Colorado Route 550

[Top Cat]

I just watched a TV show where they showed some motorcycles riding on the Colorado Route 550. They also called it the Million Dollar Highway.
Has anyone ridden this road? Man there are some real tight curves and no gaurdrails. Some of the dropoffs look like hundreds of feet with only a foot or two of shoulder.
Not my kind of road.

[chainsaw]

I've been on this road several times. It's awesome. One thing that stuck in my mind was a church in Silverton that had a sign in the window, "Closed for the Season" Didn't know churches did that.
Only thing I'd say watch out for was the rock slides. You make one of those turns and there would be a huge boulder in the middle of the road. Wife hated it when I'd move over to the edge so she would get a better view with the video camera. Worth every bit of the ride.

[Cajunrider]

I watched the same show TC on a huge screen at Buffalo Wild Wings where we took my 4 year old grandson for dinner. He loves that place. My parents rode this highway about 20 years ago in their van. My Dad talked about it for quite a while after their trip. I'd love to ride it but after my wife saw some of the drop offs, she's not very interested. Guess I might have to do it alone.

[audiogooroo]

Ridden it many times. Dan, Ells, Wolfman and I rode it last summer (2008). It is absolutely my favorite ride of anywhere I've ever been! Come to the Southwest Regional Rally in Cortez this coming June, because it's one of the rides I'm planning on making sure happens. It is absolutely beautiful!
About 4 or 5 hours from my house to the North end of the run. I have a friend who lives in Farmington, NM, and I ride down to see him every year. I usually take 550 down, and then come back over Wolf Creek Pass, also a great ride!

[jesse]

Beautiful riding! If you are near there make the trip it is worth whatever it takes. You will miss some pictures because you have to watch the road, but well worth the trip. Spent the night in Silverton at the old hotel in town. You almost had to tie yourself in bed, you'd wake up hanging over the edge, the floor liked a little being level. Just one of the great experiences we have when out riding across the country. Thats why I have a bike in the first place, or maybe second. ;)

[pronghorn]

Like Audiogooroo I usually take 550 at least once a year and it is always enjoyable. Red Moutain(Million Dollar Highway) between Ouray and Durango is made up of 3 passes over 10,000' and a terrific ride. To really enjoy it you need to ride it both directions each way is a different ride. Come to the SW rally in June and enjoy this and many other terrific rides in the area. Or if you are in the area July 28-31 a group I ride with will be making a 1000mi. loop in the SW part of the state and this wiil be part of the ride along with: Black Canyon of the Gunnison, and 7 other 10,000' passes including Wolf Creek Pass. Love to have you come along for 4 days of terrific riding.

[Cajunrider]

We'd love to make the SW rally but can't squeeze in into my 5 weeks of vacation. The Hill Country Ride and the South Central rally both hit work weeks and are requiring taking 96 hours of vacation. Christmas weekend is using up another 48 hours along with the rest for deer hunting. Need another week but they won't spring for it.

[mcdaddy]

I've ridden it on my KLR650. Other than big rigs and rv's. it isn't bad. Of course it was daytime and dry. Were it raining the pucker factor would have gone up.

[dantama]

Originally Posted by audiogooroo

Ridden it many times. Dan, Ells, Wolfman and I rode it last summer (2008). It is absolutely my favorite ride of anywhere I've ever been! Come to the Southwest Regional Rally in Cortez this coming June, because it's one of the rides I'm planning on making sure happens. It is absolutely beautiful!
About 4 or 5 hours from my house to the North end of the run. I have a friend who lives in Farmington, NM, and I ride down to see him every year. I usually take 550 down, and then come back over Wolf Creek Pass, also a great ride!

Proof that Audio was there




It was a great ride. I wish it wasn't raining for half of the good part. And I really wish that Wolfman was still riding and posting with us.

[audiogooroo]

That was a great ride Dan! But it's true, over the most scenic part the rain was coming down like a cow pissing on a flat rock. :)
Good trip for sure! I have got to find a way to take more like it.

[chainsaw]

We do miss Wolfman.

[Top Cat]

It would be great ridin with you guys at the Southwest Regional but it's over 2000 miles one way for me.
I would like to add that road to my bucket list though

[Yellow Jacket]

Saw that show some time ago and again last night. I sure would love to ride that road!

Especially, with a bunch of folks from KawaNOW! !

[audiogooroo]

Originally Posted by Yellow Jacket

Saw that show some time ago and again last night. I sure would love to ride that road!

Especially, with a bunch of folks from KawaNOW! !

Come up up Bob, you know where to find us! :)
Just might want to wait until the snow stops flying!

[MarkG]

The million dollar highway is one of my favorite rides. Absolutely love the Silverton area. It is 25 mph and you will most likely ride toward the center of the road anyway. At least with a motorcycle we have a little more room and a much better view than the people in the cages. I stop at most of the overlooks every time I go through the area just to admire the view. Make sure you have some cold riding gear and probably something for rain. It does get a little chilly at 11,000+ feet. The guys are right, this part of the country is an awesome ride.