San Juan Skyway

Byway Details

Designation

All-American Road

Length

230 mi in Colorado

About San Juan Skyway

The San Juan Skyway is a 230.1-mile scenic drive in southwestern Colorado. It is an All-American Road and also holds designations as a Colorado Scenic & Historic Byway and a National Forest Scenic Byway, with part of the route running through national forest land. The road links a long string of towns, which makes it easy to break the drive into stages or pick a starting point. Along the way it passes through Silverton, Ouray, Portland, Ridgway, Placerville, Sawpit, Mountain Village, Rico, Dolores, Cortez, Mancos and Durango. Any of these towns works as a base for planning stops along the byway. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Durango show June with the fewest wet days, about five, and highs around 81°F. September is a little cooler, with highs near 76°F and lows around 44°F, while July and August bring the most wet days of the year. The route passes close to a mix of camping, climbing and hiking. Ouray RV Park and Sunshine Campground are right along the way, as are the Cascade Canyon climbing area and the Beaver/Belfast Mine Trail.