Million Dollar Highway

The 25 miles of US 550 between Ouray and Silverton cross Red Mountain Pass at 11,018 ft. The section through the Uncompahgre Gorge south of Ouray is cut into a cliff with a sheer drop on the outside and, famously, no guardrails, because the snowploughs need somewhere to push the snow.

The drive

Southbound from Ouray puts you on the outside edge through the gorge. After that the road opens into a high valley stained red and orange by old mine workings, climbs a set of hairpins to the pass, and drops into Silverton.

Carry on south over Molas and Coal Bank passes to Durango for the full 70-mile run, which is faster and more open.

In your Lotus

At 11,000 ft a naturally aspirated engine is down roughly a third on power, so this is one for momentum driving. Supercharged cars lose less. The road surface is good but the edges are unforgiving, and it is a road to drive at seven-tenths and look at.