SH 145 from Placerville to Durango
Telluride is a National Historic District located in a box canyon surrounded by towering peaks. Telluride also hosts music, art, film, food, balloon, hang gliding, mushroom, and photography events and festivals.
Highlights:
Bridal Veil Falls is a must see.
Wildflowers in Gold King Basin
Fall foliage on Last Dollar, Silver Pick, and Ophir Pass
SH 145 North
From Telluride to Placerville 
How to get there:
From Denver via US 285 to US 50 to US 550 to SH 62 to SH 145(Colo. Ave)/Aspen St in Telluride.
- From US285/C470 to Telluride
- 312 miles 6 hr 30 mins
- GPS
- SH 145/Aspen St
- 37.9379 -107.8138
In General:
- Length: 16 miles
- Driving Time: min. 30 mins
The highway winds its way along the San Miguel River to SH62 just west of Placerville.
Bridal Veil Falls
Highest Falls in Colorado.
How to get there:
From SH 145 (Colorado Ave) and Aspen St in Telluride, drive east 3.8 miles to the parking area at the base of the Falls.
- From Aspen St to the Falls
- 4 miles 15 mins
- GPS
- Parking Area
- 37.9202 -107.7706
In General:
Primarily pavement, the last mile is a portion of the Black Bear Pass Rd, a difficult and dangerous 4wd road, and includes a couple of steep and sharp switchbacks. Most passenger vehicles can reach the Falls, high clearance would be desirable.
Last Dollar Road
From Telluride to SH 62.
How to get there:
From SH145 (Colo. Ave) and Aspen St in Telluride, drive west about 3 miles and turn north towards the airport.
- From Aspen St to Airport Rd
- 3.2 miles 5 mins
- GPS
- SH145/Airport Rd
- 37.9507 -107.8682
In General:
- Length: 21 miles
- Driving Time: min. 1 hrs 30 mins
SH 145 South
From Telluride to Durango
How to get there:
From Aspen St in Telluride, drive west 3.4 miles to the junction of SH145 S.
- From US285/C470 to Telluride
- 312 miles 6 hr 30 mins
- GPS
- SH145/SH145 S
- 37.9505 -107.8712
In General:
The All American Road is the highest designation, given by the US DOT and was awarded to the San Juan Skyway because of the rich experience in culture, archaeology, history, scenery, and recreation the road offers to visitors. This skyway was one of the first six roads in the United States to receive this designation.
Alta Lakes | Gold King Basin
Ghost town of Alta and three lakes.
How to get there:
From SH 145/SH 145 S, drive 5.3 mi south to the Alta Lakes Rd and turn east.
- From Telluride
- 9 miles 20 mins
- GPS
- SH 145/FR 632
- 37.8839 -107.8883
In General:
- Length: 5 miles
- Driving Time: min. 30 mins
This slightly rough, but easy 4wd road leads to the 1870s mining town of Alta (on the National Register of Historic Places) in 3.8 miles. Another 0.4 miles takes you to a spur road into the Gold King Basin and the Alta Lakes are just 0.3 miles beyond the spur.
Mesa Verde National Park
600 cliff dwellings. 
How to get there:
The park is located in the southwest corner of the state and, from Denver, is reached via US-285 and US-160.
- From US285/C470 to Fee Station
- 353 miles 7 hours
- GPS
- Fee Station
- 37.3317 -108.4158
In General:
Summer entrance fee is $20 per vehicle
Mesa Verde offers a spectacular look into the lives of the Ancestral Pueblo people who made it their home for over 700 years, from A.D. 600 to A.D. 1300. Today, the park protects over 4,000 known archeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings.