San Juan Skyway is a beautiful loop and one of the most scenic highways I have driven.
We drove on the skyway from Mesa Verde all the way to Ouray, part of the skyway better known as the Million Dollar Highway for the immense amount of gold and silver that was carted through these passes.
The vistas are mind blowing. 14000 feet peaks. Rolling meadows. Lush forests. Gargling brooks. Crystal clear lakes. Narrow gauge railway.
Find yourselves a designated drivers, guys. Not a single second of this drive is worth wasting staring at asphalt.
While I will do the pictures do most of the talking, we did the drive in two hops. We left Mesa Verde mid day, drove to four corners and Chimney butte (and gave a slip to ship rock because of the impending thunderstorm and camped at Durango. We left Durango early in the morning and managed to give the thunderstorm a slip.
By the way, the skyway is supposed to be better in fall.
The little steam engine seems to be saying, "here are my clouds"
The historical train running along a three feet wide track (that gives it an advantage on steep curves and high passes) was constructed in 1882 and continues to be operated as a tourist line.
We reached Silverton towards noon.
We had a coffee in the historical Bear Cafe. We scrounged the local Indian shops for deals.
The town has brilliant psychedelic colors almost designed for touristy cameras.
I wish we had some time to visit the gold mines.
Some other time. We had a flight to catch and a road to kill.
