The San Juan Skyway
Ouray to Red Mountain

Coming up out of Ouray was a curved climb that just kept going up. Eventually, the slope eased a bit and the road headed south into the canyon. This is a steep-sided canyon and the road continues to climb along the side wall of it. This is one of those roads I can't take my wife on: she'd see how narrow the road is and how close the edge is to the drop and... Narrow and windy as the road is, there were several good turnouts along the way. Speed limit in this area keeps changing but stays pretty low, and for good reason. This is not an area that you'll make up any time in... especially if there's anyone else on the road ahead of you.

The rock was pretty spectacular. Small waterfalls all over the steep drops, the Uncompahgre crashing along down below. Jagged peaks up above, pillars, spires, and multi-colored ash flows. The only thing that kept me moving was the on-again-off-again rain. Then I came into a reasonably large open area with a lot of fishermen working over a lake beside the road. And the next curve put Red Mountain in my face. Red Mountain is a bit different so I've got a page just for that short section of road.