Million Dollar Highway, CO

This was just past Hermosa, CO on Rt. 550 N.

Engineer's Peak is also on Rt. 550 before

you get to Silverton, CO.

Climbing higher on Rt. 550 N.

As the snow melts, it creates numerous waterfalls.

You can see the city of Silverton is nestled

in between the snow covered peaks.

This Catholic church was built in the late 1800's.

A ginger bread Victorian house in Silverton.

Welcome to the Million Dollar Highway.

It runs from Silverton to Ouray.

This is the highest point on the Million Dollar

Highway (Rt. 550).  

At different points along the road, there

are gates that are closed when travel 

becomes hazardous.

There are two stories that explain the naming

of the Million Dollar Highway.  The cost

of building the road was a million dollars.

Secondly, a million dollars worth of gold

and silver were transported over the road

in its first year, thus making Silverton and

Ouray wealthy communities.  PS: No guard

rails and many thousand foot drops!