Road Trip Planning| Miles Kms | Item | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 25.0 40.2 |
Durango to Silverton Rail |
Durango to Silverton narrow gauge tracks are visble along 550. Southbound travelers first see tracks near mile marker 33. Part of this Highway Travel Guide Is called 'San Juan Skyway', a National Scenic Byway.
|
| 25.9 41.7 |
Durango, Colorado city limits. |
The north city limits are at this mileage. Elevation is 6,512 feet. Attractions in and around Durango: Durango & Silverton
Narrow Gauge Railroad, Vallecito Lake, Historic Downtown
Durango, The Animas River, Durango Mountain Resort, Mesa Verde, San Juan National Forest.
|
| 27.0 43.5 |
Glider rides. |
A small airport featuring glider rides is on east side of the road. |
| 27.5 44.3 |
Bueno Tempo Ranch |
The Bueno Tempo Ranch and horseback riding stables are on the east side of the raod. |
| 30.5 49.1 |
Trimble Hot Springs and Dalton Lake Golf Course |
The turnoff to Trimble Hot Springs is to the west, and Dalton Lake Golf Course is visible to the east. |
| 33.5 53.9 |
Ranch valley and red cliffs. |
A beautiful valley ranch and high red cliffs are visible on east side of road. |
| 35.0 56.3 |
KOA |
KOA campground is on east side of road. |
| 39.5 63.6 |
Tamarron Golf Course |
Tamarron Golf Course lies on east side of road. |
| 40.0 64.4 |
Red cliffs |
A wall of red cliffs rises to the west of 550 and parallels it for several miles. |
| 41.5 66.8 |
Haviland Lake exit |
Haviland Lake exit turns to the east. |
| 48.0 77.2 |
Range cattle |
Range cattle may be seen, or may cross the highway between miles 48 and 54. |
| 49.0 78.9 |
Purgatory ski area |
The Purgatory ski area is on the west side of the road. |
| 49.2 79.2 |
Hermosa Road/campground. |
Hermosa Road National Forest Access (NFA). Also there is a National Forest campground. |
| 51.2 82.4 |
Old Lime Creek Road |
Old Lime Creek Road NFA turnoff. |
| 52.5 84.5 |
Runaway truck ramp. |
There is a runaway truck ramp on the west side of the road for southbound vehicles. |
| 56.4 90.8 |
Coal Creek Pass |
Coal Creek Pass. Elevation 10,640. |
| 57.0 91.7 |
Twilight Peak |
Excellent view of Twilight Peak to the east. |
| 57.9 93.2 |
Waterfall |
A nice, smaller waterfall can be seen on the west side of the road. |
| 62.4 100.4 |
Rest site |
East Lime Creek rest site is at this point. |
| 62.9 101.2 |
Andrews Lake |
The turnoff to Andrews Lake is to the east. To the south can be seen Engineer Mountain, a very large, exposed rocky mountain. |
| 64.0 103.0 |
Molas Pass viewpoint |
At this mile marker is Molas Pass scenic viewpoint on the east side of the road. Molas Pass has an elevation of 10,010 feet. |
| 64.4 103.6 |
Little Molas Lake |
Little Molas Lake turnoff is to the west. |
| 65.1 104.8 |
Molas Trail |
Molas Trail turnoff is to the east. |
| 65.5 105.4 |
Molas Lake |
Molas Lake and campground are on east side of the road. The Grenadier Mountains lie as a background. |
| 70.0 112.6 |
Silverton |
From this mile marker, the historic mining town of Silverton is seen in a valley to the east of 550. Several Victorian buildings adorn the town, many of which are on the National Register of Historic Places. The Million Dollar Highway between Silverton and Ouray begins here. Also, many Jeep trails originate in the area. |
| 70.0 112.6 |
Photo |
Photo of South Mineral Creek, near Silverton |
| 71.0 114.3 |
Miner's Shrine |
As 550 heads east-west at this point, there is a turnoff to the north to the Miner's Shrine, less than 1/2 mile off 550. |
| 71.0 114.3 |
Photo |
View from highway, of The Valley of Silverton |
| 72.5 116.7 |
South Mineral Campground. |
Turnoff to South Mineral Campground on south side of road. South Mineral Creek flows along the highway. |
| 75.3 121.2 |
Ophir Pass |
The turnoff to Ophir Pass is on west side of road. The pass goes to Ophir Pass, then to the town of Ophir, and connects to route 145. This is, in most cases, a 4 wheel drive road. |
| 77.0 123.9 |
Beaver ponds/mine buildings |
Beaver ponds can be seen along south side of the road as 550 heads west. Old mine buildings are on north side of the road. |
| 79.0 127.1 |
550 south view. |
Excellent view of 550 as one looks southward through valley toward Silverton. |
| 80.3 129.2 |
Red Mountain Pass |
Red Mountain Pass is 11,000 feet. Views of the 3 Red Mountains lie to the east. |
| 82.0 132.0 |
Idarado Mine Tunnel |
The eastern end of the Idarado Mine tunnel is seen here, along with good examples of mine buildings and houses |
| 84.3 135.7 |
10,000 foot elevation marker |
|
| 85.0 136.8 |
Mine structures |
At this point, there are several abandoned mine structures at various stages of disrepair. |
| 86.7 139.5 |
Ironton Park |
At this location, on the east side of the road is a sign indicating an Idarado mine reclamation project. Another sign indicates cross-country skiing. A short distance off 550 is a fork in the gravel road that shows Brown Mountain left, and Corkscrew Gulch right |
| 87.0 140.0 |
Ironton |
The ghost town of Ironton Park is on the east side of the road. Only a handful of houses remain. |
| 88.0 141.6 |
Memorial |
A memorial to road workers who died from avalanches is here, and to members of a family
taken by avalanche. |
| 88.3 142.1 |
Avalanche tunnel |
A man-made avalanche protection tunnel was built because of frequent, heavy snowslides here. |
| 89.5 144.0 |
Base of Mt. Abram |
550 turns east here and goes along base of 12,801 foot Mt. Abram, Ouray's signature mountain. Good views of the Million Dollar Highway are seen to the north as it winds along sheer cliff dropoffs with no guardrails. |
| 89.7 144.4 |
River/falls |
A rushing river (Bear Creek) and falls are on the east side of the road. Also, turnoff to the Alpine Loop is to the east. |
| 90.9 146.3 |
Bear Creek trailhead. |
You access Bear Creek trailhead here, which passes over the top of a small tunnel cut through the mountain, through which 550 passes. |
| 92.5 148.9 |
Amphitheater turnoff |
Turnoff to the Amphitheater Campground is to the south as 550 heads east. There are great views of the Amphitheater, a huge, semicircular wall east of Ouray. |
| 93.0 149.7 |
Camp Bird Road |
The turnoff to Camp Bird Road is to the south. Along it is the Camp Bird Mine at about 5 miles, and Yankee Boy Basin at 8 miles, widely known for its wildflowers in July and August. Branching off Camp Bird Road is Imogene Pass, a treacherous 4-wheel drive to Telluride. |
| 94.0 151.3 |
Ouray Information |
You approach Ouray, a Victorian mining town, the whole of which is on the National Register of Historic Places. |
| 95.0 152.9 |
Hot Springs |
At the north end of town is the football field-sized Ouray Hot Springs, open all year, ranging in temperature from 72 to 104 degrees. |
| 101.0 162.5 |
San Juan Guest Ranch |
Turnoff to San Juan Guest Ranch is to the west. |
| 101.0 162.5 |
Photo |
View from highway |
| 102.1 164.3 |
Orvis Hot Springs |
Orvis Hot Springs lies along the west side of the road. It also has accommodations. |
| 103.5 166.6 |
Ridgway |
The small ranching town of Ridgway lies at the intersection of 550 and 62. The Ouray County Rodeo is held around Labor Day weekend. Parts of the films True Grit and How the West Was Won were filmed here. |
| 105.4 169.6 |
Owl Creek Pass |
Turnoff east to Owl Creek Pass and Silver Jack Reservoir. Views of beautiful Cinnamon Range to the east. |
| 106.1 170.7 |
Fairway Pines |
Turnoff west to Fairway Pines Golf Course. |
| 107.0 172.2 |
Ridgway State Park |
Entrance to Ridgway State Park, Dallas Creek area, to the west. |
| 108.2 174.1 |
Ridgway State Park, Dutch Charlie entrance |
|
| 111.7 179.8 |
Ridgway State Park, Pa-co-chu-puk area |
Turnoff west to Pa-co-chu-puk area. A dam is here, at the base of which is good trout fishing. |
| 115.5 185.9 |
Elk farm |
An elk farm is on the west side of road. |
| 117.0 188.3 |
Colona |
The small townsite of Colona is at this mile marker. It was once a childhood home to Jack Dempsey, a world heavyweight titled boxer. |
| 125.3 201.6 |
Antiques |
On the east side of the road are a series of antique shops. |
| 125.6 202.1 |
Ute Museum |
On west side of road is the Ute Indian Museum. |
| 125.8 202.4 |
Hanging Tree |
The Hanging Tree campground and RV park is on the east side of the road. What is said to be a real hanging tree from olden days still stands. |
| 126.2 203.1 |
Montrose |
Enter the city limits of Montrose, a full service town of nearly 10,000 people. |
| 129.0 207.6 |
550 meets route 50 |
Route 550 ends, and joins U.S. route 50. A few miles to the east is Black Canyon National Park, and approximately 60 miles north (straight ahead), is Grand Junction, home of The Colorado National Monument. -e |