The San Juan Skyway is an incredibly gorgeous and breathtaking 236 mile roadway that travels through and around the amazing San Juan Mountains of Southwestern Colorado.

The Million Dollar Highway, Sate Highway 145, Telluride, Durango, Cortez, Rico, Ridgeway, Silverton, Ouray, Canyons of the Ancients National Monument Visitor Center and Museum, Mesa Verde National Monument, plenty of 14ers, fantastic passes, views, hikes, & 4WDrives are all included on this world class scenic route.

The towns alone are not to be missed. They’ve got delicious food, great drinks, western shopping, waterfalls, world class lodging, and fantastic views.

The southern section of the highway from Durango to Cortez was also once a highway for the Ancestral Puebloans/Anasazi people of the region who built some of the most impressive ancient structures in North America. Along the beautiful road is Mesa Verde National Park and the Anasazi Cultural Center/ Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center. Both are incredible sites with ruins, museums, and gorgeous views.
Just off the San Juan Skyway are many hikes in Canyons of the Ancients that are beyond worth checking out. And just to the south across the New Mexican border are the incredible and highly important to the region Aztec National Monument ruins.

To hear more about the people that inhabited the region, listen to my podcast over the Ancient Ones!

One of the most famous stretches of the soaring roadway is the Million Dollar Highway which is not to be missed. It has so many spots to turn off and take pictures while taking in the views that I must insist you take advantage of.

When I told a friend I was taking the highway he told me to be careful and that he was never driving it again. It is not for the faint of heart or for those who fear heights. Thankfully, my heart is strong and heights are glorious.

Another gorgeous stretch of the San Juan Skyway is the often overlooked Highway 145 which has awesome towns like Cortez, Dolores, Rico, and Telluride! Besides the mountain towns, there are absolutely beautiful alpine rivers and lakes, plenty of camping, hiking, and hair raising roads like the West Dolores Road.

The southern end of the Million Dollar Highway, the section from Silverton to Durango on 550 is also incredibly beautiful and just as breath taking as the northern section, although not as hair raising. There are lakes, ruins of mines, hikes, and plenty of spots to pull over and enjoy the alpine views.

Just north of Sawpit on 145 is the split of the San Juan Skyway known as Highway 62 and it goes to Ridgeway. There are plenty or red walls and towering trees before you get to a ton of ranches and incredible views to the south of the San Juans. Make sure to pull over at the San Juan Mountains Scenic View and enjoy!

No matter where you are on the San Juan Skyway, you will enjoy incredible views and there are nearly infinite possibilities of fun and adventure. Bring warm clothing, snacks, and a spare tire and you’ll have an incredible time.