IS THE MILLION DOLLAR HIGHWAY AS BAD AS THEY SAY? VAN LIFE USA S7-E24]

The road that runs from Silverton, Colorado to Ouray is known as both the Million Dollar Highway and as one of Americas most dangerous roads. Of course we had to find our for ourselves.
Travel vlog 501| Filmed MAY 2022 | The Million Dollar Highway | Country 32/197
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😀 A BIT ABOUT US:
We’re Marianne & Chris, a happily married couple from the UK. Marianne is a living kidney donor to her best friend, and realising that life was for living and never really knowing what’s round the corner - we decided to fulfil our dream of travelling full time.
So in March 2018 after the kids had left home, we sold our belongings, rented our house and moved into our campervan called Trudy. We set off to see the world and after vanlifing around Ireland and Europe, we grabbed our backpacks and spent 5 months exploring Central America.
Feeling like we needed a challenge, we planned the ultimate van life adventure! In Jan 2020 set off to drive around the World from UK to UK. But after arriving in Turkey, covid caught up with us and closed the borders, so we had a wonderful 18 months exploring this special country. Realising we were not going to be able to head further East, we decided to do a handbrake turn and go the other way and shipped our van to the USA.
We hope you enjoy coming with us, and we’ll continue to share our real adventures and hope you feel inspire to step out of your comfort zone and try something new.

[@TREADtheglobe]

So if you missed the crazy roads we did in Georgia you can see one of them here kzbin.info/www/bejne/g6DYgq2Zg92Kh9k. Or if you want to see the Tea Road in Turkiye then check out this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/navRi2tjaa-hgck. Let us know which one you think is the most scary !!! C&M xx

[@erselcakir]

Huge thanks for using the new name of my country. Not Turkey anymore. Türkiye is better ❤️❤️❤️🧿🧿🧿🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷

[@nickergun4943]

@@erselcakir Hello Ersel bey We've known you from the videos. As my country man I am so proud of people like you. Turkiye it is! Chris and Marianne were very nice to stop by in Florida to visit my family. I appreciated it very much. They are extremely nice individuals and the way they put our country on the map and because of them so many people visiting TURKIYE now and the Turtle project and fundraising etc. Sometimes, I am almost ashamed of myself not being able to do what Chris and Marianne did for our country, that is the reason why I call them " Our Ambassadors". I love them. 💕💕💕🇹🇷🇹🇷In the meantime, I am glad to exchange this comments with you Ersel Bey! Have a great day!🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷👍👍

[@audramitchell9894]

No guard rails in Colorado . Was a bit surprised by that

[@carmenfigueroa8490]

Like always a real adventure epic omg you guys rock I really enjoy you and I really get away when I’m with you guys thank you and Hod blessed you on tour travels my friends 🦋🫶🏽♥️🙏🏾💙🥰 stay healthy safe and blessed my friends 🙏🏾🫶🏽

[@denisscott3073]

Hi Chris and mariann 👋 just us 2saying hi and thanks again for this video update 👍 sue and den 👍👍👍🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🚌🚌🚌

[@TREADtheglobe]

Thanks 👍

[@Retiredmom2]

I would love to drive that road. Maybe next spring

[@berrinc6961]

Sizlerle birlikte gezdim sanki neredeyse belcikadan selamlar😃😄😯😯👩

[@bluelobster-yl6vz]

Loved this one! It is so much fun to see new places through your eyes. I have ridden the million dollar highway on motorcycle in both directions several times. It's always exciting! And very scary when the weather turns bad.

[@martinamf6486]

Amazing video...thank you

[@TREADtheglobe]

Thanks Martina - we are delighted you enjoyed it xx

[@bellathereader1328]

My alma mater is U of Colorado. Such a beautiful state!! The Rockies are spectacular. Haven't heard of the million dollar road but remember a lot of scary roads when driving into the mountains for hiking or skiing.....

[@celltech2675]

A lot of nature, mountain roads, Trudy and the best driver Mariane.. we love you guys and your edit are lovely great !

[@TREADtheglobe]

Thank you so much 😀

[@stupidmonkeykev]

Yeah! new ep :)

[@nurtenfoster6731]

I forget how scenic and beautiful USA is; thanks for sharing your adventures!

[@debk5427]

Beautiful drive. So glad you experienced it.

[@ozcandag4270]

Teşekkürler🥰

[@teryn4551]

We saw your car at the Black Ball ferry! Enjoy Canada :) make sure to visit the island, it's the best.

[@TREADtheglobe]

Thank you Teryn - we will 🙌

[@julie2756]

The condition of the road is better than most A roads in the U.K. although I can’t believe they don’t have crash barriers at least we’d have those in the U.K. but stunning scenery amazing x

[@jamieb3318]

I have been to Ouray many times. We love it there. There are many jeep trails in the mountains. There is a ghost town Animas Forks you can visit

[@andyrbruce]

That looked amazing. Still enjoying the ride.

[@pelinbulent4892]

Wow! What beautiful scenery. Definitely NOT the scariest- everyone should watch your Georgia videos. They are scary roads- I wouldn’t call them roads as they don’t have tarmac or anything. And the next video would be the tea plantation one in Turkey. That’s when I realised what a fabulous driver Marianne is. She never fails to stay happy which is why I’ve been watching you ever since. Stay safe xxxx

[@levinawalsh2015]

Fantastic Video Guys 👏👏👏. Absolutely Stunning Scenery 👌. Your Camerawork is Awesome Chris. xxxx☘💐.

[@TREADtheglobe]

Thanks so much!

[@barbaram5214]

Gorgeous views! I could not drive it but I’d like to be a passenger. The Georgia roads were barely even roads and looked to be much more dangerous. I’m American but had never heard of the Million Dollar Highway so thank you for the beautiful ride.

[@ramblinfeverusa7964]

Hello, it's Roy, the one that gave you the sasquatch sign. It was so nice to meet you guys and I'm really glad you got to see my hometown. Take care, and I'll be following you guys

[@TREADtheglobe]

Hey Roy !! Thank you so much for your friendship

[@dcal1452]

Love this channel!

[@TREADtheglobe]

Glad to hear it!

[@kayejc]

Love the whole video!

[@Aaron-P]

The scenery at the viewpoint pullout was amazing! The waterfall would be thundering with some precipitation, I'm sure. 😱😱 The MDH is not to be taken lightly, but you've been to Ushguli! You may remember the '70s CB song "Convoy" by C. W. McCall. His real name was Bill Fries, and he spent the last decades of his life in Ouray -- even serving as mayor for a time. I highly recommend looking up his song "Wolf Creek Pass" both for a laugh and as a cautionary tale of careless mountain driving. 😆😆❤️❤️😎👍xx

[@TREADtheglobe]

We will check that out !! Thanks again for meeting up and sharing some downtime with us 🌺🚐🙌

[@sammayet9002]

Awesome, spectacular and amazing 😻

[@TREADtheglobe]

Thanks 😆

[@andyhill8538]

Please! Please! Please! Buy some spray oil and apply it to the hinges and detent arm in Trudy's doors! Why? Because that squeeking noise is the warning sign that your hinges are wearing out. What eventually will happen is the door will start to sag down and will start to wear the "strike plate" that holds the door shut. If left unattended long enough it will sag to a point that it can actually break the pin off! To check for wear, you can open the door all the way and pick up on the door. If it goes up and comes back down, the wear has already started. I ran a Welding shop for 40 years. Believe me! Maintenance is more than changing your oil. Actually motor oil works great to lube hinges.

[@TREADtheglobe]

Thank you Andy - we have applied some and will do so regularly 🌺🚐

[@laurenbouchie2394]

Colorado is one of the most beautiful states, I hope you have time to go to RMNP an drive the Trail Ridge Rd.

[@bonniejackson7393]

I hope you get a chance to see Mount Robson, on highway 16, in BC on your travels!

[@lefturn99]

Reason for no guardrails - so the snow plows can push the snow over the side.

[@TREADtheglobe]

Good to know

[@mackenzieelizabeth6578]

My husband and his family survived a 400 ft plunge off that highway in the winter so I’ll personally pass lol

[@ee233]

Thankyou for filming this i love the colouful little town as well as the steam train.Those hills are so inviting with the different colours & snow caps in the background. If you had to travel through snow would you put chains on Trudys tryes?

[@TREADtheglobe]

yep we carry snow chains

[@vikkiwalton6229]

It's also called million dollar highway because of the million dollar views.

[@motivate-today]

I created a word for what you have seen in so many countries - viewtiful, another is wowtiful. Silverton is coolourful. Did you cheer on arrival in Ooray?

[@hotevilla1]

Darn it hasn't gotten real green yet ... when it's green you feel like your in Switzerland!!!!

[@2505JAD]

Did you visit the hot spring pools in Ouray? My favorite thing to do after hiking there.

[@TwoGoTouring]

Come to Europe guys and you’ll experience proper bum clenching narrow mountain passes not a highway through the mountains and there are 1000’s of miles not just 23. KZbin the Stelvio Pass and Passo Pordoi in Italy and Grimsel Pass , Furka Pass in Switzerland to only name a few.

[@TREADtheglobe]

Ha Ha - thanks for the tips of places to visit - we have to complete this around the world challenge before we continue to venture closer to home - but we will add them to the list 🙌🙏😉

[@lindataylor6093]

Stunning. Well done on the drive. But Georgia worse for sure. Take care x

[@glennsmeenk]

14:06 Whats about that Dutch flag over there ?

[@adnaneroglu2500]

👍🙂🙋👏

[@cigdemmertkol8989]

Marianne niye korksunki yollardan, yollar korksun ondan, süpersin Marianne. 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@TREADtheglobe]

Thank you !

[@chokolatelatte4764]

Definitely not as scary as the Georgia road that was so hard to watch sat on my comfy sofa 🤣 This one was rather relaxing. I assume the Georgia road would be totally closed off in snow.

[@lucieherrick6934]

Not sure where my niece was, but she hired a driver to take her to scenic area in Georgia and he ran off road, almost killed her. She survived after a few days in hospital

[@ugurozturk5459]

This made me wanna pack up and move to Ouray. Lovely video! I always wanted to live in a small town covered in a pine forest. Flagstaff, AZ is one of the coolest places that also fit that description with so many other places to visit nearby including Sedona with beautiful red rock formations and of course, the Grand Canyon and other national parks.

[@chrisfolkharmonicaplayer6292]

I agree, I was born in Flagstaff,and lived in Sedona.

[@TREADtheglobe]

It really is just lovely !!

[@tarikdemirezen4203]

Lütfen dikkatli olun..

[@shanebullock3366]

You should look at BearTooth Hwy that crosses over from Wyoming to Montana by Yellowstone

[@chrisfolkharmonicaplayer6292]

Glad you liked the Rocky Mountains. I watched your video twice. With only 2 min left on your parking meter in Durango, you missed “ Lovely Rita Meter Maid”.

[@Aaron-P]

😆😆

[@serdarcayan7691]

İZLENİYOR WATCHING ✅ Beğenildi Liked ✅ Yorum yapıldı Commented ✅ Emeğine sağlık 🌹

[@TREADtheglobe]

Thank you 🌷

[@halilaltnay6006]

12:43😭🧿🌎👏

[@christinacarnicom4059]

I gotta go watch the Georgia one now

[@Aaron-P]

Buckle up! You're in for an adventure!

[@TREADtheglobe]

Enjoy!

[@neilfreemantle3392]

Absolutely amazing guys...

[@Vonmox]

Great video, scary road but i agree not as bad as Georgia road or the Turkey tea road ! Both had me shuffling in my seat 😂

[@nevinozsoy2503]

En korkunç yol bence Batum yoluydu 👍👍🙏🙏🥰

[@TREADtheglobe]

Agreed !

[@erselcakir]

Safe travels & Tekerinize taş değmesin. 🧿🇹🇷❤️🇬🇧

[@TREADtheglobe]

Thank you Ersel 🇹🇷🚐🇬🇧🙌🌺

[@erselcakir]

@@TREADtheglobe ❤️

[@bonniejackson7393]

A very pretty drive on a beautiful day, thank you. I do hope you get a chance to drive the Icefield highway, between Jasper and Banff National Park, when you are in Canada. The mountains are epic! Plus try to see Mount Robson, BC on highway 16, it is the highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies and the most prominent mountain in the North American Rockies. Just fabulous on a clear day!

[@TREADtheglobe]

Thanks Bonnie - We are excited to go to see Jasper / Banff

[@TheGrannyGoat]

My home area. Learned to drive on these roads.

[@brendao6576]

My hands were sweating watching you drive. Glad you made it safely.

[@Aaron-P]

You should watch their Georgia video in the pinned comment above. 😱😱😱 "Heart dropping" is how I would describe it. 😬😬😬

[@515aleon]

Wow mine too. I am definitely too much of a wuss for that road.

[@nevzateser978]

fantastic i would happy to recommend state of new hampshire , mount washington auto road will give you chill and excitment. we hopefully see you guys in our state too stay well.

[@MerveAfra123]

Size inanamıyorum, yaşam enerjiniz çok yüksek, bravo

[@susannetoon2709]

Thank you for such an amazing adventure.I never know what to expect from you .You bring the best of every place you visit. Loved the way Marianne said its Massive! Am so pleased you chose America .The views today were absolutely stunning. Thank You.!

[@TREADtheglobe]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@audramitchell9894]

Majestic

[@audramitchell9894]

Wowzers

[@sereftufan6141]

Lovely love you xxx

[@steveandnaz]

What do tou use for your audio? Gopro? Or do you have lapel mics or something?

[@TREADtheglobe]

Hi We just use the audio from the gopro 👍

[@palmertrees]

Just WoW

[@Roughandreadyadventures]

awesome video guys can't wait for the next one well done

[@TREADtheglobe]

Thanks so much!

[@aytenhanimincicekleri5772]

Çok güzel paylaşım olmuş teşekkürler 👉🎁

[@gd2860]

Western United States is so beautiful. Enjoy it to the fullest. It will always call you back for the rest of your lives.

[@sbkpilot1]

awesome! Thanks guys for this coverage, I am doing this route next month in late May and looking forward to it :)

[@TREADtheglobe]

Have fun! Absolutely stunning route and the scenery is fantastic !!

[@eddvanlife7396]

Epic drive and Trudes rocked it no barriers arghhh, not sure I could drive it but EDD would. Similar to the Banff/Jasper ice fields parkway drive and the beartooth pass WY. Thanx for Sharing x

[@TREADtheglobe]

Sending love to EDD 🚐🌷🙌

[@MandaDS886]

You guys are Pro's 😁 Million Dollar Highway!! What a breeze after your Georgia experience even if you did travel on the opposite side of the road. No problemo!

[@TREADtheglobe]

Thanks Mandy

[@emreh6599]

Man I wish Marianne were my aunt. And Chris could be my uncle. What a lovely couple these guys are.

[@TREADtheglobe]

Thank you Emre 🌺

[@miriamadams6777]

I remember going on the million dollar highway years ago, except we were on the outside lane, and it was snowing. Definitely harrowing. . .

[@TREADtheglobe]

That would have been a tough road trip for sure !!

[@neilholden7821]

tremendous video. great scenery the million dollar road road is like the m6 compared to Georgia. the first part of the the video with the trains was of interest to both my daughters as they are train drivers themselves one based in Motherwell. and one drives the far north line Wick to Inverness. love the videos.

[@TREADtheglobe]

Thanks Neil - say Hi to your daughters !!

[@barbararivera2380]

😍

[@TREADtheglobe]

Thanks Barbara 🌺

[@always.wondering.wandering]

Not the most dangerous road for you two but like you said, very beautiful. My jaw dropped when you said how much it costs to ride the Durango/Silverton train, I rode it, in around 1983 and I think It was $25 then. So glad you got to experience this part of the country, Colorado is such a beautiful state to tour. Onward to Alaska Trudy.....mush! Cheers mates.

[@TREADtheglobe]

Just stunning roads and Trudy did it well !!

[@nickergun4943]

Hello Ambassadorsssss!❤️❤️❤️🇹🇷🇹🇷 Great to see you comeback. Colorado is simply what I am. Love the rocks and the views. I have done this road on our 3 rd year anniversary. At times, when there were no guardrails, yes I was scared driving on it, though I was not the driver. Some places as Chris you stated correctly, all these different colors are the indication of iron, silver, manganese etc ores and those rocks shows themselves as chaotic structures and they are the BASEMENT of Colorado, about 2BY old ( they are called MAGMATIC rocks) Then you passed in some areas that the rocks TILTED and very thinly layered structured , those are my guess would be METAMORPHIC rocks= Meta means CHANGED) possibly 1.6 BY ROCKS, and then you have also seen very on top HORIZONTALLY layered thin and thick rocks that they are THE SEDIMENTARY ROCKS ( formed on the bottom of the ocean; believe you me there was an ocean at time covering that region) And the COLORADO pleatau was uplifted ( not sure) but about 30 MY years ago and all these rocks have risen above the ocean and mighty Colorado river took over to cut these rocks through to create these Canyonland. I love these videos even more when I see myself in it (!!). I am so excited for that a HUGE THANK YOU guys.

[@TREADtheglobe]

We really do think of you every time we see unusual or cool rocks !! Nick the Rock guy !!

[@nickergun4943]

@@TREADtheglobe Love you guys💕💕💕 Rocks are my other love, the history of earth since 4.5 by is highly interesting to me. Enjoy your trip and I am very happy and honored that you remember this Rock guy! Good nite, and good rest ❤️❤️👍👍😍😍

[@inekeroos9264]

What are you watching?.. Oh, having a roadtrip in a brittish 18 year old fiat ducato called Trudy through the mountains in colorado, dear... Thank you Marianne and Chris and Trudy 🙏🌎❤️

[@TREADtheglobe]

LOL - I love this Ineke ... Thank you for always enjoying the fun of the adventure xx

[@Pandora882]

Marianne please oil your door hinges or check straps love from Shropshire.

[@TREADtheglobe]

Hi Jon - thank you ... I have just invested in some white grease and it has really helped - I have been using WD40 - but it didn't touch it - but when you see the videos from now (which will be out in about 3 ish weeks you will hear .... not much LOL as the grease has done the trick xx We are driving about 1k miles a week (actually 1.2k this week) so the videos are a little behind as we have less time to edit as we are on the road (hence this comment is 4 days late!!) but thanks again Jon and sending squeakless door noises from ...... Canada !! woo hoo xx

[@Pandora882]

@@TREADtheglobe I’m never too far from a tin of white grease . Love from Lower Penn can see Shropshire from here. Whoo Hooo

[@guneskilicistanbul1744]

Loved it, very interesting, dangerous road? On the scale of from 1 to 10, it should be 6, especially for a top driver like Marianne. Thanks folks

[@ronbrooks6547]

To me, Daughtry Rim on 140 in Oregon is scarier. There is a 1.908 mile drop. I would not drive either again.

[@NRG-kt7pz]

I highly recommend driving Furka Pass in Switzerland. You’ll absolutely love it. It had Waterfalls, stunning vistas, Turquoise lakes, and a glacier. The glacier is partially blanketed to slow the melting. But they also cut a small pedestrian tunnel through it.

[@dirktully4324]

Keep in mind that when you buy tickets to ride from Durango to Silverton you're not just buying a ticket to Silverton you're buying a memory that will last much longer than the price which will be forgotten.

[@johnallen148]

Hi Marianne Chris what a beautiful road that was scary I don’t think so beautiful O yes the views the little towns just amazing loved every minute of it thanks guys till next time take care keep yourself safe drive careful,John 😆🤗🌹😜🙌👏🙏👍🤝🤩😎😎

[@mjor6406]

Going To The Sun Road in Montana is good too. Icefields Parkway in Alberta and Highway 40 Kananaskis Alberta Canada are much more scenic. They are like the Swiss Alps.

[@VandelayIndustriesLLC]

That pizza looks fantastic! I am also low-key bothered when they use a bunch of straws no one asked for. Some things are tough when trying to be less wasteful, but giving up straws are not one of them. Oh and I've never seen this part of Colorado...I need to get on that!

[@BGWhisperer]

That doesn’t look scary at all. This is nothing compared to the Beartooth Highway in Montana and Wyoming, just above Yellowstone. Up some super high mountains, overlooking deep towering canyons, and the most beautiful and geographically diverse drive I’ve ever been on. Give that drive a spin and you can thank me later.

[@tkine97]

Your Million dollar road might be scarier than Sonora Pass coming out of Yosemite, in California. But I remember having death grips on the grips in our Jeep when driving there. So many switchbacks and drop-offs. I don't believe Sonora pass' roads were as nice as what was in your video, but it made for a memorable trip. My son & I were sure my husband would gawk too much and go over the side at any moment! The drive inside of Yosemite was spectacular! We oooh'd and awwww'd each time we came upon beautiful scenery...we sounded like we did when watching a magnificent fireworks display on the 4th of July! It could be called TMDR because of its million dollar views while driving.

[@rockchildofthe60s69]

Uh million dollar highway? Last I checked most highways in America costs several millions. I'm a taxpayer in the states and wished highways costs just a million dollars.

[@515aleon]

I'm too much of a wuss for that road. I'm taking a loop around Colorado later this month and I'm avoiding it, though maybe I could do up to Silverton. I love Durango. I have taken the Chama/Toltec narrow gauge (Northern New Mexico and Colorado). The open cars are fun but more coal dust than fresh air. :D Enjoying YOU driving the Million Dollar Highway, so I don't have to.

[@marilynsik8959]

It sure is scary but the view is amazingly spectacular indeed. Thank you indeed for taking me on your travel. Just gorgeous!

[@Vixen781]

Such a beautiful ride and views. You are truly brave and adventurous. I live in America, don't know if I could do that highway! Bravo!

[@TREADtheglobe]

Thank you 🌺

[@McGayveR80]

Wait what :D HGS sticker is still there :D

[@TREADtheglobe]

LOL - always !!

[@McGayveR80]

@@TREADtheglobe you are always wellcome, without saying :)

[@margarettownsley9500]

Beautiful scenery but any mountain roads without a barrier scares the life out of me the rd to marmaris from Dalaman used to be very scary no barrier and the big coach flying with speed scary 🙀 great video guys thank you

[@galinanikolova5923]

Great video. Beautiful scenery! ❤️❤️❤️

[@SpicyEngineer]

Fun fact: The million dollar highway is actually one of the easier mountain roads in Colorado to drive.

[@janisaschim2429]

I drive the million dollar highway, a few years ago, pulling a trailer. It definitely required 100% concentration but getting to Ouray made the drive worth the white knuckle drive. Ouray is one of my favorite little cities I have been to in all my travels. Safe travels!

[@janewalford4383]

Have to agree with you it certainly was a beautiful scenic drive, with tarmac😂

[@lesleysidhoum1779]

Beautiful ! Think Georgia has the edge on scary roads .

[@peterrisbergs7156]

The official cure for fear of heights is to confront these situations until your brain is trained into realizing that you are safe. I had to drink a few shots just watching your video.

[@lucilamadden5235]

I think the country of Georgia were scary!