Molas Pass Overlook

Molas Pass sits at 10,910 feet on US-550 inside the San Juan National Forest, on the southern approach to Silverton. The pullout here is genuinely large — enough room to maneuver a loaded touring bike without threading between bumpers — and it comes with pit toilets, which matters after a long climb through the San Juans. Picnic tables face out toward Molas Lake and the wall of summits beyond it, giving you a proper place to sit rather than just leaning against a guardrail.

The pass itself is part of the San Juan Skyway, a national scenic byway, and it sits on the quieter side of the highway compared to what comes next. The cliffside miles between Silverton and Ouray — the stretch most riders call the Million Dollar Highway — demand full attention and leave little room to soak in the view. Molas Pass is where you do the soaking. The road to the summit has only a few switchbacks on the north approach and is considerably less exposed than Red Mountain Pass farther north, which makes the overlook a genuinely calm stop rather than a white-knuckle one. Snow is possible at this elevation even in summer months, so check conditions before heading up in spring or early fall.