to the backtrack to Durango. Wolf Creek pass being the only obstacle of note which is not bad. The drive up the San Luis Valley to Poncha pass is uneventful and essentially a 50 mile very slight uphill grade you wont even realize you are at Poncha pass if it wasn't for the sign and the subsequent downhill which is nothing of note.
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Old 08-14-2017, 10:10 AM   #9
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I agree with the above route, be much easier--i don't think the 550 route as all that great.
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Old 08-15-2017, 08:13 AM   #10
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You made it in - should have no problem getting out.

JMHO,
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Old 08-15-2017, 09:01 PM   #11
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Tough road, only for passengers who won't break off the "oh ****! bar". Can you spell "blowout"?
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Old 08-15-2017, 09:23 PM   #12
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We did it last year in our renegade 42 footer and our jeep liberty
The train from Durango to Silverton was great, the wife was not crazy about looking over the edge on her side but we didn't have any trouble driving it, and I would do it again, it's beautiful and a lot of fun.

Sam
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Old 08-19-2017, 08:11 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vsheetz View Post
We are in Silverton CO, arrived today via 550 from Durango. Plan is to stay here a week then move on to Buena Vista via 550 north to Ouray, then east on 50. 40' DP towing a Jeep.

I see negative comments from folks about this path, especially Silverton to Ouray. How bad is it? If bad, is there a viable alternative?

Thx
Vince.
Thanks everyone for the input. We ran it this morning with no issues. Have done worse elsewhere. And wow, what beautiful scenery!

Thanks again!
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