Some vacations are about getting somewhere. A road trip through Colorado’s San Juan Mountains is about everything you see along the way. It just might be one of the most scenic drives in America!

Jagged mountain peaks rise above ranchland. Aspen groves line winding roads. Waterfalls spill down canyon walls. Historic mining towns appear seemingly out of nowhere. Around the next curve, you might find a sweeping view of Mount Sneffels, a roadside trailhead or a hot spring where you can soak away the miles.

For travelers planning a long weekend by car, Ridgway, Ouray and Telluride offer some of the best scenic drives in Colorado. And instead of changing hotels every night, consider making Ridgway the warm hearth you return to at the end of every day.

Located about 15 minutes from Ouray and 45 minutes from Telluride, Ridgway makes it easy to head in a different direction every morning and return to the same comfortable room each evening. At Chipeta Lodge Resort + Spa, you can make the road trip feel more like a vacation: take scenic drives during the day, then come home to hot tubs, a heated outdoor pool, spa treatments and a relaxed evenings in Ridgway.

Here are some of the best scenic drives to build into a three- or four-day San Juan Mountains road trip.

Why Ridgway Is The Best Place to Stay for a San Juan Road Trip

Look at a map of southwestern Colorado and Ridgway’s appeal becomes obvious.

The town sits directly on the San Juan Skyway Scenic and Historic Byway, with Ouray just south and Telluride to the southwest. The official San Juan Skyway is a 236-mile route connecting mountain destinations including Ridgway, Ouray, Silverton, Durango and Telluride.

But you don’t have to drive the entire loop at once.

Staying in Ridgway lets you break the region into manageable day trips. That means less packing, unpacking and moving between hotels and more time stopping at overlooks, walking around mountain towns, soaking in hot springs, taking photographs and really enjoying these scenic drives.

Chipeta Lodge Resort + Spa adds another advantage: your home base comes with its own opportunities to relax. Guests can enjoy resort amenities, while the onsite Chipeta Lodge Spa by ISUN offers massage, facial and body treatments.

Unpack once. Then pick a road.

Scenic Drive #1: Ridgway to Telluride via Dallas Divide

Best for: Mountain panoramas, fall colors and first-time visitors
Route: Ridgway → CO-62 → Dallas Divide → Placerville → Telluride

If you only have time for one scenic day trip from Ridgway, make it the drive to Telluride.

Leaving Ridgway on Colorado Highway 62, the road gradually climbs toward Dallas Divide, where some of the most recognizable scenery in the San Juan Mountains comes into view. The drive continues through Placerville before connecting with Highway 145 toward Telluride. Colorado’s official San Juan Skyway guide specifically highlights the scenic drive over Dallas Divide and through Placerville on the way to Telluride.

Give yourself plenty of time. The point isn’t to race to Telluride.

Stop where it is safe and permitted to admire the views. In summer, the surrounding landscape turns intensely green. In fall, the aspen groves become streaks of gold beneath the darker evergreens. And when snow begins appearing on the highest summits, the contrast can be spectacular.

Once in Telluride, park the car and explore on foot. Walk the historic downtown, have lunch, browse shops and galleries or take the free gondola for another perspective on the surrounding mountains.

Then make the approximately 45-minute return trip to Ridgway.

Scenic Drive #2: Last Dollar Road

Best for: Adventure, photography, aspens and backroad scenery
Route: Between the Ridgway/CO-62 area and Telluride
Important: Check conditions and vehicle requirements before attempting the road.

For travelers who want their scenic drives to feel a little more adventurous, Last Dollar Road is legendary.

This unpaved route provides an alternate seasonal connection between the Ridgway area and Telluride, traveling through aspen forests with views toward the Sneffels Range and Wilson Peak. Visit Telluride currently recommends a high-clearance 4×4 vehicle for the route and advises checking road conditions before traveling.

This is especially important because Last Dollar Road is not simply another paved highway. Weather can dramatically change backroad conditions, and mud, snow or storms can turn a beautiful drive into something unsuitable for an ordinary passenger car.

When conditions are good and your vehicle is appropriate, however, this is the kind of drive people remember long after their vacation ends.

Bring water, snacks and a camera—and resist the temptation to hurry.

Scenic Drive #3: Ridgway to Ouray

Best for: An easy half-day trip, families and hot springs
Route: Ridgway → US-550 South → Ouray

Not every scenic drive needs to be an all-day expedition.

Ouray is only about 11 miles and 15 minutes from Ridgway, making the short stretch of US-550 between the two towns ideal for a relaxed outing.

The mountains increasingly close in around you as you approach Ouray, creating the feeling that you are driving straight into an alpine amphitheater.

Spend a few hours walking around Ouray, grab lunch and then make the centerpiece of the day a soak at Ouray Hot Springs.

The large outdoor hot springs complex sits amid the mountain scenery of Ouray and offers an especially appealing way to relax after several days of hiking, sightseeing and driving. Colorado’s official San Juan Skyway guide even recommends including a dip in the Ouray Hot Springs Pool as part of the journey.

Because Ridgway is so close, there’s no need to rush back.

Scenic Drive #4: The Million Dollar Highway

Best for: Dramatic mountain scenery and experienced mountain-road travelers
Route: Ouray → US-550 South → Red Mountain Pass → Silverton

Continue south from Ouray and the road trip becomes dramatically more adventurous.

The section of US Highway 550 between Ouray and Silverton is known as the Million Dollar Highway, one of Colorado’s most famous mountain drives. The route clings to steep canyon walls as it climbs toward Red Mountain Pass, with views of rugged peaks, historic mining country and high-alpine terrain.

It is spectacular—but this is not a drive to approach casually.

Sections have significant drop-offs without guardrails, and weather can change rapidly. Colorado tourism officials recommend checking road conditions before traveling.

If you are visiting in September 2026, there is an additional consideration: CDOT currently has road and tunnel work underway south of Ouray, with single-lane alternating traffic and delays possible through mid-September. Check current conditions before departure.

Allow plenty of time and make Silverton your turnaround point for a memorable full-day excursion from Ridgway.

Scenic Drive #5: Owl Creek Pass and the Cimarron Mountains

Best for: Wildlife, quieter roads and getting away from crowds

For something different from the better-known Telluride and Ouray routes, explore the country east of Ridgway toward Owl Creek Pass and the Cimarron Mountains.

The Ridgway Area Chamber’s visitor information highlights Owl Creek Pass for its rugged cliffs, streams, wildlife opportunities and Western movie scenery. The atmosphere here is different from the Million Dollar Highway. Instead of sheer canyon walls and busy mountain towns, expect a more remote landscape of forests, meadows, creeks and striking rock formations. It is an excellent choice for travelers who enjoy landscape photography on their scenic drives or simply want a quiet day away from the region’s most heavily traveled attractions.

As with any mountain backroad, check seasonal road conditions before setting out.

Add a Hot Springs Day to Your Road Trip

After a couple of days behind the wheel, trade the driver’s seat for warm mineral water. Ridgway puts you close to two distinctly different hot springs experiences.

Orvis Hot Springs in Ridgway offers a quieter, more natural soaking experience. Chipeta Lodge describes Orvis as only about five minutes away, with multiple indoor and outdoor soaking areas. Select pools are adults-only, clothing-optional, so check the details about this hot spring location before visiting.

For a larger hot springs pool experience, head to Ouray Hot Springs, about 15 minutes from Ridgway. The open-air pools are surrounded by Ouray’s dramatic mountain landscape.

And you don’t necessarily have to leave Chipeta Lodge to enjoy some soaking time. The resort has outdoor hot tubs, along with a heated swimming pool, sauna facilities and a full service spa.

A 3-Day Scenic Driving Itinerary from Ridgway

Day One: Dallas Divide + Telluride

Check into Chipeta Lodge Resort + Spa and settle into Ridgway.

The next morning, follow CO-62 west across Dallas Divide and continue toward Telluride. Stop for scenery and photographs along the way, then spend several hours exploring Telluride.

Return to Ridgway in the late afternoon and give the car—and yourself—a rest. Enjoy a hot tub or book a spa treatment before settling in for the evening.

Day Two: Ouray + Million Dollar Highway

Start early and drive south to Ouray.

Continue onto the Million Dollar Highway as far as road conditions, weather, your schedule and your comfort level allow. Travelers comfortable with mountain roads can continue toward Silverton for a longer day trip.

On the return trip, stop in Ouray for a hot springs soak.

Then it’s only about 15 minutes back to your room at Chipeta Lodge.

Day Three: Owl Creek Pass + Orvis Hot Springs

For your final day, trade the famous highways for the quieter scenery around Owl Creek Pass and the Cimarron Mountains.

Take your time. Stop for photographs. Watch for wildlife. Bring a picnic and enjoy a day that feels much farther from civilization than Ridgway actually is.

Finish the afternoon with a soak at Orvis Hot Springs before returning to Chipeta Lodge.

It’s a fitting ending to a San Juan road trip: mountains in the rearview mirror, warm water, tired muscles and nowhere else you need to be.

Road-Trip Tips for Driving the San Juan Mountains

Mountain driving deserves a little extra preparation.

Check weather and road conditions every morning, especially before traveling the Million Dollar Highway or unpaved routes such as Last Dollar Road and Owl Creek Pass. Conditions can change quickly at high elevation.

Fill your gas tank before longer excursions, bring water and layers, and download maps before heading into areas with unreliable cell service.

Most importantly, build extra time into every itinerary.

In the San Juans, stopping is part of the trip.

Make Ridgway Your San Juan Mountains Home Base

The best part of a long weekend in the San Juan Mountains may be realizing that you don’t need to choose between Ridgway, Ouray and Telluride.

You can experience all three.

By staying in Ridgway, you can wake up each morning and decide what kind of scenery you want: Dallas Divide and Telluride, the canyon walls of Ouray, the breathtaking Million Dollar Highway or the quieter forests and peaks around Owl Creek Pass.

Then, instead of packing your suitcase again, simply point the car back toward Ridgway.

At Chipeta Lodge Resort + Spa, the end of the road becomes part of the vacation. Sink into a hot tub. Schedule a massage. Relax by the pool. Watch the mountains change color in the evening light.

Tomorrow, another road will be waiting.

FAQs About Scenic Drives Near Ridgway, Ouray and Telluride

What is the best scenic drive near Ridgway, Colorado?
For first-time visitors, the drive from Ridgway across Dallas Divide toward Telluride combines spectacular mountain views with an easy day trip. The Ridgway-to-Ouray drive is another excellent choice for travelers wanting a shorter excursion.

What is the most famous scenic drive near Ouray?
The Million Dollar Highway between Ouray and Silverton is the region’s most famous drive and forms part of the larger San Juan Skyway.

Can I drive from Ridgway to Telluride for a day trip?
Yes. Telluride is approximately 39 miles and 45 minutes from Chipeta Lodge under normal conditions, making Ridgway a convenient base for a Telluride day trip.

Are there hot springs near Ridgway?
Yes. Orvis Hot Springs is just outside Ridgway, while Ouray Hot Springs is approximately 15 minutes away in Ouray.

Where should I stay for a San Juan Mountains driving vacation?
Ridgway is particularly convenient for travelers who want to explore both Ouray and Telluride without changing accommodations. Chipeta Lodge Resort + Spa combines that central location with hot tubs, a heated pool and an onsite spa, making it easy to balance days on the road with time to relax.

When is the best time for scenic driving in the San Juan Mountains?
Summer and fall are particularly popular, with summer wildflowers and fall aspen color providing very different landscapes. The official San Juan Skyway listing recommends spring, summer and fall, with fall highlighted as an especially good season.

Do I need a four-wheel-drive vehicle?
Not for the main paved routes connecting Ridgway, Ouray and Telluride. However, backroads are different. Visit Telluride currently recommends a high-clearance 4×4 for Last Dollar Road, and travelers should always check current conditions before attempting unpaved mountain roads.