It May Be Hard to Believe but This Road Actually Exists! - Million Dollar Highway

Поделиться
HTML-код
  • Опубликовано: 10 янв 2025

Комментарии • 581

  • @elkhunter8664
    @elkhunter8664 8 месяцев назад +121

    For those curious about the lack of guard rails. The answer is snow removal. This area experiences 25 feet of snowfall per winter on average. Heavy equipment, a front end loader with a snow blade, is utilized to push the snow off the edge of the road and let gravity handle the rest.

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  8 месяцев назад +22

      I forgot to include that part in the video....but thank you for sharing

    • @joewoodchuck3824
      @joewoodchuck3824 7 месяцев назад +14

      We get very little snow in ne Tennessee. We have few guardrails too. Obviously not because of snow removal, but it's just too expensive to put up what would be nearly continuous guardrails everywhere. That could have also been a factor for Colorado.

    • @UTA_xx5kx
      @UTA_xx5kx 6 месяцев назад +10

      We get no snow here in Hawaii

    • @anneelgersma9114
      @anneelgersma9114 6 месяцев назад +6

      We have guard rails along our roads and comparable amounts of snow, so i dont understand this.🇳🇴

    • @mikesteffes9999
      @mikesteffes9999 5 месяцев назад +4

      I’ve driven the MDH a number of times; it hasn’t given me the clangs even once. Colorado’s dirt & rock shelf roads - that’s a different story…
      Ouray sits at the southern end of a box canyon, so the drop into the canyon can be mildly thrilling…

  • @thetravelinghounds
    @thetravelinghounds 7 месяцев назад +102

    I just drove this 1 month ago. As someone with extreme fear of heights, I never saw the beautiful views. I only kept my eyes on the road ahead of me. It was the scariest road trip of my life.

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  7 месяцев назад +5

      I know what you mean, it's one of those drive that you have to be a passenger to really enjoy it

    • @lareverie8285
      @lareverie8285 7 месяцев назад +6

      I admire you! Im terrified of heights but i want to one day be able to drive places like this

    • @robind8609
      @robind8609 6 месяцев назад +3

      @@jessiesdroneadventures7464 Thank you for doing This video. I just recently realized my Uncle Johnny sadly passed away at Superior hospital in 1940 due to being in a motorcycle accident on this highway:(. We don’t yet know exactly was spot but it was nearer to superior AZ. We attended March’s Apache Leap Festival then traveled this highway but breifly saw the original tunnel Johnny would have drove through.
      He was 3 days away from his 19th birthday. He was about to Marry soon. This area has such history. Johnny Was born in Geronimo on the Reservation. He helped build one of the dams in Arizona for work..and was a goldminer. Thank you again for showing us the path he would have often traveled. ❤️ My father was his younger brother. How would I know if you’ll do more videos on this area?

    • @sarchalto
      @sarchalto 5 месяцев назад +1

      I admire you facing "our" fear!
      🥰Now that you're home safe
      think of this: Drive It At Night
      😱😬🫣🥴😵‍💫🤯🥺😵😖😭😳

    • @sarchalto
      @sarchalto 5 месяцев назад

      ​@@jessiesdroneadventures7464No!
      ​>IF< I stayed in the car I'd be curled up on the floor quietly whimpering with tears soaking my shirt. 🫣

  • @orionbennett776
    @orionbennett776 8 месяцев назад +30

    I've driven between Silverton and Ouray many times. Ouray is my favorite town west of the Mississippi. Took my son there for a vacation, which just happened to be over the 4th of July. Fireworks in the mountains, followed by a light rain beating on the camper roof, and waking up to snow on the mountains around the city. Oddly the average snowfall in Ouray is over 100 inches, and as of 1994, I was told they had only three snow days where school was closed, in over 30 years. If my pockets ever get filled with green stuff, I will buy a home there. This video makes the 'Million Dollar Highway' a lot scarier than it is ... just don't drive it drunk, follow the speed limit, and you will be fine.

    • @JakeKoenig
      @JakeKoenig 7 месяцев назад +6

      If people realized how many times they've been on roads where drifting off the pavement would mean a likely death, they wouldn't be that concerned about driving this road. The danger is just easier to see on this highway.

    • @jamesconner3437
      @jamesconner3437 5 месяцев назад +4

      After watching the videos of South American mountain roads.....this did look fairly easy. But also so damn beautiful, drivers have to be careful not to gawk. Rotate driving every 5 miles so all can enjoy !

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  5 месяцев назад +4

      @jamesconner3437 yes!!! It's one of those roads that you have to be a passenger in order to truly enjoy it

    • @johncalvo1743
      @johncalvo1743 2 месяца назад

      What's your favorite town EAST of the Mississippi?

  • @MichaelDienst
    @MichaelDienst 5 месяцев назад +17

    I drove this road about forty years ago. The road is a challenge, and for a first-timer it might be intimidating, but if you keep your eyes on the road, drive slowly (give yourself permission to drive as far UNDER the posted speed limit as you feel necessary to drive it as safely as possible), and don't let other drivers intimidate you, you will, as I did, survive the trip.
    Believe it or not, not only did Otto Mears, known as the Pathfinder of the San Juans, actually built a railroad over what is now the Million Dollar Highway in an attempt to connect Silverton and Ouray with narrow gauge railroad tracks. He made it as far as the small town of Albany, a maddening (for Mr. Mears) six miles short of Ouray. Driving this portion of the road is a very good explanation as to why.

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  5 месяцев назад +4

      Thank you for sharing! And I couldn't agree with you more. It was my first time driving it, just take it slow, keep your eyes on the road and don't worry about the other drivers 👍

  • @railgap
    @railgap 4 месяца назад +10

    I've driven it. I live here. It's beautiful. It epitomizes the mountain highway: it's safe if you pay attention, but the minute you let your attention wander, it will kill you. Mountains are not for amateurs.

  • @DanRoberts-u1n
    @DanRoberts-u1n 8 месяцев назад +19

    The rock garage building at the top of the shelf road you commented on was last used as the Colorado Department of Highways (orig name) building for plow and garage facilities in the 40's, 50's and 60's. I'm not sure when they quit using it. There was a row of buildings along the base of the mountain behind and to the south of the rock structure, behind the white wood building that were used by the highway department and later by a religious sect know as the I Am's. I believe they left sometime in the late 60's. or early 70's and the buildings were demolished sometime later.

  • @taivo55
    @taivo55 6 месяцев назад +22

    During the winter you sometimes get stopped on that section of road while the Colorado Department of Transportation shoots down avalanches and they clear the road. I spent two hours one January on one of the narrowest sections of the road listening to the howitzers firing and watching the snow plows working. Imagine that road when it's snow-covered. It's got a pucker factor ten times that of summer.

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  6 месяцев назад +3

      as scary as it sounds, I kind of want to attempt this road in winter now....I'm sure those mountains would look amazing!

    • @taivo55
      @taivo55 6 месяцев назад +5

      @@jessiesdroneadventures7464 The key is watching the weather in advance so that the mountains aren't covered in clouds. And it's best to have a very good pair of sunglasses obviously. (And extra food, water, and blankets in the passenger compartment just in case...)

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  6 месяцев назад +1

      @@taivo55 lol i appreciate that! thank you!

    • @MHester-m3f
      @MHester-m3f 5 месяцев назад +2

      “Pucker factor” great description!

    • @coloradomntman2815
      @coloradomntman2815 13 дней назад +1

      I get butterflies just reading your comment!!! No thank you. I traveled that road in the summer and that was enough.

  • @coloradomntman2815
    @coloradomntman2815 13 дней назад +4

    I am very sensitive of heights, like I can hardly even watch them on RUclips or I get butterflies in my body. I traveled this million dollar highway a few times and like someone commented below, you CANNOT enjoy the views! As a passenger, I had to take the back seat and ride on the drivers side away from the edge of the road. But, I do have to say, this is the most beautiful part of Colorado!!!

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  11 дней назад

      Yes!! definitely the most beautiful part of colorado...or at least one of the most beautiful parts haha...thank you for checking out the video!

  • @JLAracing
    @JLAracing 6 месяцев назад +11

    Drove that road many times. Used to go on vacation to Colorado every August for vacation. Story I always heard why it was called "Million Dollar Highway" was because when the road was originally built, "waste" rock from mines in Silverton were used. Except it wasn't waste rock, it was gold ore. And at the time they weren't looking for gold but silver (hence Silverton, where the mines were "pulling silver out by the ton). When the mistake was finally figured out, it was all tore up and processed.

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  6 месяцев назад +2

      Thank you for sharing!

    • @MHester-m3f
      @MHester-m3f 5 месяцев назад +2

      Makes sense - if you want silver, just toss the gold. It’s just weight you don’t want to carry!

    • @yhssd6573
      @yhssd6573 3 месяца назад +2

      This is the true story. I rode this highway back in 1979 with my Dad and one of his best friends, who worked for the Colorado Department of Highways. He told us that the roadbed was laid with tailings from gold mines.

  • @skypedersen5447
    @skypedersen5447 8 месяцев назад +46

    i drove this highway in a blizzard from hell. on the map it looked like a shortcut, joke was on me. gorgeous drive, but omg

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  8 месяцев назад +5

      lol, I know what you mean, only minus the blizzard..........I had heard it was a beautiful drive, which is why I wanted to check it out, but once I got there.....It took me a minute to work up the courage to continue on

    • @DoloGomez
      @DoloGomez 7 месяцев назад +4

      Geezus man! That must have been intense

    • @skypedersen5447
      @skypedersen5447 7 месяцев назад +3

      @@DoloGomez pretty high pucker factor for the guy who was riding along with me

    • @railgap
      @railgap 4 месяца назад

      Aw hell naw. I have driven it several times but always in good weather. Not doing that in a blizzard, even in my old Ramcharger. ;D

    • @arayagerardo
      @arayagerardo 2 месяца назад +1

      That's what got me on that road "the short cut"...in a semi with flatbed

  • @grh450
    @grh450 8 месяцев назад +6

    Cool video.Apache Trail is literally in my backyard. Five years ago we took a motorcycle trip to Durango and rode The Million Dollar Highway a couple of times, and around the area.LOVED it!

  • @Colleen1978
    @Colleen1978 5 месяцев назад +5

    We drove the Million Dollar Highway today all the way to Silverton. Yup. Pretty white knuckled drive! When you get some extra time the drive all the way was worth it for us. We went to the jail and mine museum in Silverton. Only the main street is paved, every other street is gravel. We checked our the visitor center and did a walking tour of historical buildings and had a picnic in Memorial Park. Love your drone footage and extra little facts! We stopped at the Beaver Creek waterfall too. There was still some snow on the mountains today, July 17 and the temp was 68 degrees late morning. Just a gorgeous drive. Oh, and hubs drove up and i drove down so he could look at the scenery!

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  5 месяцев назад +3

      Awesome!!!! Love it!!! Next time I hope to make it all the way to Silverton, planning a trip to do it in the fall. Sounds like you had a funfilled time! And I like how you guys rotated when driving up and and down so you could both enjoy the scenery!

  • @herschelmayo2727
    @herschelmayo2727 8 месяцев назад +18

    Buying gas in Ouray, I said to the attendent, "I bet you don't have any drunk drivers on this road." He laughed, and told me to look in front of a garage just down the road. As we passed it, there was a flatbed trailer with something on it that looked like a giant ball of aluminum foil that somebody had sprayed a little with red paint. Unbelievable.

  • @charliematt4808
    @charliematt4808 6 месяцев назад +7

    My Colorado friend taught me to NEVER go poking around/exploring in old mining areas. Without notice you could slip into a mine shaft and fall to your death or into a place where you can’t be rescued.

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  6 месяцев назад +1

      That's solid advice. Which is why i have a Drone haha, helps me go in for a closer look without getting too close physically

    • @MHester-m3f
      @MHester-m3f 5 месяцев назад +1

      Yikes! Thanks - tho I wouldn’t, maybe.

  • @candacejackson5044
    @candacejackson5044 Месяц назад +1

    Colorado has some amazing view and some crazy, scary roads. I've driven up Pike's Peak, so I could probably do this. The waterfalls were gorgeous. I loved the chipmunks in there. So cute.

    • @OldRustySteele
      @OldRustySteele Месяц назад +1

      The drive up to Pike’s Peak is child’s play compared to US 550, the Million Dollar Highway. The road to Pike’s Peak is wider and has broader shoulders for the most part.

  • @sherrisherri7977
    @sherrisherri7977 8 месяцев назад +10

    Yes, pursue the wonderful filming of this freeway. 😊 Beyond where you turned around.

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  8 месяцев назад +1

      That I will!!!!! hoping to get back up that way in the fall and capture the colors of the leaves.

  • @t.d.357
    @t.d.357 8 месяцев назад +3

    Thanks for the pictures, That day!!! Love the videos, glad we Got to meet you..

  • @leehyer4916
    @leehyer4916 6 месяцев назад +7

    The views through that mountain was breathtaking. The only thing I wished that you wouldn’t speed the video up while driving through there😊

  • @eegarim
    @eegarim 8 месяцев назад +6

    I passed through Ouray several years ago. It is a wonderful little town with spectacular old buildings. There is a place to stay with natural hot springs water in their pool. One room has a rock wall that is part of the mountain. I still wish i had stayed there. That was not the time to be frugal.😕

  • @jamesreed1969
    @jamesreed1969 5 месяцев назад +12

    Colorado is beautiful!!! Everywhere!

  • @B-Russ
    @B-Russ 6 месяцев назад +54

    This is the pass I learned to drive a semi….now I’m a damn good semi driver😜

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  6 месяцев назад +8

      Lol, I believe it....I bet you learned real quick too

    • @motowngirl5891
      @motowngirl5891 3 месяца назад

      Did this in the early 1990’s Durango to telluride
      Your hope is seeing big semi’s driving the opposite direction, IF THEY CAN do it ,I can do it

    • @motowngirl5891
      @motowngirl5891 3 месяца назад

      Ouray is so beautiful

    • @motowngirl5891
      @motowngirl5891 3 месяца назад

      This is called the WHITE KNUCKLE drive

    • @stevewright6290
      @stevewright6290 3 месяца назад

      Do you have buy odd size pants to house your massive balls ? A semi on that road is unbelievable..

  • @cherylwallace2454
    @cherylwallace2454 5 месяцев назад +3

    I'm from nearby and what I was always told was that the name was a result of the enormous cost to build it. We also call this highway Red Mountain Pass. It's too bad you didn't go all the way to Silverton. Definitely one of my favorite places.

  • @nerolsalguod4649
    @nerolsalguod4649 7 месяцев назад +2

    In the 60s my family was travelling at night when the car in front ( our family friends) stopped suddenly, and with headlights shining forward , we saw an enormous chunk of this MDH had collapsed and fallen away ( about halfway up the road).
    This chunk took up over half of the road , about 50 ' long.
    Been over to this road many , many times.

  • @SlammedZero
    @SlammedZero 6 дней назад

    Some really great drone shots. Absolute beautiful area. Thanks for the video.

  • @markb3806
    @markb3806 Месяц назад +1

    Driven this road many times. The important thing to remember is that the southbound driver in the outside lane is going uphill through the exposed section of road and has much more control over their vehicle speed than if they were headed northbound. So that diminishes the fear factor by an order of magnitude (take your foot of the gas pedal and you slow down immediately). The exposed section is relatively short, maybe 10-15 minutes. For the northbound section (downhill towards Ouray), you are at least on the inside lane so the immediate exposure isn't an issue but you will most likely have to work harder to control your vehicle.

  • @ltran54
    @ltran54 4 месяца назад +2

    Thank you for sharing. I enjoyed it very much.

  • @khanysafan1705
    @khanysafan1705 7 месяцев назад +2

    I’ve driven this highway many times. It was scary at first, but I no longer even think about how dangerous it can be. You get used to it. It is a beautiful drive, though. The video doesn’t talk about it, but if you keep going, the drive from Silverton to Durango also has gorgeous views.

  • @angienichols1248
    @angienichols1248 12 дней назад +1

    Loved the video!!

  • @nevilletaylor9761
    @nevilletaylor9761 2 месяца назад +1

    I’ve driven it at least a dozen times and can confirm that it is spectacular; a couple of scary spots but really not that unnerving.

  • @lavendersunday8712
    @lavendersunday8712 6 месяцев назад +5

    Great video, I’ve driven that route and I was terrified.

  • @danielmartin37
    @danielmartin37 5 месяцев назад +2

    This is a great video! Love the drone shots

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  4 месяца назад

      Thank you so much! I almost didn't make the video because I was worried about being able to complete the drive, glad I did though, and thank you for checking it out! 👍

  • @viggycat8592
    @viggycat8592 5 месяцев назад +2

    Great video! Those stairs will keep anyone in shape! Holy Cow!

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  5 месяцев назад +1

      Thank You! Glad you liked it! And yes!! There were so many stairs and even though I workout regularly, they still kicked my butt!!

  • @williezreed4958
    @williezreed4958 Месяц назад +1

    I've been to both, and the highway through Arizona's salt River Canyon is very scenic and beautiful in an arid way, if you're in the white mountain area it is certainly worth the trip

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  Месяц назад

      I may have to take a trip up to the shite mountains!

    • @andibowe6890
      @andibowe6890 Месяц назад

      I have 40 off grid acres in AZ @6K' near NM

    • @dhandley8893
      @dhandley8893 8 дней назад

      The road between Prescott/Jerome AZ used to be like Salt River Canyon until they made it more user friendly. I think it would be RV friendly. No fun anymore

  • @mattsarizonaaerials
    @mattsarizonaaerials 6 месяцев назад +1

    This was an awesome video. I have done this drive a few times, most recently was back in 2008 though. We loved Box Canyon Falls in Ouray. Silverton is a cool little town too. That entire drive is just awesome. I really dig your work, Jessie. I'd tell you why some of your vids hit close to home for me, but I don't want to discuss it on this public forum. Anyhow, keep up the great work.

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  6 месяцев назад +1

      Hey thanks!! when I went on this trip, I had thoughts about leaving my drone at home, because it was suppose to be a vacation and no work....but I'm glad I brought it with! Next time I plan on going all the way to Silverton and then back, and I want to film a little more in Telluride. Thank you for sharing and checking out the video........ and you can always DM me on IG if you would like to share...thanks again 🙏

  • @leestamm3187
    @leestamm3187 6 месяцев назад +3

    Scary for flatlanders. Pretty routine for those who regularly travel in the mountains of the Western U.S. and Canada. Just watch where you're going.

  • @miyamotobandido8252
    @miyamotobandido8252 8 месяцев назад +5

    Great video! but that highway wiiiide and easy compared to the ones in Bolivia crossing the Andes mountains.

  • @TheAzmountaineer
    @TheAzmountaineer 3 месяца назад +1

    I'll have to check this out when I get a chance. I grew up on scary roads like this, except a lot of them were dirt and mud, no pavement. The things we did on those roads as youngsters is frightening to think about now. Luckily we all survived, somehow.

  • @c.4609-k5n
    @c.4609-k5n 5 дней назад

    I almost took this drive this fall on my way back from Telluride to Denver. However, after having already driven over Independence Pass a few days earlier, which also has many steep drop offs with no guardrails and multiple 10mph hairpin turns, I opted to take a less anxiety-provoking route on my way back! I just don't have that much faith in other drivers not being distracted or careless. I was gripping the steering wheel, too, and kept telling myself to breathe, keep my eyes on the road, and not look at the beautiful scenery! Scariest highway I've ever driven, and my understanding is that this drive (the Million Dollar Highway) is even worse than Independence Pass! Btw, after watching this video, I have zero regrets not taking this drive, but the video allows me to see the beautiful scenery without the anxiety!!

  • @rockymountainjazzfan1822
    @rockymountainjazzfan1822 2 месяца назад +1

    I've driven the Million Dollar Highway hundreds of time--in all seasons and in all weather--driving everything from a standard automobile to a truck and trailer. Yes, it is unforgiving of mistakes. A friend's father drove that road 6 days a week for 30 years in a delivery truck. Snowslides (avalanches) are the biggest unpredictable risk. One day, I was delayed for 6 hours when slowslides ran behind my pickup and ahead of it. Fortunately, I was in a spot fairly well protected from additional slides. I could hear them running up and down the canyon, though. Years ago, the Highway Dept. would intentionally trigger snowslides that were ready to run at any time by firing explosive WWII surplus shells into them using a 155mm Howitzer. It was funny watching tourists gape at State Highway pickup towing a Howitzer up the road in the winter. They still "trigger" snowslides with explosives, but they now use specialized mortar launchers to do the job.

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  2 месяца назад

      enjoyed reading this! i didnt know about the triggering snowslides part of it. doesnt surprise me though. here in AZ they have planned blasting for rocks on highways to keep potential rockslides and any falling rocks to a minimum....thanks for sharing!

  • @KG-ct8cb
    @KG-ct8cb 3 дня назад

    Been there, done that, last summer. Awesome drive (if you can enjoy it)😂 take the Durango to Silverton narrow gage train. It's totally worth it.

  • @gigistrus490
    @gigistrus490 5 дней назад

    I rode my motorcycle several times on that road. It's one of the fun roads in the United States to ride out west (but not the only one!)

  • @rdmgwinn
    @rdmgwinn 5 месяцев назад +2

    One of the most beautiful drives in the country, highway 550 Ouray to Durango. Driver needs to pay attention but nowhere near as bad as this video makes it out to be. Lots of pull outs where driver can relax and enjoy the views.

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  5 месяцев назад

      I may have over exaggerated a little bit hehe but yes!!! Such a beautiful drive and one I will not forget

  • @dawnr9158
    @dawnr9158 8 месяцев назад +8

    Beautiful scenery! But I had the music from The Shining in my head. 😢

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  7 месяцев назад +2

      yes! the scenery was absolutely breathtaking! I had to stop so many times just to pull over and enjoy it

  • @eltonbass8734
    @eltonbass8734 28 дней назад

    I have driven this road many times on my Electra Glide Harley Davidson. I love it. ❤

  • @wdwtx2.0
    @wdwtx2.0 3 месяца назад +2

    It is an EXCELLENT motorcycle road.

  • @ictia7036
    @ictia7036 3 месяца назад +2

    I’m from the area, and I’ve driven on it plenty of times… it’s fine if you practice basic driving safety skills. Y’all got this.

  • @Yurivlc
    @Yurivlc 4 месяца назад +1

    Thanks for this trip! Your country is beautiful.

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  4 месяца назад +1

      Hey no problem! Glad you enjoyed the video! I have another scary/Scenic drive video set to come out in the next few weeks here!

  • @robertpanick2660
    @robertpanick2660 5 месяцев назад

    Thank you, hopefully this will keep people who lack the confidence to drive it off of it. I've been on it a dozen or more times, and it's a piece of cake compared to other mountain roads.

  • @dawnr9158
    @dawnr9158 8 месяцев назад +1

    Thanks!

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  7 месяцев назад +1

      Thank you a million Dawn! I appreciate ya!!! my newest AREA 51 video should be up in a few hours 👍

    • @dawnr9158
      @dawnr9158 7 месяцев назад +1

      @@jessiesdroneadventures7464 I see the noti now. 😃

  • @cbrobinson10
    @cbrobinson10 4 месяца назад +2

    I drove this leaving an ice climbing trip in Ouray and the hype about it made it scarier than it actually is

  • @troytaylor1913
    @troytaylor1913 3 месяца назад +2

    The deer and elk at night can be very bad, and it causes accidents. I wonder how many people went off the edge trying to miss a deer that got caught in the headlights. I think it looks more scary on video than it really is, maybe it's because I grew up here near these mountains and I'm used to driving it. I always thought Colorado had the smoothest well well-maintained roads out of the 4 corners area.

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  3 месяца назад +1

      thank you for sharing!

    • @troytaylor1913
      @troytaylor1913 3 месяца назад +1

      I had to pick up magazines from a print shop in Ouray and take them to Farmington New Mexico. When the sun sets the elk come out and sometimes three or four elk would be running alongside me on the road. All animals are unpredictable, I just slow way down and I never hit one. Going the other way through Cortez took more time but it was safer at night because of all the elk and no sheer cliffs. You also have to watch for rocks all the way to Durango. What scared me the most is some tailgater wanting to go fast while I wanted to slow down because 5 huge animals were just running beside me.

    • @troytaylor1913
      @troytaylor1913 3 месяца назад

      A best friend died going off the cliff on that highway by Durango. He was thrown out and landed in the river where he drowned with his other friend. The truck landed in the river and was undamaged and the other friend that didn't get thrown out lived through it. Wear your seatbelt because you might survive going off that cliff.

  • @rogered5499
    @rogered5499 6 месяцев назад +4

    Drone footage very nice.

  • @dennishilligoss7386
    @dennishilligoss7386 12 дней назад +1

    I’ve driven that road for 30 years! Never have had a problem.

  • @freddieawilson7540
    @freddieawilson7540 7 месяцев назад +3

    On an organized bike ride called " Ride the Rockies" a bout 2000 of us amature cyclists rode this section on our road bikes starting in Durango and concluded the day in Ouray. Fun ride.

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  7 месяцев назад

      Thank you for sharing

    • @jimslife6230
      @jimslife6230 8 дней назад +1

      I did that ride as well. 3 days. Durango to Ouray...Ouray to Telluride...Telluride back to Durango. 212 miles. Aspens were turning. Unforgettable. Wish I was still in that kind of shape. Oh well...new world. :)

  • @Michael65429
    @Michael65429 Месяц назад +1

    Many years ago, a good friend of mine was driving at night on this road, got distracted, and went off the road, plunging a couple hundred feet down the gorge. She was badly hurt and was stranded there for almost 3 days before someone noticed her tire tracks and called the rescue squad...

  • @toughenupfluffy7294
    @toughenupfluffy7294 6 месяцев назад

    I once went into Box Canyon Falls in the springtime, when it was full runoff from a very snowy winter. My sister and her boyfriend and I all hopped the fence and snuck into the canyon, at 1:00 in the morning one night, wearing rain gear and headlamps. The waterfall was raging, and you couldn't even get into the last part of the walkway-it was getting pounded by water. The sound was incredible! I'll never forget it!

  • @johnfoster1083
    @johnfoster1083 5 месяцев назад +2

    Absolutely love this drive. This is the real deal.

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  5 месяцев назад

      Heck yea it is! I plan on doing it again in the fall for those fall colors!!! Thank you for checking out the video!

  • @Sarah-e8t1o
    @Sarah-e8t1o 3 месяца назад

    I have driven that road a few times. Thanks for this wonderful drone perspective.

  • @dukeon
    @dukeon 5 месяцев назад

    Dude, that’s insane…insanely good video, that is! I’m new to the channel and quickly subscribed. Love the high quality drone footage, your writing and laidback narration, and the interesting topics you choose. Keep it going brother 👍🏼

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  5 месяцев назад

      Welcome aboard the the channel! And thank you for those kind words, this was as much fun editing as it was shooting the footage......glad you enjoyed it! I have another "scary highway" video coming out in the next few weeks, thank you for subbing!

  • @johnchedsey1306
    @johnchedsey1306 17 дней назад +1

    I love this drive, though I have deliberately only taken it in nice weather. I might be a Colorado native, but there's no way I'd chance it in bad weather.

  • @Nightshade-dh9fm
    @Nightshade-dh9fm 5 месяцев назад +1

    If you love driving roads like this, like i do, we have a similar road near me in Montana called beartooth pass, lots of switchbacks, very little room, prone to rockslides, winter snowfall avgs 25-30 feet(closed in winter), it climbs about 5500ft, then straddles the ridge of the tallest mountain range in Montana, before entering into Yellowstone NP. The views are incredible and its abundant with wildlife, id highly recommend it!
    Thanks for the video, now I have another road to add to my bucket list lol

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  5 месяцев назад +2

      Hey, thank you for the recommendation! Love driving on roads with switchbacks! And hey stay tuned, I will have another " scary but scenic" road video coming out in the next few weeks based out of Arizona, I got a lot of great drone shots!! Definitely putting beartooth pass on my bucket list! Thanks again for checking out the video!

  • @buckypeterson1018
    @buckypeterson1018 2 месяца назад +2

    Really enjoyed this, and want to plan a driving tour of Colorado. What time of year was this filmed? What time would be best to see Colorado?

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  2 месяца назад +1

      This was filmed mid April 2024. Anytime during spring summer and fall really would be a good time. But with fall you get the colors

    • @matdolor2564
      @matdolor2564 16 дней назад +1

      Definitely mid summer or early fall imo. Last week of September is typically peak fall color season. Mid July is great for wildflowers

  • @frankwoods4532
    @frankwoods4532 6 месяцев назад +2

    Nicely done. Thank you for sharing.😀🤣😂

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  6 месяцев назад

      Hey no problem! glad you enjoyed it! Got more scenic/scary highway videos coming in the future!........Thanks again for watching!

  • @edwardmiller6353
    @edwardmiller6353 5 месяцев назад +1

    Great video!! This is a beautiful area!

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  5 месяцев назад

      Thank you and yes it is! can wait to go back in the fall! this time im going to go further!

  • @supergranfadiytvlange618
    @supergranfadiytvlange618 5 месяцев назад +2

    very nice highway scenery but its so sxary....watching from philippines..

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  5 месяцев назад

      Hey thank you! I'll have another scary highway vide coming up in the next few weeks

  • @jimsgaragetoys
    @jimsgaragetoys 5 месяцев назад +1

    I've driven this road dozens of times without thinking much about it. Most mountain roads don't have guard.rails because of snow plows and snow removal. I went to college in Durango and would drive up to Ouray all the time. I always stop and enjoy the waterfalls at that same pullout that you did.

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  5 месяцев назад +1

      Hey thanks for sharing. This was my first time on a mountain road like this....it was fairly intimidating haha, but it was worth it!!! Hoping to go back again in the fall and shoot another video up there. And yea! Love that waterfall!!!! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and checking out the video! 👍

    • @jimsgaragetoys
      @jimsgaragetoys 5 месяцев назад

      @@jessiesdroneadventures7464 And it never gets old so you'll enjoy it every time you get the chance to experience it. Another fun experience in the area is to ride the narrow gauge railroad from Durango to Silverton. Make sure to try that too.

  • @daveford7414
    @daveford7414 6 месяцев назад +2

    Just subscribed to your channel.looking forward to watching your informative videos👍

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  6 месяцев назад

      Hey thanks!!! Appreciate you subbing, got some pretty good videos coming this summer

  • @michaelquillen2679
    @michaelquillen2679 3 месяца назад

    Love this drive! Will be doing it again, next week, as we do the colors of Fall in that area. Nine years of doing this great area of Colorado!

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  3 месяца назад +1

      awesome! Im hoping to make it out there again sometime in october!

    • @michaelquillen2679
      @michaelquillen2679 3 месяца назад

      @@jessiesdroneadventures7464 Hope you make it. We leave Monday. Last year we rented a Jeep (as I would not drive nor tow my YJ that far) and did the Last Dollar Road. Magnificent!!! We went in the last week in Sept. and thought we were a week too soon for peak colors.

  • @simonsmith2579
    @simonsmith2579 8 месяцев назад +3

    Best episode in ages

  • @glp53
    @glp53 4 месяца назад +8

    It isn't terrifying. I've driven it many times. You just have to be careful. The narrator is making you scared for no reason, except drama.

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  4 месяца назад +1

      I dunno, I had to change my shorts and snort a line just to get through it

    • @jweld1947
      @jweld1947 19 дней назад

      I, too, have driven it many times, winter and summer. If you haven’t driven it yet, just take your time.

  • @Pablo_Del_Norte
    @Pablo_Del_Norte 5 месяцев назад

    Thanks for sharing the highlights of your trip.

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  5 месяцев назад

      no problem! thank you for checking out the video! its an amazing place if you ever get the chance to visit!

  • @BrianandMoe
    @BrianandMoe 4 месяца назад

    Great job, brought back bad memories driving that road!!!😮

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  4 месяца назад

      Hey thank you! love this drive! never gets old! glad you enjoyed the visit! I have a video on oak creek canyon coming out very soon!

  • @rogelio451
    @rogelio451 3 месяца назад

    Really appreciate your video because that's a drive I ain't never gonna make!

  • @aulia_NM
    @aulia_NM 3 месяца назад +1

    Several years ago heading south from Ouray in late afternoon (~ 4 pm) about 2 miles we passed a guy also heading south riding a unicycle 🫤. No support vehicle in sight!

  • @TheAnarchitek
    @TheAnarchitek 3 месяца назад +1

    We entered Colorado via the "Million Dollar Highway", in June 1960. I took my sons to Colorado in 2001, after telling them about it for years, but almost all traces of it had been removed, the highway moved up, onto the ridgeline.

  • @lauraslanesvanlifetravels
    @lauraslanesvanlifetravels 4 месяца назад +1

    I don't think I could do this one...I've driven quite a few "scary" roads but this one? I don't know...maybe I'd let someone else drive...but then I'd be wondering if they can do it w/out going over the edge! lol
    Really like your channel but it is not in my feed enough and I forget about it! (I forget a lot of things, don't take it personally lol) hopefully I can remember more often now that I got reminded.

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  4 месяца назад

      appreciate you checking out the video....this drive was a bit much for me, I had to pull over to collect myself

    • @lauraslanesvanlifetravels
      @lauraslanesvanlifetravels 4 месяца назад

      @@jessiesdroneadventures7464 oh I've had to do that too when I was driving back from Sedona and Flagstaff I took a road that I've never taken before to Payson and it got pretty severe I was like okay I need to pull over and also I was holding traffic up cuz I was driving super slow and you know I don't want to do that! I'm afraid of heights so all of these kinds of drives bother me 🤷

  • @GeneAnderson-j7u
    @GeneAnderson-j7u 4 месяца назад

    I drove this road regularly in the winter of 1983-1984. I was driving a dump truck and pup trailer. This was before the snow sheds were built over the highway to mitigate the snow slides that occurred all the time in the winter. This in my opinion is the most serious paved pass in Colorado.

  • @javig5045
    @javig5045 2 месяца назад +1

    I'be done this hyw 4 times on my motorcycle, it truly is a breathtaking drive.....Javi G.

  • @mumblesbadly7708
    @mumblesbadly7708 3 месяца назад +1

    More great drone footage!

  • @danielpittman889
    @danielpittman889 5 месяцев назад

    1:34 What is that?! a DeLorean in 1890s Hill Valley? Great Scott!

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  5 месяцев назад

      @danielpittman889 lol, I can see why you think that.....but that was a cybertruck!

  • @RennyRoo18
    @RennyRoo18 13 дней назад +1

    So terrifying and beautiful! There’s a road here in San Diego county, California, called the 94, one end of it ends up in downtown San Diego, the other ends up in a town called Boulevard, CA. 60 miles long I believe, and most of it from Boulevard, to Jamul is like this. Never driven it myself because my dad told me not to lol, just been a passenger, but it’s really butthole clenching and white knuckles the whole drive; very, very windy, narrow, hardly any guardrails or shoulders, lots of switchbacks, and the best part - semis drive on it, as a lot come from Tecate, Mexico. Try it out! It is beautiful scenery though lol.

  • @toughenupfluffy7294
    @toughenupfluffy7294 6 месяцев назад

    II grew up only about 35 miles away, in Montrose. I've been over this highway probably 50 times. I once drove over it in the middle of the night, in a blizzard in March. I was making tracks in about 8 inches of snow. It was snowing so hard I couldn't see the road. Fortunately I was going from Silverton to Ouray, so I was on the inside lane. It was such a relief to see the lights of Ouray through the blowing blizzard about two hours later (it's only 43 miles from Silverton to Ouray). I was the only one on the road that night, so I figure they closed it after I went through.

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  6 месяцев назад

      I would have definitely had a panic attack if that was me......Thank you for sharing

  • @matrix-fh9tn
    @matrix-fh9tn 4 месяца назад +2

    I traveled this road three times up and down to get to Imogene and black bear pass, but this isn't terrifying at all. People "think" it's terrifying since it has no guard rails, but once you are on it you will forget all that. Having said that I would never drive there during icy winter though. Lol. Most scary exprience is few scared drivers driving their left wheels past the dividing center lane. Smh.

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  4 месяца назад

      Lol, thank you for taking the time to check our the video! I do plan on taking this drive againninnthe fall, and once in the winter!!

  • @Pawny1-r1z
    @Pawny1-r1z Месяц назад +1

    Beautiful country.

  • @allenfisher2658
    @allenfisher2658 4 месяца назад +1

    Have you driven the road rom Breckenridge to Como via Boreas Pass? That makes this road look easy.

  • @19squids81
    @19squids81 5 месяцев назад

    Cool video. I've driven through part of CO once. But hadn't heard of this stretch of highway til now. Would love to go back and check it out someday. This may be an unpopular opinion, but I wish you weren't so worried about no trespassing signs in abandoned locations. Would have been super cool to see what is inside the old mine tunnel. But I also understand why some hesitate.

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  5 месяцев назад

      @19squids81 hey thanks for checking out the video!! Hope you can get a chance to go back someday and check out this highway. Even the drone views don't do it justice as to how amazing this highway truly is 👍

  • @fredgarvin7033
    @fredgarvin7033 6 месяцев назад +1

    It's a beautiful drive with epic views and very steep grades in part.

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  6 месяцев назад +1

      Yes!!! Scary and scenic at the same time!!!! I would do it again in a heartbeat!

  • @billcook4768
    @billcook4768 2 месяца назад +1

    Anyone else hear the opening music from The Shining while watching the drone shots. And yes, those scenes were filmed in Montana.

  • @kathleenalbright3908
    @kathleenalbright3908 3 месяца назад +1

    This drive along with the back way around the Island of Maui (from Kapalua to Hana) are the two scariest drives that I never want to do EVER again.

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  3 месяца назад

      I will have to look those up!

    • @kathleenalbright3908
      @kathleenalbright3908 3 месяца назад

      @@jessiesdroneadventures7464 The front road to Hana in Maui is the 52-mile Hana Highway that runs along the east Maui coastline is also a dangerous one, with blind curves, 56 one-lane bridges, more than 600 switchbacks and several 1,000-foot drop-offs.
      The back road to Hana is an even more scary drive. All of the rental car agencies make you sign a release that you won't travel either of the directions to Hana (but many tourists ignore it and do the drive anyway).

  • @Katwrangler12
    @Katwrangler12 5 месяцев назад

    We went to a FJ event in Ouray. Drove the off roads and the highway. Absolutely stunning area.

  • @SceneryFromAbove
    @SceneryFromAbove 3 месяца назад

    What a wonderful experience!

  • @dljones915
    @dljones915 8 месяцев назад +17

    I drove it yesterday in my 389 Peterbilt. What a beautiful and scary experience. 😊

  • @robertrenk7074
    @robertrenk7074 5 месяцев назад +1

    Traveled the Million Dollar Highway more than a few times. Always went Ouray all the way to Durango…very pretty drive. From silverton to Durango it’s not as scary but still very pretty.

  • @gabrieluribe1852
    @gabrieluribe1852 5 месяцев назад +3

    June 2019, Yes we did the Million Dollar Drive 25 miles 550 from Silvertone to Ouray I got a video telling my wife on the way back the drop off is on your side, And she tells me Noooo find another road!!

  • @boomerantics9586
    @boomerantics9586 Месяц назад +1

    The story always told by my father (we’re native to the area for generations) was that the “Million Dollar” reference was derived from the gold and silver ore exposed during construction that couldn’t be exploited for obvious reasons. Probably a fable but there’s another explanation for you. BTW, your pronunciation of ‘Ouray’ is pretty fair for not being a local! 😄

  • @MrAstra001
    @MrAstra001 6 месяцев назад +2

    Is it possible to do the tour once again but this time in a late spring or full summer?

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  6 месяцев назад +1

      That's the plan! If I can sneak away for a few days I wanna do this drive during the fall

    • @MrAstra001
      @MrAstra001 6 месяцев назад +1

      @@jessiesdroneadventures7464 Don't wait too long! Nice green forest 😀

  • @bricks-mortar
    @bricks-mortar 3 месяца назад +1

    TY. Will consider that good information a warning.

  • @rosalindamacom4810
    @rosalindamacom4810 4 месяца назад

    Have you ever been told you look like Jason Aldean? Well, you do great video. I’m glad to come across your video to see these beautiful places that I will never go see myself so thank you for taking the time to share your journey and these beautiful places, but stay safe. 😊🙏

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  4 месяца назад

      lol I have not, I've been told that I look like the poor version of Rob Thomas though hehe, and I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the video....Thank you so much for checking it out!

  • @JeffProm
    @JeffProm 6 месяцев назад +1

    I have driven this highway. Beautiful and sometimes terrifying at the same time.

  • @jhouser972
    @jhouser972 2 месяца назад +1

    I drove up to Colorado for the fall foliage and ended up on the million-dollar highway without any knowledge. It was terrifying, especially if you fear heights like myself. I'm surprised my steering wheel didn't snap with how hard I gripped it. 😅

    • @jessiesdroneadventures7464
      @jessiesdroneadventures7464  2 месяца назад +1

      I know what you mean! it takes you by surprise and then by the time you realize the situation that your in, its to late to turn around! thanks for checking out the video!