San Juan Skyway
HIGHLIGHTS
233-mile journey, including the famed Million Dollar Highway between Silverton & Ouray
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SCENIC LOOP IN THE USA
An opportunity to see Mesa Verde is a difficult one to pass up. We knew we wanted to drive to the famed National Park and that turned into spending a single, long, epic day traveling the entirety of the San Juan Skyway. Starting in Ridgway, we drove towards Telluride and then south to the small towns of Rico, and Stoner. Once we passed through Dolores we headed up into Mesa Verde National Park.
After a brief visit (COVID made visiting the park more of a scenic drive), we headed into Durango and then through the iconic mountain town of Silverton. After a late lunch we began our journey on the famed “Million Dollar Highway.” We have few photos from this particular stretch as Ray was almost in tears at the sheer drop offs on the passenger side. Finally, we reached Ouray, the “Switzerland of the US,” and were only twenty minutes from returning to Ridgway. Below are some of the photos we managed to take. The sights are so beautiful you often just take them in and completely forget to grab your camera or phone to take a picture.
Completing the whole loop requires an entire day, even without our side trips, but it is an absolute must-see if you’re ever in the area.
