Million Dollar Highway

The stretch was built on the line of an 1880s toll road cut by Otto Mears for the mines, and the modern highway follows it - climbing over Red Mountain Pass at 3,358 metres with sections carved into the cliff face above the Uncompahgre Gorge. The best-known characteristic is the absence of guardrails on long stretches of the drop side, partly because snowplough operations need to push snow over the edge; the drops are several hundred metres in places and there is no shoulder. Avalanche paths cross the road and it closes for control work in winter, sometimes for days. The name has several explanations, including the cost per mile of construction and a claim that the fill contained gold ore.

What's there

• Red Mountain Pass at 3,358 metres - the high point of the stretch.
• No guardrails on the drop side - so ploughs can clear snow over it.
• Cliff-cut sections above the gorge - with no shoulder.
• Old mine workings - visible on the slopes throughout.

When to go

June to September; winter driving here is for the experienced only. Half a day.

Good to know

The lack of guardrails genuinely distresses some drivers - there is no alternative once committed. Avalanche closures happen in winter, sometimes for days. Snow and ice can appear in any month at the pass. Take the outside lane northbound if heights bother you.

Nearby

Ouray is north; Silverton and the narrow-gauge railway are south.

Key facts