The Million Dollar Highway

One of my favorite parts of working on Cowabunga Corner is the traveling.  To collect the interviews and get event coverage Miki and I travel the United States.  We end up being on the road about 70% of the year.  Driving through the big cities and the little towns, the mountains, farm lands and even the dessert.  Seeing parts of the United States I would never even known about if I did not start these road trips.  I would like to share one of my favorite areas to drive through in Colorado.  This is known as the Million Dollar Highway.

In 2009 Miki and I were on the trip that went along with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 25th anniversary Tour.  They were in Denver, CO and was heading down to Phoenix, AZ.  We stayed in Colorado Springs and met up with our Uncle there.  He heard we were heading down to Phoenix and recommended that we took a different route than the recommended one.  He called it the Million Dollar Highway.  A bit out of the way of the main road, he said this was a sight to see.

Going along with what he recommended, I started the drive.  We got into the area when it was pitch dark, Miki for one of the rare times was sleeping as I drove these roads.  I am afraid of heights and could tell that we were driving through the Mountains.    I knew the route he told me to take, but did not know when the Million Dollar highway was going to start up.  I could tell there was rivers and a lot of trees around me on the first part of this drive.  Miki woke up as we entered a bit of a bigger town.  I decided to take a short nap before driving back into the Mountains.

The sun has not been able to peek through the trees as I woke up to start the drive.  A part of me was hoping that I would have more sleep and be driving this in the daylight, the other part of me wanted to get to our location so we would not be staying in the VW bug.  We got through the big town that we found, only to drive through a small town not to far past it.  At this point the road got smaller with slower speed limits.  Miki and I looked around at what we could see, realizing there was snow cap Mountains, water falls, and just views that went on forever.  At 25 Miles an hour, I felt the speed limit was to fast.  Very sharp curves, with steep drops.  No other cars on the road, I took my time.

Miki wanted me to stop at every curve, every pull off, as she would get photos of the surrounding areas.  We realized that if there was another car, you could see them long before they got to you on the twisting edges of the road up ahead.  One stop got us to realize we were driving over a waterfall, while another part of the road was driving under a waterfall.  There was old houses and mines that looked as if no one has been in them for years.  I remember feeling just amazed at what we saw. 

Near the top of the Mountain there was a parking lot.  Miki and I stopped there and watched as the sun rises over the Million Dollar Highway.  The warmth that went through me, as the view just took all my nerves to a very restful spot.  This is a sight that no photo could truly let you experience. 

Once we started back on the road, a rain cloud came in.  Making it as hard to see the road, as it was during the night.  Only one thought could pass through my mind during this long drive, and that was how badly I wanted to come back on a better day.  If Miki and I had more time, more money I know we would of stopped and stayed at a small hotel in the area to explore this beautiful area of land.

This last summer while Miki and I were going across Country for our California trip, I decided to go back through Colorado.  Which gave me the chance for the first time in four years to return to the Million Dollar Highway.  We waited till the Sun was fully in the sky before starting the long twisted drive through the Mountains.  We took our time, at each of the stops along the way up.  Talking to the brave people who bike these steep roads, others who were passing by, and even helped a dog find his family.

I highly recommend this experience to anyone who can get to Colorado.  It is a true vacation spot that can be adventurous and calming all at the same time. I do not know when my next drive through Colorado will be, though I do know that when I do return, I will drive the Million Dollar Highway again.

Have you been to the Million Dollar Highway in Colorado?  If so please tell us about your first visit!  All stories, comments and questions welcomed below.