Million Dollar Highway

[scannon]

There is a show on Speed Channel's Dangerous Drives series this evening at 8 PM Mountain time and repeating at 12:30 about highway 550 in western Colorado. This is the (in)famous Durango to Ouray road that is such a treat to drive in a sports car or a motorcycle. Both the road and the scenery are truly awesome.

 

Much of this road is carved out of cliff faces and has no room for guardrails with sheer drops of up to 800' if you go over the edge. Real men don't need guardrails.

[locost7018]

I've been on that road a few times but never in a car that handles. Real nice road. Love to take the se7en on that sometime. Russ

[DeanG]

We had our M100 on that road and it was fun even though we had to be careful because of light snow falling. Thanks for the note I will try and check out the show.

[gjslutz]

I also have drove RT 550, the first time in My Newell Motorhome. At 43' and towing a car, I required both lanes on some turns when south bound from Ouray. The wife sure didn't like that ride.

 

We stopped for lunch on top of Red Mountain Pass. On each side of the road there is a pull off area. If you get out and look close there is a old mine dug in to the mountain on each side of the road about 50' to 75' from the road.

 

There is also a high altitude lake just off 550 on the east side that is loaded with trout.

 

Try to spend 4th of July in Ouray some time, it is great.

 

As you can see, the long W.B. was the problem on the turns. This was taken at the top Of Red Mountain Pass. One of the mine openings is just above the rear of the M.H.

Edited December 31, 2009 by gjslutz