Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
San Juan Skyway
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Mileage: 236 miles
Why Go?
Among the USA's best drives, the San Juan Skyway is a 236-mile loop which includes the
so-called Million Dollar Hwy, a handful of the region's coolest mountain towns and Mesa
Verde National Park.
It's undoubtedly the best way to experience the drama of the San Juan range without
strapping on your boots. Drive the Skyway and the tension of the daily grind gets lost
somewhere among the towering peaks, picturesque towns and old mines around each bend,
or evaporates in the bright sun of an intensely blue Colorado sky.
The Route
The climb on Hwys 62 and 145 skirts the biggest of the San Juans before you enter Tellur-
ide, preferably in time for some morning thrills on the slopes of the ski resort. If you're
traveling in summer, climb on a mountain bike instead of the skis - just as fun and way
cheaper. Grab lunch at The Butcher & The Baker and enjoy a bit more of the hills before
pointing the car south for Cortez, where you should follow with dinner at lively Southwest-
ern restaurant Pepperhead.
Take a ranger-guided tour of the Cliff Palace in Mesa Verde National Park, before you
hit the road for Durango. Depart on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad for a
fascinating trip into the mineral-rich heart of the mountains.
Now you choose your own adventure: either continue north along the Million Dollar
Hwy to Ouray to end the San Juan Skyway loop, or head east to catch a sunset over at
Great Sand Dunes National Park.
When to Go
Aspen trees glow in late September or early October. The Million Dollar Hwy section
between Silverton and Ouray may close in winter; chains are required and RVs (recreation-
al vehicles) are not permitted at any time.
