Million Dollar Highway Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour

104 Reviews |

Badge of Excellence | Durango, USA

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2 to 3 hours (approx.)

Mobile ticket

Instant confirmation

Offered in: English

Overview

Recommended: Purchase one tour per vehicle. Everyone can listen at the same time!

Strikeout for the wild west with this self-guided driving tour of Colorado’s Million Dollar Highway. This remote, jaw-dropping stretch of roadway was once the site of booming mining towns and railroad tycoons. Today, it’s a totally unique blend of jaw-dropping natural beauty and rugged western charm. But you’ll do more than just see the sights with this tour—you’ll also learn the wild history of this area, from boom to bust.

After booking, check your email/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point.

New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.

This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.

What's Included

Text transcripts of audio narration & Self-paced format (start/pause/resume anytime)
Pre-recorded audio commentary (downloadable or streamable)
Lifetime access (no expiration) with Customer support (chat/email)
This tour is NOT a ticket to any attraction or site
Suggested walking/driving itinerary with stop-by-stop directions
Offline GPS-enabled route map
NO in-person guide or physical equipment (bring your own device & headphones)
This is a GPS-powered, self-guided audio tour that works through an app

Entrance fees, in-person guide, headphones, transport, parking, food,Wi-Fi or cellular data, rentals

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Meeting Location

Meeting point

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Book Online

Our secure website provides real-time availability, instant confirmation, and free, no-hassle cancellations up to 24 hours before your tour begins.

Safe & secure • Easy breezy • Hassle-free

Durango

As you drive through Durango, you'll get acquainted with this fascinating town and the man who put it on the map: Otto Mears. Hear how Mears turned this from a ramshackle railroad camp into the bustling destination it is today.Note: The tour is over 72 miles long, with more than 51 audio stories, and takes about 2-3 hours to complete.New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Million Dollar Highway (pass by)

Your northbound tour along the Million Dollar Highway begins in Durango. From here, you'll head north and discover why millions of people come from all over to visit this jaw-dropping stretch of highway.

Animas River Trail

Along the way you'll pass the Animas River, a 126-mile tributary of the San Juan River. This gorgeous river may have a benign name now, but the first European explorer to find it gave it a much more chilling title.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Pinkerton Hot Springs (pass by)

Next up is Pinkerton Hot Springs, named after dairy agriculturist James Pinkerton, who built a resort and hotel by the springs which also functioned as an illegal speakeasy during prohibition! The resort is long gone, but the natural beauty of the hot springs remains.

Baker's Bridge Veterinary Clinic

Baker's Bridge might be an unassuming landmark, but it holds major significance for classic movie buffs. This is the spot where Paul Newman and Robert Redford made their famous leap into the Animas River in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid!

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Haviland Lake

Haviland Lake State Park is a fantastic place to break up a long drive with a picnic or an icy swim. This picture-perfect lake is shaded by towering pines and offers great views of the Hermosa Cliffs beyond. It's also a no-wake lake undisturbed by larger motorboats.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Molas Pass

Molas Pass rises an incredible 10,910 feet above sea level, making it one of the highway's two highest mountain passes. Despite this elevation, it's also a famous landmark along an annual bicycle racing route! Skilled cyclists huff their way to the top, then ride gravity the rest of the way down.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Molas Lake

Pristine, peaceful, and very chilly, Molas Lake is one of the best places to view the San Juan Mountains and the Weminuche Wilderness. Formed by glaciers thousands of years ago, it's now an absolutely perfect picnic spot for the weary traveler.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Silverton

Silverton might get its name from the precious metal once mined in its vicinity, but the history of this land dates back way before the arrival of miners and their mules. As you pass through, you'll get a glimpse into the history of the Ute tribe who once called this their home, and what happened to them when the mining rush began.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Ironton

Along your way, you'll pass the remains of Ironton. Once a booming mining town, built largely around the harvest of iron ore, Ironton is now one of many ghost towns which were left behind after mining operations in these mountains went bust. The last Ironton resident died in 1960.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Bear Creek Falls

Bear Creek Falls is a dramatic, 200 foot cascading waterfall that is an absolute must-see along your route. If you're visiting in the fall, the autumn foliage makes this already impressive attraction even better.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Ouray

In the final stretch of your tour, you'll enter the storied town of Ouray. Nicknamed "the Switzerland of America," this picturesque mountain town isn't just a pretty face. It's also packed with things to do! From ice parks to waterfalls, it's a place ripe for discovery.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Ouray Ice Park (pass by)

From December to March, the Ouray Ice Park offers wintery experiences for intrepid adventurers. The park's main attraction is an enormous ice wall created specifically for climbing.

Box Canyon Waterfall & Park (pass by)

Ouray's Box Canyon Falls Park is overflowing with cool scenery. Imposing canyon walls, great hiking trails, and scenic picnic spots define much of the park. But the main draw is the huge waterfall tumbling over the edge of the canyon, which you can view from below and above!

Ouray Historical District

Ouray's Historical District has beautifully preserved its roots as a 19th-century mining town. The district boasts plenty of picturesque Victorian-era homes and commercial structures, as well as a gorgeous opera house which was saved from the brink of demolition.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Ouray Visitor's Center

The last stop along your tour is the Ouray Visitor's Center, a great place to get situated for a longer visit to this quaint little town. Your tour will conclude here.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Show 15 more stops

Additional Info

Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
NOTE: Check current road closures before you go.
Easy to use: GPS-triggered audio plays automatically along the route for a hands-free experience.
Private tour: Explore in your own vehicle without crowded buses or large tour groups.
At your own pace: Start anytime and pause for hikes, picnics, photos, or scenic stops.

Works offline: Once downloaded, the tour works using GPS without Wi-Fi or cellular service.
Good value: One purchase covers everyone in your vehicle, not each person separately.
More ways to save: Choose a single tour, a nearby bundle, or access to 200+ tours.
Download in advance: Download the Tour Guide app by Action and tour while connected to Wi-Fi or a strong cellular signal.
Follow the route: Begin at the suggested starting point or join anywhere along the route shown in the app.
Lifetime access: Preview the tour before your trip and revisit the stories, photos, and details afterward.
Supported devices: iPhone with iOS 15+, Android with version 9+, or a GPS-enabled iPad/tablet with cellular capability.

Frequently Asked Questions

(6)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Million Dollar Highway Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (MDT). Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

Still have questions?

We're here to help.
Activity code: C-259640P7

Traveler Photos

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Reviews

4.45

104 reviews

Average 4.45 out of 5 stars based on 104 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and partner sites such as Trustpilot, Viator, and TripAdvisor

5 stars

75

4 stars

15

3 stars

5

2 stars

4

1 star

5

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The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from Cool Destinations customers.

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Million Dollar Highway Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour?

A:

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (MDT).

Apr 2025

Q: What's included in the price?

A:

The following is included:

Text transcripts of audio narration & Self-paced format (start/pause/resume anytime).
Pre-recorded audio commentary (downloadable or streamable).
Lifetime access (no expiration) with Customer support (chat/email).
This tour is NOT a ticket to any attraction or site.
Suggested walking/driving itinerary with stop-by-stop directions.
Offline GPS-enabled route map.
NO in-person guide or physical equipment (bring your own device & headphones).
This is a GPS-powered, self-guided audio tour that works through an app.

The following is NOT included:

Entrance fees, in-person guide, headphones, transport, parking, food,Wi-Fi or cellular data, rentals.

Apr 2025

Q: What is the minimum age for this tour?

A:

There is no minimum age for this tour, so bring your wee one along for an adventure..

Apr 2025

Q: My date is not available in the calendar, I am just checking to see if it is available?

A:

If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.

If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.

Apr 2025

Q: Is this an accessible tour?

A:

Accessibility information for the Million Dollar Highway Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour is as follows:

Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Apr 2025

Q: Where is the meeting point for this activity?

A:

Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for Million Dollar Highway Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour will be included in your confirmation email from Cool Destinations. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!

Mar 2024