San Juan Skyway
San Juan Skyway is an All-American Road in Colorado. Within Colorado it covers roughly 230 miles. The map below shows its route. Use “Plan a drive” to open it in the Road Sorties route planner — already routing along San Juan Skyway with scenic roads turned on, ready to add your own stops.
The San Juan Skyway is a 233-mile loop through the rugged San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado, linking the historic mining towns of Durango, Silverton, Ouray, and Telluride. Its most famous segment is the Million Dollar Highway over Red Mountain Pass, a cliff-edge stretch of US-550 with sheer drop-offs and no guardrails. The loop crosses several passes above 10,000 feet and is spectacular when the aspens turn gold in late September.
- Million Dollar Highway
- Red Mountain Pass
- Ouray & Telluride
- Silverton
- aspen fall color
Designated for its scenic and historic qualities
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Places to stop along San Juan Skyway
Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
A steam train that has run the Animas River canyon between Durango and Silverton since 1882, a full-day round trip through roadless country.
WebsiteSilverton
A high mining town at 9,300 feet with a dirt-street downtown, where the train turns around and the Million Dollar Highway begins its climb to Red Mountain Pass.
Ouray Hot Springs
A large public pool fed by the springs the Ute people used, beneath the canyon walls at the north edge of Ouray.
WebsiteRidgway State Park
A reservoir park in the open valley north of Ouray with campgrounds facing the Cimarron and Sneffels ranges.
WebsiteTelluride
A box-canyon mining town turned ski resort, with a free gondola up to Mountain Village and Bridal Veil Falls at the head of the valley.
Anasazi Heritage Center
A Dolores museum of Ancestral Puebloan life and the visitor center for Canyons of the Ancients, with two small pueblo sites on its grounds.
Mesa Verde National Park
Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings, including Cliff Palace; the visitor center sits at the park entrance off US 160. Ranger-led dwelling tours need tickets.
Website
Where to Stay along San Juan Skyway
24 campgrounds and RV parks sit within about 5 miles of San Juan Skyway.
Campsite, lodging, RV rental and membership links are affiliate links — booking through them may earn Road Sorties a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Recreation.gov links are not affiliate links.
Photos of San Juan Skyway
What is an All-American Road?
All-American Roads are the top tier of America's National Scenic Byways. To earn the title a road has to be a destination in its own right — offering features so exceptional, across several intrinsic qualities (scenic, natural, historic, cultural, archaeological or recreational), that they can't be found anywhere else.