The Million Dollar Highway goes to Ouray from silverton over Red Mountain Pass. Actually the part on the Ouray side of the pass is considered the Million Dollar Highway but the road on both sides of the pass terrify many drivers. This is the road where the white line can be considered the guard rail as there is nothing beyond it and in some places even the white line has broken away and fallen hundreds of feet. Couldn't get a photo in the really bad spots as very few places are wide enough to stop but it is a spectacular drive with great views.
The road was started as a toll road from Ouray to Ironton in 1883. It cost $3.75 for a wagon and 75 cents for a horse and rider. The train come as far as Ironton. In 1916 two switchbacks were cut into the mountainside to reduce the 18% grade. The current Million Dollar Highway was built in 1922. Many legends exist for the name but the real answer was that when the bids for the 12 miles were added up they came to exactly a million dollars.
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