On highway 550 (The Million Dollar Highway) between Ouray and Silverton, the Red Mountain Mine (aka Red Mountain Mining Interpretive Site) is a very interesting location. There were a number of mining operations in this area of the San Juan Mountains and this particular location is directly along the road, near the summit of Red Mountain Pass. This area was primarily mined for Silver and by 1920, it was mostly abandoned by mining companies.
Today, the Red Mountain Mining District is largely a ghost town, with remnants of old mining structures and the faint outline of the railroad grade visible.
The Red Mountain Project began in 1998 with the aim of preserving the historic remnants and scenic landscape of the area, resulting in thousands of acres being transferred to public ownership. These photos were made in June of 2007 and if you were to travel through this spot today, you would find it much more restored, with a parking area. Many of the buildings remain and it has been cleaned up quite a bit. The old car is gone now. One of my favorite stops along The Million Dollar Highway whenever I travel through the area.
