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The best photos of Million Dollar Highway aren't always at the obvious landmarks. Sure, Red Mountain Pass (11,018 feet) and Molas Pass Overlook (10,910 feet) will fill your camera roll, but the real magic is in the side streets, the reflected light, and the unexpected angles that only reveal themselves to those exploring on foot. Seek out Engineer Mountain Overlook for the kind of shot that no one else is posting.
Colorado's most dramatic 25 miles — hairpin turns without guardrails carved into the cliffs between Silverton and Ouray through the heart of the San Juan Mountains.
Roamee Pro, also known as Roamee, offers a free self-guided photography tour route in Million Dollar Highway. The audio walking tour can include stops such as Red Mountain Pass (11,018 feet) — the highest and most dramatic of the three passes, with views of the rust-colored Red Mountain peaks stained by iron ore deposits, Molas Pass Overlook (10,910 feet) — a pullout with views of the Grenadier Range, the Animas River valley, and the Needle Mountains of the Weminuche Wilderness, plus hidden gems like Engineer Mountain Overlook — a pullout south of Coal Bank Pass with a view of the 12,968-foot peak and surrounding alpine basins that most drivers blast past at speed.
Use this page as a starting point for a Million Dollar Highway walking tour, a free self-guided route, or the Roamee app for Million Dollar Highway. Roamee Pro keeps the route flexible so you can follow the stops, skip ahead, or explore nearby streets at your own pace.
Million Dollar Highway attracts visitors for nature and photography, and Red Mountain Pass (11,018 feet) and Molas Pass Overlook (10,910 feet) and every landmark doubles as a photography opportunity when you know where to stand and when the light is best. A photography-focused walk pays attention to reflections, leading lines, and street scenes between the landmarks. Hidden photogenic spots like Engineer Mountain Overlook reward those who wander off the main path.
Drive north (Silverton to Ouray) to keep your vehicle on the inside lane (mountain side) for the guardrail-less descent. The 25-mile drive takes about 45 minutes but allow 2 hours with stops. There is no gas between Silverton and Ouray. The road is steep, narrow, and has blind curves — use low gear on descents. RVs and trailers should avoid this road.
Late June through mid-October for a clear road. Late September through early October for aspen gold against the red mountains — one of the most spectacular fall color drives in America. The road stays open in winter but requires chains or 4WD after snowfall. Avalanche chutes cross the road in winter and spring.
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