Million Dollar Highway Audio Tour

The Million Dollar Highway is the stretch of US 550 between Durango and Ouray, and it is one of the great mountain drives in North America. The road climbs over Coal Bank Pass and Molas Pass, drops to Silverton, then crosses Red Mountain Pass at over 11,000 feet before dropping through a gorge to Ouray. Between Silverton and Ouray it clings to cliff edges with sheer drops, few guardrails and tight switchbacks, passing old mining ruins, bright red slopes and the kind of peaks that appear on postcards. The name is a matter of local debate, with stories of expensive construction, gold-bearing fill and million-dollar views all in circulation, but nobody argues about the scenery. A self-guided audio tour turns the drive into a narrated history. Using your phone and GPS, the tour plays stories at the right places along the route, covering mining history, the construction of the road, geology, wildlife and the towns you pass. It lets you set your own pace, pull over for photos and stop for lunch, which makes it a flexible alternative to a bus tour. Check the product details to see whether it covers only part of the road or the whole of it, and download the audio before you leave town, since cell service is patchy in the mountains.

Choose your day carefully. The road is open year-round but is subject to snow, ice and occasional closures for avalanche control or maintenance, so check conditions from the state transportation department before you go in winter, spring or autumn. Even in summer, afternoon thunderstorms are common above treeline, so aim to cross the high passes in the morning.

Allow a full day for a Durango to Ouray round trip with stops, and remember that driving the Silverton to Ouray section north to south puts you on the cliff side of the road, which some drivers find more nerve-wracking.

Fill the tank and bring snacks, water and layers before you start. Services are thin between Durango and Silverton and between Silverton and Ouray. Drive slowly, use pullouts to let faster traffic pass, and keep an eye out for rockfall, wildlife and cyclists. Passengers will have the best views, so if you are traveling as a pair, consider swapping drivers. If you are uncomfortable with exposure or narrow roads, you may prefer the train to Silverton and a guided jeep or bus tour for the rest.

The best way to build a day is to stop often. Good places for a break include the pullouts near Molas Pass and Red Mountain Pass, the town of Silverton for lunch and Ouray at the far end for a soak in the hot springs and a walk beside Box Canyon Falls.

Because the audio is self-paced, you can also stretch the trip over two days by staying overnight in Silverton or Ouray, which gives you time for short hikes and evening light. Pair this with the train if you want to see the same country from two different angles.

One last tip is to treat the highway as a destination rather than a connection. Photographers should plan for early morning light and the golden hour, when the red rock of the Red Mountain area glows. Birdwatchers and wildflower fans will find rewarding stops in summer, and autumn brings aspen gold along the whole route. If you are prone to motion sickness, take the curves slowly, sit in the front and take a break in Silverton. Keep the audio volume at a comfortable level so you can hear traffic and any warnings.