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Danger: U.S. 550 The Million Dollar Hwy (Is The Scenery Worth The Risk?)

  • Writer: Muddy Ruttzz
    Muddy Ruttzz
  • Dec 11
  • 7 min read

The Million Dollar Hwy - Stunning (Slightly Scary) Route To Ouray, Colorado

Driver! Eyes on the road! It's best to be riding shotgun when driving Hwy 550 to and from Ouray Colorado. Passengers can take in the breathtaking scenery safely. Your driver on the other hand, well that's a different story. Putting a tire over the side could end you up down a gully or drifting into a rock wall could be catastrophic. Both can end up in death. It happens often to offroad drivers on the many trails around Ouray. 550 stays open all year round, it's a lifeline for Ouray. I don't even want to think about driving this road ice and snow conditions.


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Examples Of Deadly Crashes On The Million Dollar Highway

Proving my point on how deadly Highway 550 can be is this article from the Montrose Press: 3 Crashes in 3 Days Claim 3 Lives.

This other article happens to be from a law firm but has some great information on The Million Dollar Highway: Accidents on Million Dollar Highway


Mountain road with cars driving along a rocky cliff. Lush green hills in the background and clear blue sky. Speed limit sign reads 25.
Driver keep your eyes on the road! It is easy to see how close you have to drive to the edge on U.S Route 550. Picture driving here when it has snowed. Here is why its called "The Million Dollar Highway."
Rolling hills with vibrant autumn foliage in green and yellow hues under a partly cloudy sky. Badge reads "Outdoor Adventure Muddy Ruttzz."
The fall colors of the changing leaves in along highway 550 are a great attraction for visitors and can be a deadly distraction for drivers.

Million Dollar Highway Fall Colors: A Feast for the Eyes

As the name suggests, the Million Dollar Highway Fall Colors season is seriously the best time to hit up U.S. 550. Sure, the road's got a bit of a wild reputation with its steep drop-offs and twisty turns, but trust me, the views you get while cruising through the San Juan Mountains on your way to Ouray, Colorado, are totally worth it. If you're planning a Colorado trip, just keep in mind that while the drive can be a bit tricky, taking on the Million Dollar Highway in the fall means you'll be treated to some jaw-dropping sights and awesome photo ops.


White Jeep Wrangler with "Willys" text on a dirt path, rugged desert hills in the background, under a clear evening sky.
We travel in a 4WD Vehicle - either this Wrangler or our Gladiator. The extra traction and recovery options can be life saving when traveling in mountainous conditions especially in bad weather.

Gear Up: What You Need for a Mountain Road Trip

I take trips in 4WD vehicles with winches, recovery gear in case I get stuck and I always have have a bugout bag loaded with enough stuff to help me survive if I have to hike out. You may not own a 4WD or your car rental may not be All Wheel Drive or 4 Wheel Drive. There are several items everyone can carry that will make the difference when it comes to surving or just being comfortable while waiting for help in you get stranded.

  1. Water - Always carry water no matter what time of year.

  2. Clothing - Driving in mountain areas expect extreme weather changes. The Million Dollar Highway is at high elevation. It can get cold or hot anytime and the sun is stronger at elevation.

  3. Boots - Shoes or boots you know you can count on to be comfortable on a long walk.

  4. Communications - Cell service is spotty at best when surrounded by 12,000' mountains. I carry a Garmin satellite communication device. My Garmin GPS Maps 66i lets me send send texts for It also helps me navigate.

  5. Bug Out Bag (optional), at least a backpack - Needed when you have to hike your way out of danger.


GPS device displaying "Usal Road" on a map, with trees visible through a car window. The screen shows a route and distance in miles.

SOS - Text - Email - Route Guidance (Don't Leave Home Without One)

I take my Garmin GPS maps on hikes, mountain bike rides, overlanding trips, pleasure drives and more. As long as you can see the sky your Garmin GPS Device will allow you to find your location, Points Of Interest, guide you home and allow you to communicate when the cell phone has no reception.

SOS Button - Not Just For Calling In A Chopper

The SOS Button on the side of this Garmin gets you in contact with emergency services. If you need extraction from a remote mountain or a two truck to jump start your vehicle it will get you out of a jam. I take mine everywhere.

The Garmin GPS Maps 66I - Older Model But Still Works

Garmin has some awesome upgraded models now but this GPS Maps 66I is still awesome. They are built rugged to last in harsh conditions.




Cars drive through a snowshed on Highway 550 in Colorado in a rocky mountain landscape. Bright sky and greenery in the background. "Outdoor Adventure" logo visible.
This Snowshed was built on U.S. HIghway 550 in 1985 to prevent frequent closures due to avalanches. After driving the MIllion Dollar Highway I think I will only travel this road in good weather with no snow or ice.

Avalanche Control: A Snow Shed And Over 70 Avalanche Control Points

This snowshed is the only one (that I saw) in between Durango CO and Ouray CO but there are many "Avalanche Control Points" along the Million Dollar Hwy. The Colorado Department Of Transportation uses the loud noise from Howitzer Cannons to trigger snow slides. This is called "Avalanche Mitigation" There are now Remote Controlled Avalanche Control Equipment being installed along the route. No matter how its triggered, naturally or artificially, it is still the job of workers using heavy equipment to clear the snow.


Mountain road with no guard rails, jeeps driving along a rocky cliff. Text reads "Note The Lack of Guard Rails." Rugged adventure mood.
Ever wonder about the lack of guard rails on roads all over the Western United States?

No Guardrails To Save You From Going Over The Edge

So, coming from back east, I was totally used to seeing guardrails on all those narrow roads. A while back, I was driving through the mountain roads around Potlatch, Idaho, and I noticed there were no guardrails at all. It didn’t hit me until I started digging into this article that there’s a good reason for it. Those snow plows have to push all that crazy amount of snow off the roads and over the edge. If there were guardrails, that would just block the snow. It actually makes a lot of sense when you think about it! Most of Hwy 550 has steep rock walls on one side and sharp drop-offs on the other. So, pushing the snow over the edge is pretty much the only way to deal with it.


Cars drive through a rocky tunnel in a mountainous landscape. A yellow 13'-7" clearance sign is visible. Overcast sky and lush greenery.
I had forgotten passing through the awesome Ouray Tunnel
Why Your GoPro is Essential on This Route

Sightseeing for the driver on Hwy 550 can lead to calamity but a GoPro attached to the bumper can record a lot of great memories you can review in the safety of your hotel room or home. I had forgotten about passing this very cool tunnel till I reviewed my GoPro footage. Lots of options exist for attaching it to the vehicle in different places. I have a mount glued to my bumper. Check out these GoPro mounts on Amazon.


Misty mountain road with a person near a parked car, surrounded by foggy hills and autumn trees. Logo reads "Outdoor Adventure, Muddy Ruttzz."
Folks pull over in some pretty dangerous places on The Million Dollar Highway for photos.
Don't Risk Your Life For That Once In A Lifetime Photo

We saw several instances of folks pulling over on more narrow stretches of Highway 550 to get photos than the one pictured above. I guess the beauty can be overwhelming or they just don't understand how easy it is to get run over. Whatever the reason be careful if you drive this road and just have to stop and get that photo of a lifetime.


🤣 Conclusion: My New Favorite Road, and Why You Need to Go Before I Tell Everyone

Look, I'm a retired sheet metal worker, which means I've had enough time to drive some seriously epic stretches of asphalt in this country. I've dodged snowbirds on the Overseas Highway to Key West (US 1), had existential thoughts on Highway 50 in Nevada (The Loneliest Road), and felt super pretentious driving through Big Sur. Been there, done that, bought the overpriced t-shirt.

But here's the kicker: The Million Dollar Highway (US 550) just shoved all those others out of the way and took the crown. It's so magnificent, it's practically showing off. Not only is the view worth a million bucks, but it's also the official "jumping off" point for the Alpine Loop and other trails that will scratch your off-road itch.

So, here's my official, highly professional Conclusion: Stop planning, just put it on your bucket list, grab some decent tunes, and go! Trust me, your social media feed needs this, and you won't regret not having to look at another flat stretch of interstate.

Don't Get Caught Out Of Breath At 8000' to 12000' Elevation In Colorado

I live at 4000' so the transition to 8000' was not so bad for my wife and me. That being said there was times when I head hurt. In addition to drinking lots of water (staying hydrated) some supplemental Oxygen can really help. Especially true if you spend most of your life at sea level. Check out my link below.

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