Highway 550 from Grand Junction to Durango: I'll be heading down Hwy 550 in about a week and wanted to ask about some "don't miss" photo opportunities. Any help would be greatly...

knessr

I'll be heading down Hwy 550 in about a week and wanted to ask about some "don't miss" photo opportunities. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

mansfield75150 Loc: Mesquite, TX

The entire trip is a photo op - every where you look is a photo!!! Just continue pulling the trigger and don't stop!!!

Charlie'smom

mansfield75150 wrote:

The entire trip is a photo op - every where you look is a photo!!! Just continue pulling the trigger and don't stop!!!

Indeed!

Bill Munny Loc: Aurora, Colorado

Be careful to avoid the fires in that area, check the news for their locations. Lots of smoke in the air. Take lots of drinking water. Otherwise, enjoy the fantastic scenery and take your time.

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

knessr wrote:

I'll be heading down Hwy 550 in about a week and wanted to ask about some "don't miss" photo opportunities. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

If I may offer an alternate route;
Grand Junction to Gateway via state route 141, continue on 141 until it intersects with 145 (a left, about 54 miles) then follow that route to Placerville. From there take 62 to Ridgeway and 550 south to Durango, passing through places like Ouray and Silverton.
The above route will follow the Dolores River through red rock canyons for a good part of the run. This is a pretty unique and very picturesque route and it is really easier than it reads.
Google says that is 237 miles and will take 5 hours and 7 minutes or about 80 miles longer and a hour and a half longer but well worth it in my honest opinion.
Check it out on Google Maps

knessr

Thanks for the alternate route. Checking it out now.

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

knessr wrote:

Thanks for the alternate route. Checking it out now.

I just threw a dart at google maps (figuratively speaking).
Plug this into your browser for a quick glimpse;

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.5840301,-108.9274586,3a,75y,46.02h,94.31t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sixkjOrhYpP8u8uTnC3COqg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

You'll have to copy and paste the whole thing, for some reason the right click 'Open in" doesn't work right

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

mansfield75150 wrote:

The entire trip is a photo op - every where you look is a photo!!! Just continue pulling the trigger and don't stop!!!

But don't take your eye off the road! Scary in spots! Awesome almost the entire way! Definitely plan on spending some time in Silverton - unless you will be coming back on the narrow-gauge train from Durango.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

knessr wrote:

I'll be heading down Hwy 550 in about a week and wanted to ask about some "don't miss" photo opportunities. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Narrow gauge railroad from Durango to Silverton is a must do. And get lots of photo's of the engines.

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

Try to add Silverton to your list. It is a lose your mind colorful western town.

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

S&D Railway was shutdown recently for fires, check all resources before going...enjoy

billnourse Loc: Bloomfield, NM

Part of the Million Dollar Highway washed away between Ouray and Silverton about a week ago. Don't know if they have it fixed yet or not. Need to check before you leave Montrose.. If the road is still closed you can always go west at Ridgeway and go to Dolores and then back to Durango. No matter what you do, it is all a photo op.

The train started running again last week.

Bill

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

billnourse wrote:

Part of the Million Dollar Highway washed away between Ouray and Silverton about a week ago. Don't know if they have it fixed yet or not. Need to check before you leave Montrose.. If the road is still closed you can always go west at Ridgeway and go to Dolores and then back to Durango. No matter what you do, it is all a photo op.

The train started running again last week.

Bill

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

billnourse wrote:

Part of the Million Dollar Highway washed away between Ouray and Silverton about a week ago. Don't know if they have it fixed yet or not. Need to check before you leave Montrose.. If the road is still closed you can always go west at Ridgeway and go to Dolores and then back to Durango. No matter what you do, it is all a photo op.The train started running again last week.Bill

One lane open with traffic lights to control the flow of traffic.
If the road is closed with more recent problems, there is signage at the south end of Ouray.
There is a reader board in Ridgway that will have the road status.
Pat

David Lyon

Having driven drunk and stopped for shotsnon the way, if you plan to go a bit farther east, Monarch Pass is 11,300, on the Contentsl Divide and the area is beautiful.

Just east of Montpellier is the Black Canyon I fall the Gunnison. Also you have Cimmeron which is wouodnlooking at.

The slot canyon below the dam of Blue Mesa offers some nice opportunities, as Dow Blue Mesa itself.

Parkin has a ride road that leads to the small towns of Ohio City and Pitkin, with Sargents just at the western base of Monarch.