{"id":10906,"date":"2018-03-24T05:00:41","date_gmt":"2018-03-24T10:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/traun-photo.com\/dan\/?p=10906"},"modified":"2018-03-26T08:15:28","modified_gmt":"2018-03-26T13:15:28","slug":"million-dollar-highway-ouray-colorado","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/traun-photo.com\/dan\/million-dollar-highway-ouray-colorado\/","title":{"rendered":"MILLION DOLLAR HIGHWAY – Ouray #Colorado"},"content":{"rendered":"

MILLION DOLLAR HIGHWAY<\/h1>\n

Most of U.S. 550 in Colorado is two-lane mountainous highway.\u00a0 It is one of only two north\u2013south U.S. Highways in Colorado which runs west of the\u00a0Continental Divide.\u00a0 The section from\u00a0Silverton\u00a0to\u00a0Ouray\u00a0is frequently called the Million Dollar Highway.\u00a0\u00a0-wikipedia<\/p>\n

Though the entire stretch has been called the Million Dollar Highway, it is really the twelve miles south of Ouray through the\u00a0Uncompahgre Gorge\u00a0to the summit of\u00a0Red Mountain Pass\u00a0which gains the highway its name.\u00a0 This stretch through the gorge is challenging and potentially hazardous to drive.\u00a0 It is characterized by steep cliffs, narrow lanes, and a lack of guardrails.\u00a0 The ascent of Red Mountain Pass is marked with a number of hairpin curves used to gain elevation, and again, narrow lanes for traffic\u2014many cut directly into the sides of mountains.\u00a0 Large\u00a0RVs<\/a>\u00a0travel in both directions, which adds a degree of excitement (or danger) to people in cars.\u00a0 The road is open year-round. -wikipedia<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Million Dollar Highway is a thrill to travel.\u00a0 The sweeping views and abrupt drop-offs are spectacular.\u00a0 If you are afraid of heights, you should avoid this route or take a nap.\u00a0 There are not many places to pull off and capture the beauty this route beholds.\u00a0 We did manage to find a few spots.<\/p>\n

\"Million <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Million <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Million <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Million <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Million <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

Uncompahgre River<\/h3>\n

The\u00a0Uncompahgre River\u00a0is a tributary of the\u00a0Gunnison River, approximately 75\u00a0mi long, in southwestern\u00a0Colorado\u00a0in the\u00a0United States.\u00a0 Lake Como at 12,215\u00a0ft in northern\u00a0San Juan County, in the\u00a0Uncompahgre National Forest<\/a>\u00a0in the northwestern\u00a0San Juan Mountains<\/a>\u00a0is the headwaters of the river.\u00a0 It flows northwest past\u00a0Ouray,\u00a0Ridgway,\u00a0Montrose, and\u00a0Olathe\u00a0and joins the Gunnison at Confluence Park in\u00a0Delta.\u00a0 ~wikipedia<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It had rained a fair bit the day before we traveled the Million Dollar Highway.\u00a0 The runoff turned the river reddish-brown.<\/p>\n

\"Uncompahgre<\/a><\/p>\n

Red Mountain No. 1, 2 & 3<\/h3>\n

\"Red<\/a><\/p>\n

The San Juan Mountains are undoubtedly the most colorful mountains in Colorado.\u00a0 Mineral deposits have created slopes that are red, orange, yellow, purple, silver, brown or black. These colors combine with the blue skies, white snow and the various shades of green that grow on the mountains to produce a dazzling kaleidoscope.\u00a0 Red seems to be a recurring theme.\u00a0 At least three such mountains aggregate near the “Red Mountain Pass” (11018 ft) on U.S. Route 550 that connects the towns of Montrose and Durango via Ouray and Silverton. The three mountains, unceremoniously named are Red Mountain #1 (12592 ft), Red Mountain #2 (12219 ft) and Red Mountain #3 (12890 ft) all of which are visible from the road (north of the pass). ~www.summitpost.org<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"June<\/p>\n

Commodore Gulch<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Right along side the road in Commodore Gulch lives this beautiful unnamed little mountain stream.<\/p>\n

\"Commodore <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Commodore <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Commodore <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

EXTRA<\/h3>\n