Dolores, CO to Durango, CO-Part 2

Continuing the ride; we pick up  the Million Dollar Highway -
Hwy 550.   As I said in part one, rode into snow in the higher elevations.

Red Mountain; but here it is cloaked in white

Red Mountain in the Summer

One of the homes of Red Mountain City

In the area of Red Mountain Pass were many mines  The Yankee Girl,established in 1882 being one of the most successful pulling out over 100 million dollars in todays valuation in silver in the sixteen years of operation.

From Red Mountain pass you descend descend, winding your way to Silverton.  Wonderful riding throughout; but here you no longer have the cliff and the tight turns for the most part it opens up into good straights and sweeping turns.

One of the many streams and waterfalls along the highway. This one
is just a few miles outside of Ouray.
​

  Silverton is another great place to stage out of.  There are some  old Victorian hotels, a couple of motels and campgrounds/RV campgrounds.  

Silvertons weather is classified as subarctic.  While the days can be quite warm, I have had many days in the 80's, the Winters are brutal.  So unless you are into
Heli skiing I suggest visiting in the
late Spring through Fall.

Silverton is the end of the line
for the Denver Rio Grande RR.
If you are in the area, do take the

time to ride the DRGRR.  I have been on it so often, feel as if I should be a conductor.  Just a great ride and scenery you will not have elsewhere.

                                                                                        Here I am on the shoot

Back to Silverton.   Silverton is a wonderful old Victorian mining town.  Several restaurants and 
generally a great place to wonder about.  For lunch or dinner recommend  Handlebars.

Handlebars has a fine selection of food and a bar with a wide selection of beer.  Don't miss the
homemade peach cobbler!

​Breakfast I like Brown Bear Cafe

        Handlebars above

Interior of Brown Bear Cafe

Now that we have had a fine meal, lets ride!
​

On the road to
​Animas Forks

Animas Forks is a ghost town located about twelve miles from Silverton and is part of the 
Alpine Loop.  the Loop is a 65 mile system of dirt roads which connect the towns of Ouray, Lake 
City and Silverton.  Riding the Loop will require a dual sport bike or a 4x4 with decent clearance.
Elevation will be over 11,000 feet
at Engineers Pass.

        Along the Animas River

Durango is just an hour away. Up and over Molas Pass.  

Whether you are riding to Durango or wish a beautiful place to have
a picnic  Molas Lake has camping available and a stunning place to
​spend some quiet moments.  Located on Highway 550 just a few minutes out of Silverton on the way to Durango.

One of the best, and easiest passes to ride/drive is Ophir Pass.
Pretty well groomed for a dirt road.  Don't know if I would take a "street" bike over.

Ophir Pass is a high mountain pass at 11,789 feet  in any case don't know if I would drive it in vehicle other the a 4x4 or higher clearance
bike.

                                   About midway up from the Silverton side.

The pass is generally open June through September.  Check the local
weather for it can snow anytime of the year.  The Silverton side is not to exciting - beautiful but no "pucker factor" - Not so for the west side!
As you descend from the top of the pass you are presented with a gorgeous view of the valley; but it is a steep and narrow road.  And a   rather steep drop off!

Video of the assent from the Silverton side:

To Hell You Ride   thats what they said about Telluride in the old days.
Seems the name came about from the miners warning of the treacherous mountain journey they  had to take to get there.

I remrember it wasn't to many years ago when you could buy a nice little home there for cheap - I mean next to nothing and that was in the early 1960's.  Then it was "discovered" and only the pretty boys from
Hollywood or the tech gurus can afford it now. Telluride remains a destination not to be missed.  The ride, be it up and over Ophir Pass or the long way around it is worth the ride.

                                                                           LIte lunch.

,Floradoras is a small restaurant, good food. If you can get the window
table and watch for the "stars "to walk by.   Yeah, me either; but I did want to run into Tom Cruz. Figured we could talk about his P-51's.
​At one time he had two.  Must be rough.  

Silverton to Durango is a nice ride of about an hour.  As mentioned above do take a moment or an overnight at Molas Lake.  If you are camping there, hope you brought you down bag, at over 10,000 feet
the published average lows during the summer is around 30 degrees at night.  AAA rates the Molas Lake campground the most beautiful
​campground in Colorado.   I believe it.

Durango is the pace for fine dinning and some exquisite lodging. 
The locals and the informed visitor will often go to the Durango Diner.

Always a breakfast favorite of mine is the Green Chile Burrito.

For a fine Italian dinner with an excellent wine list try Mutu's located downtown and just minutes from the train station.

If traveling to Durango in the peak summer months don't forget to
make reservations for the DRGRR train.  This is a must do.  The
ride is a couple of hours from Durango to Silverton.  My first rides
was in the 1950's and I still ride it everytime I am in the area.  Someday
I will transfer the 16mm film my father shot of the train in 1941.  Then
it was only a work train.  His film shows the sheep being taken up from the low pastures to the high pastures for summer.

So there you have it,  Dolores to Durango.  A wonderful ride. Beautiful
scenery.  Great ride.  Good eats.   So wonderful I go back just about every year.  Love Southwest Colorado  - God lives there!

​

See You Down The Road