Red Mountain Pass
Between Ouray and Silverton, Colorado
I have posted photos of Red Mountain Pass here before:
Red Mountain Pass
US Route 550 has been called “the Switzerland of America” and is officially dubbed “the million dollar highway.” I don’t know why, because it basically costs a million dollars per mile to build a highway. It stretches from Montrose, Colorado almost to Albuquerque, New Mexico but this post is about the legendary stretch from Ouray to Durango, Colorado.…
Now it was late September and the aspens were in full color. Time to go back.
DO NOT take an RV on this section of the highway! Just above Ouray is a section that is narrow, with a steep dropoff (a thousand feet down) and no guardrails. There have been divorces because someone drove an RV on that section of this road. Go to Ouray from points north, and enjoy yourself. Go to Silverton from points south and enjoy yourself. But don’t go past Silverton (northbound) or Ouray (southbound) if you’re in a motorhome or towing a 5th wheel. A Class B camper van and/or pickup camper is fine. You have been warned.
There are actually three mountains right next to each other all named Red Mountain. The pass is just above them. This was a silver producing area, and it produced quite a lot. The Yankee Girl mine was the biggest, with a huge ore body that went straight down. There is a nice rest area where you can get off the highway and gawk. This shot is from the rest area.
There are switchbacks on this road so tight that you can almost see the rear end of your vehicle down below as you go around them!
You’re up at the top of the San Juan mountains here, which are all volcanics that were laid down next to the Rockies shortly after the Rockies stopped uplifting. They are made of lava and volcanic ash, and are beautiful.
You’re up around eleven thousand feet here, so you might want to stop in town and buy a can or two of oxygen if you’re coming straight up from sea level. It takes about a week at about 5,000 feet to acclimate (grow enough red blood cells) to the high country.
The view is gorgeous when the aspens are in color.
And now, I have a special treat for you, dear reader. A photosphere!
As usual, Substack does not support photospheres. You’ll have to click through to another site (Google Maps) to view it. Use your mouse to scroll left, right, up and down. Use your mouse wheel to zoom in or out.
Each new post just keep getting more fascinating, colorful and awe-inspiring.
Beautiful scenery.