While we all have our favorites, I am lucky enough to live in western Colorado where you can take a ride that will thrill the pants off you as well as keep you awestruck at the beauty it affords those that live in the area of get a chance to visit.
The ride is rated as one of the top 10 in the U.S. by many motorcycle and sports car magazines.
The ride starts at the base of Red Mountain Pass, in a little tourist town of Ouray, Colorado, heading south on HWY 50, after some incredible climbs, twists, and hairpin turns and cresting 11,000 ft. you start a decent into Silverton, Colorado.
I use descent loosely, because you still are at 9,000 when you hit Silverton. You can stop there for a cup of coffee or a meal if you like, and then you continue south heading over another pass out of Silverton, called Molas Pass. You will climb back to 11,000 ft. before you start back down to the entrance to the town of Durango, Colorado. which is nestled at the base of Molas Pass at around 6,000 ft.
The total time of a drive like this if you don't stop too often, get behind a "flatlander", or a semi, is about 4 hours.
As beautiful as the drive is, ( we have taken it better than 50 times, either in a car or on the motorcycle, because it is the shortest way to get to our daughter's house in Alb, NM) you also need to keep your eyes on the road. I suggest if you would like to admire the scenery, you pull over at one of the many pull outs offered along the way. It only takes a fraction of a second of distraction to take a 1000' free-fall.
You will notice if you go over both passed, that there are several large clearings made in the mountain. These are landing pads for the "flight for life" helicopters, take that for what it is worth.
I don't find the drive to be dangerous, nor do I find it to be something that any normal driver using good sense and a sound vehicle can't just cruise through. What I am saying is the natural beauty distracts you if you aren't careful.
Having said all that, if you ever get the chance to take this drive, you will never forget it, and you will, if you want to push it, get a true feel for the handling of your car.
The ride is rated as one of the top 10 in the U.S. by many motorcycle and sports car magazines.
The ride starts at the base of Red Mountain Pass, in a little tourist town of Ouray, Colorado, heading south on HWY 50, after some incredible climbs, twists, and hairpin turns and cresting 11,000 ft. you start a decent into Silverton, Colorado.
I use descent loosely, because you still are at 9,000 when you hit Silverton. You can stop there for a cup of coffee or a meal if you like, and then you continue south heading over another pass out of Silverton, called Molas Pass. You will climb back to 11,000 ft. before you start back down to the entrance to the town of Durango, Colorado. which is nestled at the base of Molas Pass at around 6,000 ft.
The total time of a drive like this if you don't stop too often, get behind a "flatlander", or a semi, is about 4 hours.
As beautiful as the drive is, ( we have taken it better than 50 times, either in a car or on the motorcycle, because it is the shortest way to get to our daughter's house in Alb, NM) you also need to keep your eyes on the road. I suggest if you would like to admire the scenery, you pull over at one of the many pull outs offered along the way. It only takes a fraction of a second of distraction to take a 1000' free-fall.
You will notice if you go over both passed, that there are several large clearings made in the mountain. These are landing pads for the "flight for life" helicopters, take that for what it is worth.
I don't find the drive to be dangerous, nor do I find it to be something that any normal driver using good sense and a sound vehicle can't just cruise through. What I am saying is the natural beauty distracts you if you aren't careful.
Having said all that, if you ever get the chance to take this drive, you will never forget it, and you will, if you want to push it, get a true feel for the handling of your car.
