San Juan Skyway is Indeed a Scenic Byway.

After this write up, I'll be able to take my Colorado 2009-2010 folder of photos, copy it to a DVD and delete from my computer. My hard drive will be so happy for the extra room, but that doesn't mean I'm finished with Colorado...you haven't seen my adventures in Mesa Verde yet. So, you're going to be seeing photos of the Rocky Mountains going via Route 550 from Durango, through Silverton and Ouray, and how the snow fall and ice bring out the quintessential beauty of the mountains. Lovely winter scenery you'll probably be thinking...surprise!; those photos were taken in April 2010. That's right, spring time in the Rockies means say hello to snow, it's still there from the winter and will leave when it's good and ready.





Map time!  Route 550 is part of Colorado's San Juan Skyway Scenic Byway, talk about a run-on name; there is a 12 mile section between Ouray and the summit of Red Mountain Pass called "The Million Dollar Highway".  It was built due to the area being too steep for railroads, and the mines needed easy access; two legends are also associated with the naming of this highway section.  The first is that the actual cost of highway was one million dollars; the second was that one million dollars of gold ore was scattered throughout the road's building material.  

 

 

 

 

As you begin driving north out of Durango on Route 550, it will be your typical highway; scenic of course, but highway is highway, right?  Pay attention as the you begin to notice that the lanes start to narrow; the closer you get towards Silverton, the higher the surrounding mountains become.  There will be hair pin turns that will make your hair stand on end; wait until you have to pass another vehicle coming from the other way...talk about an adrenaline rush!  I did the driving on this trip and I believe this is how I finally overcame my fear of mountain roads, switchbacks, and looking down into expansive canyons and valleys.

 

 

 

 

 

There will be three mountain summits/passes along the way.  The first will be Coal Bend Pass at 10, 640 feet above sea level.  The roadway is still basic highway, but it will begin narrowing as you near Molas Pass.

 

The road is getting narrower, more twists and turns, you're gaining elevation and then the majestic Molas Pass comes into view.  At 10,910 feet above sea level, it's an impressive site; you're not done climbing yet as the fun is just starting to intensify.

 

Molas Pass

 

 

The first town you will finally reach is Silverton; originally it was called "Baker's Park" after Captain Charles Baker.  It is a small town with many  of the original buildings from the 1800s still standing.  From Durango, you can take a scenic ride on the Durango-Silverton Railroad to the town and back again; during the winter holiday season, the "Polar Express" runs for children to enjoy.

 

 

Now remember that mining was the main reason why settlements began in this section of the Rocky Mountains.  Historical restorations are taking place by the Idarado Mining Company in the San Miguel Valley; also, don't be surprised to see an abandoned mine shaft sticking out towards the highway as you drive through the mountains.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Between Silverton and Ouray is Red Mountain Pass whose summit reaches 11,038 feet above sea level.  The drive is exhilarating along the narrow mountain road, but the scenic views are worth the anxiety.

 

 

 



Red Mountain Pass

 

 



Then comes the city of Ouray, much larger than Silverton and certainly offering much more for visitors.  It has all the modern conveniences, intermingled with the charm of the Old West...have I mentioned the awesome scenery enough yet!?!  As you take the hair pin turns on the highway exit, the slower speed will allow you to get a full appreciation of the city itself.  Feeling stressed out from the drive; check into your hotel/motel and take advantage of Ouray's natural hot springs.  I bet that piece of news just got your full attention.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since it was spring time, snow was melting with the warming sun; don't be surprised to see a waterfall cascading down a mountain wall, only to become icy rivulets reaching out towards your vehicle.  There will be a tunnel or two blasted out from the natural rock...this was such an awesome adventure!

 

 

 

 

If you continue northward on Route 550, your next stop will be Ridgway; it has become a haven for artists and artisans.  Stop in at the True Grit Cafe for a meal; True Grit should sound familiar as Ridgway was the setting for the classic John Wayne movie.  Take a walk along the main street and stop in at the local shops; many of the artists though have shops in the back streets.

 

 

We continued on Route 550 until we reached Grand Junction; had a great dinner at Famous Dave's BBQ, and made the long ride home to Monticello.  As scenic as traveling Route 191 to Monticello is, it was anti-climactic after the journey on the San Juan Skyway (Route 550).

Mary Cokenour





Colorado's Route 141 - Dove Creek to Grand Junction

Roy and I traveled Route 141 on two different occasions in 2010; the first time in May via La Sal, Utah's Route 46 to Colorado's Route 90, and then up to Grand Junction.  The second time was in October and we started at the beginning, well the beginning in our neck of the woods, Dove Creek.  This is a wonderfully scenic drive; 3 to 5 hours depending on how much time you need to take photos and do some exploring; and yes, we took the 5 hour tour.

The landscape throughout the trip changes constantly between desert, range, canyons of gorgeous sandstone, pasture, paralleling rivers, mountains, valley; it was difficult choosing a few photos from the hundreds once again.  I'm going to give you the second trip, Dove Creek to Grand Junction, so you can have a good idea of what you do not want to miss out on.





Once you make the turn onto Route 141 from Route 491, the landscape varies from pastures to range to desert; the road itself has twists and turns, small hills.  Eventually the landscape turns more rocky and you will begin to climb upwards; at the highest point the La Sal Mountains are visible in the distance.

 

 

Route 141 will be running parallel to the Dolores River, so lush oases of vegetation will be seen.

 

 

All along Route 141 will be interesting sites to see from large formations, a painting on a sandstone wall, to smiling faces etched into rocks.  Where exactly is every item?  That's for you to find out; it wouldn't be an adventure if you knew at what inch or mile all the fun stuff was at.  Seriously, I don't know about you, but knowing what to expect at every turn of the road sort of takes the fun out of the traveling experience.

 How can you not want to stop here for a laugh?  Most travelers expect to see petroglyphs, and this is a form of rock art if you truly think about it.

 

As you leave the Dolores River behind and begin paralleling the San Miguel River, the River Road will be hugging high and sheer sandstone walls.                   

 

 We also saw an oven built with stones.

 

 

 

 

 

 



Dolores Canyon/San Miguel River

 At a particular bend of the Dolores Canyon, remnants of the "Hanging Flume" can be seen from a pull-in area; built in the 1880's, the flume carried water to the mines.

Hanging Flume

Between Naturita and Gateway, Route 141 is known as the Unaweep Tabeguache Scenic Byway and you'll pick up the Dolores River once again.  We stopped along the road to walk an ATV trail canopied by the trees; it was just one of those idyllic moments one cannot miss out on.







Now prepare for a feast of sites as you are heading towards Gateway, Colorado.



Thimble Rock and Driggs Mansion
 

Thimble Rock

 

 

There is an arch at Thimble Rock also.

 

 

Oh, I know I'm writing about our second trip which occurred in October of 2010, but I have to post this photo of a waterfall we found on the May trip.  Snow was melting off the surrounding mountains and it was just an awesome site to see.

 



 

Driggs Mansion



 

 

Getting nearer to Gateway (not where the computers originated or are manufactured), the scenery is simply breathtaking!  Overlooking the town is a pointed mesa called "The Palisade".

 

 

The Palisade

The trip along Route 141 will be ending soon enough as you begin to see the whitish landscape of Whitewater; merge onto Route 50 heading northward and then west to reach Interstate 70 and the city of Grand Junction.  Now you get to pick one of the various restaurants to have a well deserved meal, and sneak peeks at the photos you've taken.

 

 

 

As I mentioned earlier, when you're traveling around, especially on vacation, don't worry over how many inches, feet, miles are between each site to see...just enjoy the ride!

 

Mary Cokenour