United States, Colorado
A mining road cut into the San Juan cliffs with sheer drops and no barrier.
Length
40 km
In miles
24.9 mi
Driving time
1 hr 15 min
Atlas rating
9.5 / 10
The run
Ouray to Silverton, following the US 550. Drive it in either direction, though the views usually favour the climb.
Season
Snow, avalanche and no guardrails in winter
Checked by the Drivers Atlas desk
Scored and written by the Drivers Atlas editorial desk, drawing on driven routes across the UK and Europe, mapping data and member road reports. Every road in the library carries a driving and scenery score set by the same method. How we score roads.
Last reviewed 6 April 2026
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