Million Dollar Highway: Self-Driving Audio Tour

Embark on a self-guided audio tour of Colorado’s Million Dollar Highway, exploring its wild west history and jaw-dropping natural beauty. No expiration, lifetime validity!

Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Million Dollar Highway - 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.

Note: The 72-mile tour covers the essentials of Million Dollar Highway in 2-3 hours.

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Pinkerton Hot Springs - 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.
  • Bakers Bridge - 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!
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Ouray Ice Park - 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 - 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.
  • 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.
What's Included
  • Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
  • Great value: purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!
  • Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
  • Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
  • Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
  • Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
  • Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
  • Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!
What's Not Included
  • Attraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations
Additional Information

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 to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. These steps require good internet/Wi-Fi access. From there, follow the audio instructions and the route.

New, extra validity — now yours for an entire year! Use multiple times over multiple trips!

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

  • How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email with instructions. Follow the instructions right away: • Download the separate app • Enter the password • Download the tour • MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular.
  • How to start the tour: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction. • Go to the starting point. (Note: no one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided). • The audio will begin automatically at the starting point. If you face audio issues, visit the FAQ. • Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
  • Amazing Savings: why pay for an expensive, crowded, and limited bus tour — priced per person! — when you can have ONE amazing audio guide on your OWN phone for your WHOLE group?
  • Flexibility and Convenience: • Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. It’s perfect for tailoring your exploration and revisiting your favorite spots on future trips. • Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace, free from the constraints of a group.
  • Comprehensive Tour Experience: •The app provides a full itinerary, travel tips, narrated audio stories, scripts, images, videos, and recommendations for additional activities. • Enjoy a private experience without the crowds, ideal for personalized stops and photo opportunities.
  • Ease of Use and Accessibility: • The app is hands-free and activates stories via GPS, offering support through call, chat, or email. • There is no need for a continuous cell or Wi-Fi connection as the GPS map works offline.
  • Memorable Keepsakes: • Utilize the app’s images to create a photo book or share on social media, ensuring you have high-quality, crowd-free memories from your trip.
  • Preparation: • After booking, download the app and the tour using a strong Wi-Fi connection. • Review the tour at home before your trip for a better experience.
  • Starting the Tour: • Open the app upon arrival at your destination. • Select the appropriate tour based on your starting point. • Head to the starting location; the audio will begin automatically. • Follow the suggested route and adhere to the speed limit for an optimal experience. • By following these instructions and taking advantage of the app’s features, users can enjoy a personalized, flexible, and in-depth exploration of their destination at their own pace and convenience.
Location
1621 Main Ave
Main Avenue
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.2
(56 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Allison
Aug 29, 2024
Jeep tour - Funnnnn! James was an exceptional guide. Accommodating, funny, & informative. He even led our group in singing “Happy Birthday” to my husband.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michelle_d
Aug 21, 2024
Perfect Family Tour! - I loved how it told you all the info before the stop came up so you could decide what you wanted to stop off to see! Perfect amount of history, info and loved being able to hear it in the car with the whole family! Definitely recommend!!
Review provided by Viator
Mark
Aug 20, 2024
Highly recommend - This made the drive so much more informative and enjoyable. The application would engage and specific points along the route. Highly recommend
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Donna
Aug 18, 2024
Beautiful scenery - An excellent drive with beautiful scenery. If possible , try not to drive it in the rain . That added a higher degree of stress!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
M
Aug 3, 2024
Action Tour Guides is a must!! - We thoroughly enjoyed hearing about the local history, and off road gems as we traveled down the Million Dollar highway. Looking forward to using it in different parts of the nation as well.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
O4200ovdebram
Jul 28, 2024
Amazing hidden gems - WE loved this audio tour. So many hidden gems along the way. WE wished we had more time to see everything. WE really tried to see Adrenaline falls but didn’t have the right type of vehicle to get there. So disappointed. WE tried in our Nissan Sentra but had to turn around. We really loved Bakers bridge. My husband said it reminded him of Havasupai. Pinkerton hot springs was amazing. We passed it several times before but had no idea what it was. We really want to try some of the other audio tours next time we go on vacation.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Gary_s
Jun 27, 2024
Ouray to Silverton Million Dollar Highway tour - It was good and accurate information. In addition to just pointing out things along the way the narrator gave insightful information and history and the various sites.
Review provided by Viator
24bradleya
Aug 19, 2024
Test your nerves right out of Ouray. - Wasn’t overly impressed with it. Scenery was OK, but saw much better scenery on the ride down to it. First two miles of it out of Ouray is impressive and daunting with tight turns and narrow road with a shear drop-off. But after that it was just your basic highway with no guardrails. The mines were great.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Paradise645102
Jul 30, 2024
Our visit to UA and the million dollar highway was beautiful. The audio just didn’t work. - The million Dollar highway was the most beautiful thing we’ve ever seen, but the audio never came on that we paid for. We kept waiting for it thinking it would be geared toward just the million dollar portion of the highway, but it never turned on. Quite disappointing having paid for it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Eve_w
Jun 20, 2024
Boring and basic info. No interesting stories. - No real historical info or cool stories. It was just some boring stuff about erosion, the animals, reminder to drive slow etc. I expected historical and interesting but I gained no new knowledge.
Review provided by Viator
Select Date and Tickets
up to 4 guests
1
Traveler
September 2024
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Today