“USA 🇺🇸 Colorado ~Scenic “Leaf Peeking” From Durango to Silverton and Back”

• October 7, 2022
• By Pen
• 0 Comment

Over our time, visiting Colorado this summer and fall, we drove the entire “Million Dollar Highway,” which is technically a 25 mile part that runs from Ouray to Silverton. Some parts we did more than once, in our vehicle, as well as our Motorhome, since it is a main corridor, plus there is much to see along the way!
Three high passes are traversed on the US 550 and Million Dollar Highway:
Coal Bank Pass ~10,640ft, Molas Pass ~10,970ft and Red Mountain Pass ~11,018ft
It’s really an amazing stretch of roadway, and so, so pretty. The lack of guardrails on parts of this Highway is also unusual for the USA.

Here are photos from the Durango to Silverton (Silverton to Durango) section of the same Hwy 550, and is spectacular as well, but being beyond the deep gorge, it’s not referred to as the Million Dollar Highway, per say, but it’s gorgeous too. As it was, we were both driving; Vehicle/Motorhome, so limited pictures. ⬇️ I did pop my cell phone out the window for these two pics, so clearly we needed to go back and do it right!

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From Durango, US 550 makes its way to Silverton in 50 miles, loosely paralleling the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. The road travels by Trimble Springs Hot Springs which has been open for visitors since the late 19th century. It then runs north, along the Animas River, through the Hermosa Valley and the San Juan National Forest, where it goes past Purgatory Ski Resort, Haviland Lake and Electra Lake.

⬆️ ⬇️ The Pinkerton Hot Springs
This natural hot springs is near Durango, Colorado, traveling north off of Highway 550.
The Pinkerton Hot Springs are marked with a man-made rock pile that was created to be a safe place for the hot springs to discharge.  These rocks have grown colorful over time, due to the water’s minerals. This water is a steamy 95 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit, so be careful when you touch it!
Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of this intriguing natural phenomenon is its history.
The Pinkerton Hot Springs was discovered by James Pinkerton in the 1800s, who decided to transform this mysterious gem into a travel destination.  People almost immediately began to flock to this spot, as this was a time when many believed that hot springs were a miracle cure and their waters possessed healing powers.
Pinkerton built a resort here, complete with a swimming pool, filled with water from the springs. It is even rumored that Marilyn Monroe stayed here at one time. Unfortunately, the resort ultimately burned down.  Its remains served as a speakeasy in the 1920s, and today, the Colorado Timberline Academy sits on the land.
People stop by during their Colorado travels to witness this strange and unique bit of this state’s history.

Hot springs are a result of when melted snow and rainfall trickle down cracks in the Earth’s surface, towards it core.  After travelling thousands of feet, it reaches a point where it can’t go any further, so it begins to move back upward, using its intense heat to dissolve rocks and anything else that hinders it.  However, scientists aren’t completely sure how the Pinkerton Hot Springs in Durango, Colorado, receive their heat, but they’ve narrowed it down to two probabilities: Either the water is simply becoming hotter as it circulates deeper into the Earth’s core, or it could actually reach magma, which gives off an even more extreme heat.

On US Hwy 550; Durango to Silverton/Silverton to Durango, drivers pass by Engineer Mountain and Twilight Peak, before climbing over Coal Bank Pass, which has a summit of 10,660 feet. It then makes its way to Molas Pass at an elevation of 10,899 feet, which offers a panoramic view of Molas Lake, the Animas River Gorge, and Snowdon Peak.
The road then descends into Silverton, where numerous historic buildings can be seen and mine tours at the Old Hundred Gold Mine and the Mayflower Mill.
The highway continues from Silverton for 23 miles to Ouray. It proceeds up Mineral Creek Valley before ascending to Red Mountain Pass at an of 11,075 feet.

⬆️ The old Silverton Mining Town comes into view 

It was such a beautiful day, and after rolling into Silverton, for the third time this year, we decided to stay and enjoy some breakfast, at the Lone Spur Cafe! YUM! ⬇️

With our bellies full, we drove around this interesting old town, one more time, before heading back to Durango 

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“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers”
~L.M. Montgomery

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Last stop of the day is at Honeyville ⬇️ A great store!

Welcome to Honeyville, home of Colorado-made specialty honeys, honey jams, jellies and sauces. Our rich, thick, mountain wildflower honey is so flavorful, it is no wonder that our customers tell us it is the best honey in the world.
Special thanks to the families who have been enjoying Honeyville honeys since our first jar was bottled in 1918, and to the Colorado and Rocky Mountain beekeepers and bees who help make this honey so delicious!
Sincerely,
Danny, Sheree and Kevin Culhane

⬆️ I was fixated on this!

The busy bees behind glass inside the store is awesome. There is information about bees, bee colonies, and how they make honey.
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Continuing on From Silverton to Ouray ⬇️

Consistently voted one of the top ten scenic highways in the United States, the 70-mile “Million Dollar Highway” twists and turns through the mountains, providing visitors with breathtaking views of the San Juan Mountain Range and the Uncompahgre Gorge, as well as numerous opportunities to stop or turn off to visit places such as the Victorian-age mining towns of Durango, Silverton, and Ouray; the Red Mountain Mining District Ghost Towns of Red Mountain City and Ironton, ride a narrow-gauge railroad, hike miles of trails, and ride a jeep over America’s highest backroads.
The twisting two-lane highway is also filled with hairpin turns and exposed sections without guardrails, so drivers need to watch the road while passengers enjoy the views!

If you missed my prior blog of the scenic beauty from Ouray to Silverton, we drove during the summer, here is that link:

https://2gypsiesinthewind.com/northamerica/united-states/colorado/colorado-animas-forks-mining-ghost-town-the-million-dollar-highway-and-so-much-more/

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What’s next for us?

We are about five days out from departing Colorado. Next stop is back in Page, Arizona, where we will only stay about three nights to do the Upper Antelope Canyon hike. Really looking forward to this adventure!
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