Pagosa Springs sits at the doorstep of the San Juan Skyway

Drive US 160 west out of Pagosa Springs toward Durango and you are heading for the start of one of Colorado’s signature mountain drives, the San Juan Skyway. It is an official state Scenic and Historic Byway, and it also carries the top federal designation as an All-American Road. The loop links Durango, Silverton, Ouray, Telluride, and the Cortez area through the heart of the San Juan Mountains.

It helps to set expectations. This is a long loop of paved highway, the kind that fills a full day once you stop to look around, not a short scenic spin. The stretch between Ouray and Silverton, the “Million Dollar Highway,” is famous for steep grades, tight turns, and big drop-offs with few guardrails. It rewards an unhurried driver and punishes a rushed one.

Season matters too. The byway is open year-round in general, but the high passes along it can close temporarily in winter storms, and conditions can change while you are out there. Fuel up, watch the weather, and give yourself daylight.

If you are newly settled in Archuleta County, the Skyway is the grand tour of your western neighbors, best done as a planned outing rather than an afternoon errand.

For the byway route, conditions, and what to expect, see the Colorado Department of Transportation scenic byways pages.