Durango Trip Overview
Strikeout for the wild west with this self-guided driving tour of Colorado’s Million Dollar Highway. This remote, jaw-dropping stretch of roadway was once the site of booming mining towns and railroad tycoons. Today, it’s a totally unique blend of jaw-dropping natural beauty and rugged western charm. But you’ll do more than just see the sights with this tour—you’ll also learn the wild history of this area, from boom to bust.
Recommended: Purchase one tour per vehicle. Everyone can listen at the same time!
Here’s how it works: Within 30 min, we’ll send you two things: a unique password and an app. Download the app onto your phone, enter the password, and download the tour inside. When you arrive, head over to the first stop. Stick to our recommended route and speed limit for the best experience.
No expiration — the tour is available from the minute you book until forever!
This is not an entrance ticket. Check opening hours and pandemic rules before your visit.
Additional Info
Duration: 2 to 3 hours
Starts: Durango, United States
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Durango Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Durango, Colorado, United States
Strikeout for the wild west with this self-guided driving tour of Colorado’s Million Dollar Highway. This remote, jaw-dropping stretch of roadway was once the site of booming mining towns and railroad tycoons. Today, it’s a totally unique blend of jaw-dropping natural beauty and rugged western charm. But you’ll do more than just see the sights with this tour—you’ll also learn the wild history of this area, from boom to bust.
Recommended: Purchase one tour per vehicle. Everyone can listen at the same time!
Here’s how it works: Within 30 min, we’ll send you two things: a unique password and an app. Download the app onto your phone, enter the password, and download the tour inside. When you arrive, head over to the first stop. Stick to our recommended route and speed limit for the best experience.
No expiration — the tour is available from the minute you book until forever!
This is not an entrance ticket. Check opening hours and pandemic rules before your visit.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Million Dollar Highway, Hwy 550, Silverton, CO
Tour Starts Here.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Durango, Durango, Colorado
Durango is a small city in southwestern Colorado, near the New Mexico border. The 19th-century Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad steam train passes mountains and canyons. In the city center, its affiliated Railroad Museum displays restored locomotives, aircraft, and a baggage car converted into a movie theater. Nearby, the Powerhouse Science Center offers interactive exhibits in a former power plant.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Animas River Trail, 3rd St & Durango Mall, Durango, CO
Animas River is a 126-mile-long (203 km) river in the western United States, a tributary of the San Juan River, part of the Colorado River System. The Animas-La Plata Water Project was completed in 2015. The project pumps water over a low pass to fill a reservoir, Lake Nighthorse, in Ridges Basin to satisfy Southern Ute tribal water rights claims associated with the Colorado Ute Settlement Act Amendments of 2000.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Pinkerton Hot Springs, 35554 Highway 550 Latitude 37.4472225, Longitude -107.8053434, Durango, CO 81301-8653
It was named after dairy agriculturist James Harvey Pinkerton, it began as a stream of water that used to leak from the slope which explorers would make a trip and see. Subsequent to making an activity peril, the Colorado Department of Transportation chose to divert the spring’s water to a concrete structure which was soon shrouded in mineral stores – making the red-tinted shake heap structure that guests see today.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Bakers Bridge, Durango, CO 81301, USA
New Info
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Haviland Lake, Forest Road 671, Durango, CO 81303-6481
Haviland Lake is a popular outdoor destination located about 20 miles north of Durango, Colorado. Vehicle access to Haviland Lake is limited in the winter months, although the route remains open to snowshoes and cross-country skis in ideal conditions.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Molas Pass, Colorado 81301, USA
Molas Pass, elevation 10,910 feet, is a high mountain pass in the San Juan Mountains of western Colorado in the United States. The pass is in the San Juan National Forest. It is traversed by the Million Dollar Highway, U.S. Highway 550 south of Silverton, which is part of the San Juan Skyway Scenic Byway.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Molas Lake, Colorado 81433, USA
Molas Lake Campground will be utilizing Colorado Parks & Wildlife and Centers for Disease Control guidance in addition to the following Molas Lake Campground-specific guidelines.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Silverton, Silverton, Colorado
The Town of Silverton is the Statutory Town that is the county seat, the most populous community, and the only incorporated municipality in San Juan County, Colorado, United States. The town is located in a remote part of the western San Juan Mountains, a range of the Rocky Mountains.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Ironton, CO 81432, USA
Ironton is a ghost town in Ouray County, Colorado, United States. It lay south of the present town of Ouray, adjacent to the sites Guston of Red Mountain Town, fellow ghost towns.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Bear Creek Falls, Colorado 81427, USA
Bear Creek Falls is one of many attractions that give the Million Dollar Highway its rich name. This dramatic waterfall blasts down into Bear Creek, making it a must-stop if you’re traveling through. This waterfall near Ouray is accessible year-round for free. It’s a popular stop while exploring the fall foliage of the southwest Rockies.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Ouray, Ouray, Colorado
The City of Ouray is the home rule municipality that is the county seat of Ouray County, Colorado, United States.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Ouray Ice Park, 280 7th Ave, Ouray, CO 81427
This winter park is free & open from mid-December to late March for icy climbing & snowy views.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Box Canyon Waterfall & Park, Box Canyon Rd., Ouray, CO 81427-0001
The rocky place features an 85-foot cascade of water, plus trails, picnic spots & a visitor center.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Ouray Historical District, 280-298 7th Ave, Ouray, CO 81427, USA
19th-century mining town with many of its Victorian-era homes & commercial structures intact.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Ouray Visitor’s Center, 1230 Main St, Ouray, CO 81427, USA
Step out your front door and step into our historic downtown, onto miles of historic jeeping & hiking trails, or into one of our many soothing sulfur-free hot springs. Let us help you plan a perfect stay in Ouray.
Duration: 5 minutes
