“Some roads take you somewhere. This one takes your breath away.”
Colorado’s Million Dollar Highway has been dazzling travelers long before anyone bothered to give it a price tag. Miners once carved their fortunes out of these cliffs, railroad barons chased opportunity through the canyons, and the San Juan Mountains rose around it all with quiet, immovable confidence. Today, this stretch between Durango, Silverton, and Ouray is part adventure, part history lesson, and part postcard you somehow get to drive through.
If you love dramatic switchbacks, gold rush legends, mirror-like lakes, and a little Wild West grit, this scenic drive is your kind of masterpiece. The self guided audio tour turns your car into a storyteller so you can look out the window instead of down at your phone. Every curve reveals a new piece of Colorado scenery and a new chapter in its frontier past.
You will hear about Otto Mears, the visionary roadbuilder who made the impossible passable. Pinkerton Hot Springs brings colorful mineral deposits and quirky pioneer folklore. Baker’s Bridge offers both classic views and classic film trivia thanks to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Haviland Lake and Molas Pass unfold in layers of pine forest and high-altitude grandeur. Silverton appears with its old mining streets and rugged charm. Crystal Lake adds serene reflections and the possibility of spotting wildlife. Bear Creek Falls thunders beneath the highway in a dramatic, 200-foot plunge. And finally, Ouray surprises you with its steep canyon walls, hot springs, and alpine beauty that has earned it the nickname Switzerland of America.
Your car will not lasso gold or outrun bandits, but it will carry you through one of the most iconic scenic drives in the United States. With the road, the mountains, and the stories working together, you will feel why this route is spoken about with a kind of reverence.
Possible side effects include sudden cravings to move to Colorado, an unreasonable number of waterfall photos, and bragging rights that may last longer than the gold rush itself.
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Where To Start?
(The tour begins on US-550 (Main Avenue) just before the intersections with 17th Street and Park Avenue in Durango. You’ll see a gas station on your right—from there, head north toward Ouray to begin your drive. This is the suggested starting point. Please note that we are not associated with any of the businesses in this area, so their staff will not have information about this tour.)
How Does It Work?
- Once you book a tour, you’ll get a text/email with instructions.
- Download the app (while in good Wi-Fi/signal) and use your unique password to access your tours. If multiple versions or entry points are available for your tour, be sure to download all the audio guides.
- Audio Setup: Connect your phone to the car stereo via Bluetooth, USB, or Aux, and bring headphones on walking tours. CarPlay and Android Auto are currently not supported; we’re working toward a solution with Apple.
- To begin touring, go to the starting point and launch the app.
- The audio starts automatically once you reach the starting point. Stick to the tour route and speed limit for the best experience.
- Please note that no one will meet you at the starting point.
Million Dollar Highway Audio Tour
Things to do on the Tour Include:
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Welcome to the Million Dollar Highway
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Durango
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Animas River
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So Why "Million Dollar"?
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Otto Mears and the Ouray Toll Road
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Geology of the Plateau
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Pinkerton Hot Springs
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Baker's Bridge
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Haviland Lake
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History & Formation of the San Juan Mountains
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Wildlife
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History of the Gold Rush
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Coal Bank Pass
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Is It Dangerous?
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Adrenaline Falls
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Andrews Lake Trail
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Molas Pass
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Molas Lake
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Immigrant Labor
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Silverton
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Detour to Clear Creek Falls
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Fall Foliage
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Celestial Bears
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Red Mountain Pass
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Erosion/Gulch
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Ironton
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Mineral Creek Staging Area
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Crystal Lake
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The Saint Germain Foundation
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Bear Creek Falls
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Ouray
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Ouray Ice Park
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Box Canyon
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Ouray Historical District
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Architecture of Ouray
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Cascade Falls Park
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Ouray Visitor Center
Preview The Tour
Tour FAQs
Running all the way from New Mexico to Colorado, US Highway 550 is also referred to as The Million Dollar Highway.
The 25-mile Million Dollar Highway between Silverton and Ouray in Colorado is one of the most scenic drives in the US. We recommend driving it if you can.
The speed limit is typically between 25 mph and 10 mph (around some turns).
The Million Dollar Highway in Colorado is kept open year-round for anyone to travel. However, taking this route during the winter can sometimes be tricky or even dangerous, so make sure you’re prepared.
Guard rails are absent in some areas as the road is too narrow to install them.
Silverton is a historic mining town (hence the name). Many mining operations can be seen on the hillsides as you leave Silverton (if driving south to north) or just before arriving in Silverton (if driving north to south). Silverton is well known because of the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.
The Million Dollar Highway in Colorado is one of the most scenic stretches of highway in the country, running about 25 miles between the towns of Silverton and Ouray. Read more in our blog post.
The Million Dollar Highway travels between the small towns of Silverton and Ouray in Southwest Colorado. The highest point in the San Juan Mountain Range is Red Mountain Pass at 11,018 feet.
The Red Mountain Pass is a mountain pass in western Colorado’s San Juan Mountains. The Red Mountain Pass is named after the Red Mountain, which can be found on the pass’s northeast side. The Red Mountain’s name is also derived from the iron oxide-laden rock that forms its slopes. During our tour, you’ll get a closer look at the same.
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Inclusions and Exclusions
App on your phone: A link to download the Action Tour Guide App and Password for your tours. Easy to use: Stories play automatically via GPS, hands‑free. Flexible schedule: Use any day, any time. Tours are valid forever. Interactive audio stories: Experience local history and culture through clear, concise narratives from experienced narrators. At your own pace: No group. Take breaks for photos, snacks, hikes. Go at your own pace. Offline use: No cell signal or Wi-Fi required. Offline GPS Map & route. Stop-to-stop direction. Don’t miss a thing: Enjoy a full itinerary, get travel tips, hear narrated guides, and see hidden gems. Transportation, parking fees, food, and drinks. Entry tickets or reservations for any attractions along the route. Car Rental: Please arrange a rental car at the closest airport or train station. 