Preliminaries: The weather in Colorado can be unpredictable from September through June so be sure to check the weather predictions carefully if you intend to visit this part of beautiful Colorado.

The Trip: Some of the best scenery in the state of Colorado can be found in the San Juan Mountain area. When I first took this trip I was uneasy about driving on a highway with white line, no shoulder and a drop off of several hundred feet and no guardrails along the west side of the highway. If driving on a narrow, windy mountain road makes you nervous, this one will really get to you so be prepared for the "white knuckle" experience of this drive!

Ouray: The town of Ouray has many shops and restaurants and a large hot springs swimming pool that is a must to try. Ouray definitely has a unique mountain village flavor and is well worth taking some time to visit. When drive southbound on US 550 from Ouray up the mountain, you will see a turn off for Box Canyon. This is an interesting side trip and well worth the small admittance fee for the area.

Heading south on Hwy 550 from Ouray into Silverton is a much more adventurous driving experience. Going south between Ouray and Silverton is a much more challenging drive since there are no guard rails to keep you on the roadway. Going north, there is a little white knuckle action but for the most the road hugs the mountains from which the road was blasted. While there are a few S turns and a couple of tunnels, the road will allow even a Class A Motorhome with a tow vehicle to travel on this stretch. road. As for me, I have taken this road at least 20 times now and I would pull my 33 foot 5th wheel across this stretch of highway only if I had to. I much prefer to park my rig and travel the roadways with just my truck.

When I go to this area from Phoenix, I first go to Cortez, Colorado. At Cortez, I take Colorado 145 to Colorado 62 into Ridgeway. I like to camp at Ridgeway State Park so I usually reserve a space and park for the vacation period there. It is also possible to book a camp site at Ridgeway will in advance via the internet web reservation system. Silverton does have a small RV Park but I have never taken my rig into Silverton due to the road condition I described above but if you are thinking of do this drive north on US 550 from Durango.

When you up the mountain into the town of Ouray, you will see spectacular view of the town. You can pull out on the overlook here and take some great photos of the town nestled in the valley below. It is a very beautiful sight. Soon you'll be driving the road with dizzying drop-offs just beyond the white line. Further up the road, you will come to a dirt roadway leading up the mountain side on your left. This is the "Alpine Loop" that leads up into the mountains themselves. For these trails, a Jeep with 4 wheel drive is a must as the terrain is very rough and many of the climbs almost vertical. The last time I took these trails in my Blazer I had to completely replace all of my shocks and make over $1,000 worth of repairs. Dirt bikes would also work well on this trail. We travel a little more and head up to a wet Plateau with some grassy swamp areas. This area has been for sale for the last two summers. Then you'll pass by an old mining operation called the Irarado Mine. On the left, you will see a pull-out where you can stop and take pictures if you want of this rustic area. This old mining operation has an underground tunnel which extends from this point approximately 35 miles to Pandora just south of the mountain to the city of Telluride. After the look-out point, you will pass over Red Mountain Pass. Now is time for a the big S curve and the road winds down to Silverton.

SILVERTON: From Durango, you can catch the narrow guage railway that runs between Durango and Silverton during the summer months. You can take the railway both ways or choose to take the bus for one leg of your trip. Unless you absolutely love the rustic sootiness of riding the train both ways, I suggest you take the train only one way and ride the bus oneway. You will see different scenery and will be much less tired then if you take it both ways. I made that mistake the first time I took the train and will never do it again! If you travel to Silverton by car, be sure to arrive early in the morning as you will find the shops much less crowded. Once the train arrives at noon sharp, the entire town is filled with 300 or so passengers who immediately fill all of the shops and restaurants. If you intend to eat there, be sure you have gotten a seat when the restaurants open at 11:30 or you will be waiting in line for a free table. The town consists of two main streets and is small enough that you can easily walk all over town. There are museums, restaurants, and many souvenir and artist shops to visit.You can get fast food at the "High Noon" just to the north of the Narrow Guage Railway station and they sell a mean ice cream cone if you have a taste for something sweet during your visit. Beef and buffalo jerky can be had at a small shop on Main Street. This is our first installment for US 550 which travels from Montrose, CO to Bernalillo, NM

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