Colorado's Terrifying Drives - Million Dollar Highway & Black Bear Pass

Road trips don't have to be haunted to be terrifying. They don't even have to have a high fatality rate. Colorado's San Juan Mountains have one of the most terrifying highways, though it's often traveled for being one of the most scenic. Known as the Million Dollar Highway, travelers pass the rustic towns of Silverton and Ouray on a narrow, twisting road guaranteed to draw gasps of awe and fear. A dangerous side route along the way, Black Bear Pass, has gained a legendary reputation for jaw-dropping views, stomach-flipping drop-offs, and annual front-page accidents. These roads combine adventure with anxiety, making them one of the most terrifying travel experiences in America.

Million Dollar Highway

The Million Dollar Highway (part of U.S. Highway 550) is a 25-mile stretch between Silverton and Ouray, carved 2,000 feet high into the San Juan Mountains. It's hailed as one of the most scenic drives in America—but also one of the most dangerous. With sheer drop-offs, no guardrails, and grades as steep as 8%, the road clings to cliffs that make even seasoned drivers anxious.

The road got its name from one of several legends: some say it cost a million dollars to build, others claim the gravel used contained a million dollars' worth of silver ore (due to its historical mining activity), and many argue it simply delivers million-dollar views. However, the most popular legend comes from travelers who claim they wouldn't drive it again, even if given a million dollars. Built by entrepreneur Otto Mears in the 1880s, the highway started as a stagecoach route and was later adapted for automobiles. Today, it's fully paved but still incredibly treacherous—averaging dozens of closures due to avalanches and car accidents.

Driving north from Silverton puts you in the inside lane, closer to the mountain instead of the cliff's edge—which is highly suggested for first-timers. Along the way, you'll climb to Red Mountain Pass at over 11,000 feet, where the air thins and the views expand into surreal panoramas of jagged peaks and valleys. Drivers should travel cautiously in the event of avalanches and occasional falling rocks, and stay alert not to swerve out of the way to avoid a fatal fall off the mountainside. Some dangers, like black ice, can't be prepared for as well. According to the Durango Herald, there are 40 accidents a year and about 7 deaths. Pullouts let you stop for photos (and maybe a few deep breaths).

For history and movie buffs, Durango sits as a cowboy time capsule that has been favored by Hollywood since 1925. Nearly 30 films have been shot in the streets and surrounding areas, such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Cliffhanger, and City Slickers. For extra chills, the route passes through ghost towns like Red Mountain Town and Ironton, once bustling mining settlements now left to the elements. Crumbling buildings and silent streets serve as eerie reminders of Colorado's boom-and-bust past—perfect for October travelers chasing a spooky vibe.

Black Bear Pass

If the Million Dollar Highway feels like a challenge, Black Bear Pass takes danger to a whole new level. Officially an OHV (off-highway vehicle) route, this narrow trail climbs to 12,840 feet before plunging down a series of switchbacks between U.S. Highway 550 and Telluride. With loose rock, sheer drop-offs, and technical obstacles, it's considered one of the most dangerous off-road trails in the country. At 12,844 feet above sea level, it is also one of the highest roads in Colorado.The San Miguel County Sheriff himself has warned against reckless drivers—some of whom end up stranded on the switchbacks when they don't ensure their wheels stay on the road. Just this month, a South Carolina man was stuck on one of the switchbacks above Bridal Veil Falls, Colorado's tallest waterfall. The vehicle was stuck three switchbacks past the falls when the driver's wheels came off the side of the road, causing the closure of Black Bear Pass. Though vehicles are allowed to traverse the pass, a high-clearance, short-wheelbase, 4-wheel-drive is really the only vehicle that can handle the trail—and even then, only with drivers who are actually experienced.

The mile-long stretch of Black Bear Pass above Bridal Veil Falls, on the Telluride side, is rated as a difficult trail. Though the trail is 2-way when it starts on US 550, it switches to one-way at its narrowest point. There are few spots wide enough to pass. There is also a very high risk of rock slides. Past Black Bear Pass is the famous collection of switchbacks. Though the road is technically open from late summer to early fall, it can be closed anytime for a number of reasons: inclement weather, snow, and stuck vehicles being the most common.

Though the difficult rating is based on how easy it is to navigate objectively, Black Bear Pass is also psychologically grueling. Before the famous series of switchbacks, the main challenge is the short drop a driver must take over the lip of the valley. With nearly no visibility, the driver must make a turn that drops over the edge, and once they succeed, continue to travel on a very rough and steep road. Though that is the most unnerving spot on the pass, the following switchbacks are not a time to relax either. They start initially very sharp with little to no room to complete the turn. Though they slowly ease up down the cliff face, and the road widens for two lanes, there is still the general danger of oncoming traffic with not much excess room, along with all of the other aforementioned concerns.

Rescue missions can take days, and conditions can turn deadly with avalanches, rockslides, or sudden storms. Despite the danger, the pass draws thrill-seekers eager to test their skill and nerve.

Why People Still Drive Them

Why do drivers continue to flock here? For one, the scenery is unmatched. Towering peaks, waterfalls, abandoned mining towns, and Colorado's vast wilderness make the San Juan Skyway an unforgettable journey. For another, it's about the adrenaline: the bragging rights of surviving roads known nationwide as some of the most dangerous. In fact, as part of the Million Dollar Highway, maybe this element of adventure is what earned its place on the list of Reader's Digest's best road trips last year!

Both routes carry a spooky allure in October. Ghost towns, avalanches, and sheer cliffs at twilight turn the drive into something out of a gothic western. Pair that with the mining history and tragic accidents that dot local lore, and you'll understand why these roads feel as haunted as they are hazardous.

However, it's important to remember to travel the Million Dollar Highway northbound first: this keeps drivers away from the cliff edges. Always check conditions before you go—the sheriff himself says that people should check the county's official announcements and not to go off of social media rumors. The U.S. Forest Service says that all drivers choosing to brave Black Bear Pass should have the proper vehicle (high-clearance, short wheelbase, four-wheel drive vehicle).Whether you're exploring for the thrill, the sights, or the history, the Million Dollar Highway and Black Bear Pass prove that sometimes the journey is the adventure. As you head along those Colorado highways, just remember that Interstate Signways made the signs that guided the way!