by Sandy Moore
Member since:
September 22, 2010

Million Dollar Highway

October 24, 2011 12:29 AM UTC
views: 0 | 16 people recommend this | comments: 103

The Million Dollar Highway is US550 between Ouray and Silverton, Colorado. There are no guard rails on the side away from the mountain. It is pretty neat to look down. These are pictures of the road ahead of us and the mountains. The first picture is looking ahead of us.

 

http://media-files.gather.com/images/d311/d166/d747/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg

This one I was looking down at the creek in the bottom.

http://media-files.gather.com/images/d309/d166/d747/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg

The last is looking behind us.

http://media-files.gather.com/images/d308/d166/d747/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg

Notice that there are no guard rails and a heck of a drop. There were cops there as someone had just gone off.

Comments: 103

Pamela Marks Oct 24, 2011, 12:34am UTC
very beautiful pictures
Sandy Moore Oct 24, 2011, 12:37am UTC
Thanks, Pamela.
Pamela Marks Oct 24, 2011, 2:18pm UTC
you are welcome Sandy
Angela M. Oct 24, 2011, 12:37am UTC
Beautiful! I hope they put up guard rails soon....
Sandy Moore Oct 24, 2011, 12:39am UTC
They probably won't as there is not enough room from the pavement to the drop off to put them.
Monique Mealue Oct 24, 2011, 12:40am UTC
pretty pictures!
Sandy Moore Oct 24, 2011, 1:25pm UTC
Thanks Monique
Beth J. Oct 24, 2011, 12:42am UTC
Those are beautiful pics.
Sandy Moore Oct 24, 2011, 1:24pm UTC
Thanks Beth
mary v. Oct 24, 2011, 12:44am UTC
pretty, but you would think they would have guard rails up.
Sandy Moore Oct 24, 2011, 1:21pm UTC
There is no room to put any up.
Seedling Flower Oct 24, 2011, 12:49am UTC
nice pics
Sandy Moore Oct 24, 2011, 1:20pm UTC
Thanks Seedling Flower
J W. Oct 24, 2011, 2:13am UTC
nice photos
Sandy Moore Nov 1, 2011, 10:36pm UTC
Thanks J W.
J W. Oct 24, 2011, 2:13am UTC
nice photos
Sandy Moore Oct 24, 2011, 1:03pm UTC
Thanks J W.
Heidi S. Oct 24, 2011, 2:20am UTC
Looks like a neat place to explore!
Sandy Moore Oct 24, 2011, 12:57pm UTC
It sure would be. So when do we head out?
Heidi S. Oct 24, 2011, 2:07pm UTC
Next chance is Winter Break - probably not the best time I suppose...
Sandy Moore Nov 1, 2011, 8:08pm UTC
That could be a bad time but we can always work on a better time. Don't give up.
William Dotani Oct 24, 2011, 2:59am UTC
Looks like a fun place to put the pedal to the metal. Quite scenic.
Sandy Moore Oct 24, 2011, 11:35am UTC
Be sure to have your wings handy if you decide to do this.
Amber C. Oct 24, 2011, 4:33am UTC
No guard rails - wow.
Sandy Moore Oct 24, 2011, 10:33am UTC
Nope and there are places where there is only a few inches of asphalt on the outside of the white line.
Bernard C. Oct 24, 2011, 5:02am UTC
Yikes! Great looking scenary though would prefer to navigate during the daylight hours along such canals - tread lightly as it were - thanks for sharing :-))
Sandy Moore Oct 24, 2011, 10:29am UTC
I wouldn't want to go across it at night. One little slip and off you go.
DarkBeauty 73 (Melanie) Oct 24, 2011, 7:01am UTC
wow great pics.
Sandy Moore Oct 24, 2011, 10:58am UTC
Thanks, Melanie
Rebecca S. Oct 24, 2011, 7:27am UTC
Nice photos.
Sandy Moore Oct 24, 2011, 10:54am UTC
Thank Rebecca
Ann L. Oct 24, 2011, 7:40am UTC
The pictures are great, but holy cow! That looks a little scary to me, I'm afraid of heights!
Sandy Moore Oct 24, 2011, 11:28am UTC
I guess if one looked straight ahead or at the rock wall it wouldn't be as bad.
Soraya Quisano Oct 24, 2011, 8:20am UTC
nice pictures.
Sandy Moore Oct 24, 2011, 10:58am UTC
Thanks Soraya
Michelle Ayers Oct 24, 2011, 9:06am UTC
scary but cool : )
Sandy Moore Oct 24, 2011, 10:42am UTC
For sure. I have never drove this road and not sure if I want to.
Susan G. Oct 24, 2011, 9:10am UTC
Lovely pictures. Looks like a road where one should not natter on the cell while driving.
Sandy Moore Oct 24, 2011, 10:41am UTC
That is for sure. To me that road deserves full concentration from the driver.
Susan G. Oct 24, 2011, 1:26pm UTC
Forgive me for saying it but the price they would pay for inattention is pretty steep.
Sandy Moore Oct 24, 2011, 3:13pm UTC
It sure is.
Larry H. Oct 24, 2011, 9:18am UTC
Neat shots wouldn't want to fall over the side or drive over the side.
Sandy Moore Oct 24, 2011, 12:30pm UTC
I wouldn't either. There was a car that went off just before we got there. Police everywhere.I just hope the driver was ok.
John S. (arizona) Oct 24, 2011, 9:19am UTC
Sure looks like it would be a pretty drive.
Sandy Moore Oct 24, 2011, 12:29pm UTC
It is beautiful through there. I was lucky that I wasn't driving cause then I got to take pictures.
Diane Huizenga Oct 24, 2011, 10:07am UTC
Gorgeous but I would be freaked out driving with that dropoff
Sandy Moore Oct 24, 2011, 3:48pm UTC
I prefer being the passenger. I have never drove it and not sure I would want to.
Clifford N. Oct 24, 2011, 11:51am UTC
Sandy,
I've been down that road several times and actually enjoy the trip every time. The only time I am uncomfortable with no guardrails being there is in heavy ice conditions.
I will be in Colorado in January and will be heading out from Denver to Breckenridge. It is a beautiful ride as well and some of the mountain roads can get tricky.
Sandy Moore Oct 24, 2011, 1:23pm UTC
I can see how that would be dangerous in the winter time. It is beautiful up around Breckenridge too. I haven't been there in ages.
Clifford N. Oct 24, 2011, 2:06pm UTC
Do you live in Colorado?
Sandy Moore Nov 1, 2011, 8:10pm UTC
Yes, I do.
Clifford N. Nov 1, 2011, 10:35pm UTC
I would think a Colorado girl would not be bothered by roads like that.
Sandy Moore Nov 1, 2011, 10:40pm UTC
I don't mind them that much but sure do respect them. I was on worse when we were hunting. The old paths to old mines is what we drove on most of the time. Now give me a bike and I could have a blast on that highway.
Clifford N. Nov 1, 2011, 10:50pm UTC
Sounds like a country girl talking. Do you snow ski? I will be spending a week on about four of the slopes around Breckinridge the second week of January and am really looking forward to those rugged mountain trails.
Sandy Moore Nov 1, 2011, 11:23pm UTC
I cross country ski and love it. I also snow shoe. There is so much that can be seen by doing these. I down hill skied a few times and didn't really care for it. I love riding a horse into the hills. The mountains are and always will be something to respect and admire. They offer so much. I can sit on the side or the top of a mountain for hours and feel so much peace.
Keep in touch and if I should be up around the Breckinridge area maybe we could have coffee.
Clifford N. Nov 2, 2011, 10:38am UTC
Well now, aren't you the real thing. If I lived in the mountains, I would be involved in a lot of such. I have never engaged in cross country skiing or snow shoeing but have hunted the mountains of Idaho and Montana in snow that involved both horseback and on foot stalking of elk, deer, mountain lions and bear. I dearly love the horsebacking in remote areas.

Coffee would be a welcomed treat on my part if you happen to be in the area. I will be staying at Base Nine Condos in Breckenridge but do not have the unit number in hand at the moment. If you think there is a real possibility of getting together, let me know and I will send you some better contact information.
Sandy Moore Nov 3, 2011, 12:43pm UTC
I hunted for many years and love it. I remember the days of being on the horse and working our way through snow drifts. Those were the days. The biggest excitement was the year we saw three albino elk. There was a cow, calf, and spike. The next year the spike had turned into a beautiful bull. Long story with that one. He was like a spirit.

Let's keep in touch for when you head this way. There is always that possibility that we could meet.
Clifford N. Nov 3, 2011, 7:24pm UTC
I have some great slides that were taken on one of our hunts along the Idaho/Montana border on horseback in the wilderness areas along the Lewis and Clark Trail.

Albino elk must be very rare. What a treat. I have seen photos of twin albino moose not long ago. Fantastic.

I will try to keep in contact. Who knows what tomorrow may bring.
Sandy Moore Nov 3, 2011, 7:41pm UTC
Do you have the slides posted on Gather?

Yes the albino's are rare. It was such a thrill seeing them. The bull we saw for two years and then he was gone. I never heard if anyone got him or not. I'm sure if they had it would have been all over the news.
Clifford N. Nov 3, 2011, 8:04pm UTC
No, I don't have them posted. I am not sure I have the expertise to do so. They were all taken with still cameras and never printed into photographs. They are in slide form only. I will have to look into the possibility.

I would have thought that the albinos would have been protected.
Sandy Moore Nov 3, 2011, 9:59pm UTC
The were on an area with many acreas. I have no idea where they came from.

If you get those printed into pictures I would love to see them.
Clifford N. Nov 3, 2011, 10:51pm UTC
You will be on my list.
Sandy Moore Nov 4, 2011, 4:54am UTC
Thanks Clifford
Clifford N. Nov 4, 2011, 11:05am UTC
You must be a real night owl Sandy. I was chasing dream dragons at this time of the morning. When do you sleep.
Sandy Moore Nov 4, 2011, 2:50pm UTC
I laid down around 9:30 and was wide awake around one so I just stayed up. I will be dead to the world tonight.
Lisa C. Oct 24, 2011, 12:58pm UTC
awesome pics. it still looks so natural without the guardrails and all, but i would be super scared on it. lol.

Thanks for posting to the Comments Club!
Sandy Moore Oct 24, 2011, 2:15pm UTC
It sure does, L. C. I have been across it twice now and I still get an eerie feeling.
ʚϊɞ Carol ʚϊɞ Oct 24, 2011, 2:34pm UTC
Beautiful views but so dangerous.
Sandy Moore Oct 24, 2011, 2:53pm UTC
I do agree with you, Carol.
Len Maxwell Oct 24, 2011, 3:06pm UTC
Beautiful photos, but I'm not sure I'd like to drive along there. Well, drive maybe, but certainly not be a passenger.
Sandy Moore Nov 1, 2011, 8:24pm UTC
Thanks, Len. I liked being the passenger so I could take the pictures.
Tessa D. Oct 24, 2011, 3:22pm UTC
awesome! thanx! purrrrrrrr!
Sandy Moore Oct 24, 2011, 4:14pm UTC
Thanks for viewing Tessa.
Angela A. Oct 24, 2011, 3:53pm UTC
Seems scary to not have any guard rails up.
Sandy Moore Oct 26, 2011, 7:01pm UTC
That it is. A person just needs to pay close attention to everything.
J. Reid Oct 24, 2011, 5:07pm UTC
Thanks for sharing with: Natures' Photo Stories
Stephannie H. Oct 24, 2011, 5:51pm UTC
pretty
Sandy Moore Oct 25, 2011, 10:42am UTC
Thanks Stephannie
May Xue Oct 24, 2011, 6:04pm UTC
I'll never forget that view when we drove from California to North Carolina. Took us 5 long agony days!
Sandy Moore Oct 25, 2011, 10:38am UTC
It is one you will never forget, isn't it?
May Xue Oct 25, 2011, 5:49pm UTC
We didn't have cellphones when we travel too! My dad and uncles had to rely on just a plain old map. I think it took us almost 3 days to go across that Sierra Mountain.
Sandy Moore Oct 26, 2011, 10:05pm UTC
I have never been across the Sierra Mountains. I know a lot of times when Bob and I are out we have no service. That can be good and bad.
Patricia J. Oct 25, 2011, 6:47am UTC
I don't think I could travel that highway with no guardrails as I am terribly afraid of heights! One car over the edge would have me petrified. But the scenery is very beautiful.
Sandy Moore Oct 26, 2011, 6:26pm UTC
It is beautiful there but the road is nothing to play with.
CL Mareydt Oct 25, 2011, 10:15am UTC
Beautiful ... but dangerous ... at least looking at it in your photos ... :)

☀★¸¸.☆.¸¸ . ✶*¨*. ¸ .✫*¨*.¸¸.✶*¸¸.☆.¸¸ . ☀★☀★¸¸.☆.¸¸ . ✶*¨*.
Thanks for sharing at MAY I MAKE A POINT? Have a good day!
Sandy Moore Oct 25, 2011, 11:24am UTC
It sure is if a person isn't paying attention.
Ed Da Head Toker Oct 26, 2011, 12:30pm UTC
kool pic.
Looks like it would be a great place to cruze on a bike.
As long as one stayed on the highway.
Sandy Moore Nov 1, 2011, 10:37pm UTC
That would be fun to go across on a bike.
Heather M. Oct 26, 2011, 7:54pm UTC
Pretty photos, but I think I'll have to skip that bit of road. I'm not fond of being close to serious drops... especially when there is no guard rail. I have driven out of my way to avoid certain mountains, because the road had too many twists and turns, and the drop was too visible.
Sandy Moore Oct 26, 2011, 8:24pm UTC
Thanks, Heather. There are some roads I don't want to go on myself.
Sharla H. Oct 26, 2011, 10:45pm UTC
pretty
Sandy Moore Nov 4, 2011, 10:33am UTC
Thanks Sharla
Ann K. Oct 27, 2011, 11:24pm UTC
Beautiful scenery! There are many roads in West Virginia that have no guardrails and steep dropoffs. Fun, but scary!
Sandy Moore Oct 28, 2011, 9:38am UTC
I agree about the fun but scary. There are a couple of other passes here in Colorado that I want to go across some day. They are suppose to be worse than this one.
Janie E. Feb 10, 2012, 12:14am UTC
Scary and gorgeous at the same time.
Sandy Moore Feb 12, 2012, 5:58pm UTC
It sure is.
Ron Hall Jan 28, 2013, 9:01pm UTC
My home town. I used to ride my bike up to the top of the pass, and sit under a tree while it rained and cleaned the pavement off. Then I'd let a big line of cars pass and see if I could break my record for the number of people I could pass on the way down.
Sandy Moore Jan 30, 2013, 12:19am UTC
HaHa I bet that was fun. What was the most you ever passed?
Ron Hall Jan 30, 2013, 10:27pm UTC
I'm guessing about 30. It's a little hazy of a memory now, but I suspect I watched the eyes of the Winnebago drivers. If one looked particularly scared I'd give them 10 minutes to back up traffic and then take off.
Renita P. Mar 3, 2013, 9:12pm UTC
beautiful scenery

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