Set against Colorado’s rugged backcountry, the Million-Dollar Trek is a five-day, 35-mile journey that blends breathtaking vistas, alpine lakes and cosy huts. If you’re craving a taste of Europe-style hiking without hopping on a flight, this odyssey through the San Juans delivers.
A Five-Day Hut-to-Hut Alpine Odyssey
Last August, I found myself ducking behind a boulder shelter at 12,000 feet as hail rattled my rain jacket and thunder shook the peaks. My friend John reckoned the worst was over when the ice pellets eased—and he was right. Within moments, the storm broke, revealing a riot of wildflowers carpeting the slope around a glimmering lake. Our guide, Patrick Ormond, called back over his shoulder, “Paradise Basin,” and we all agreed it felt like, well, paradise.
Each morning we shouldered our packs—light enough for true hut-to-hut trekking—and set off for the next refuge. By late afternoon, muddy boots were swapped for slippers in rustic common rooms, where hearty stews and fresh-baked bread awaited. Under the hush of the high country, real beds never felt so luxurious.
Geological Marvels and Alpine Landscapes
The San Juan Mountains stand out in the Rockies for their relatively youthful geology—around 25 to 30 million years old, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Volcanic activity and shifting continental plates sculpted the region’s jagged spines and deep, glacial cirques. On day two, we skirted the shores of Clear Lake, its turquoise waters framed by spruce and fir, before cresting ridges scattered with quartzite boulders. Below us lay countless unnamed bowls, each a microcosm of alpine wonder.
Guides, Companions, and High-Altitude Camaraderie
Our rag-tag crew included Oregon couple John and Ann, a lawyer from Virginia, three brothers from Texas, and Boulder local Kelley with her ten-year-old son, Chase—whose boundless energy kept the group laughing. I arrived with a few half-marathons under my belt, only to realise that here, adaptability mattered as much as stamina.
Leading the way were Patrick and Steven Van Sickle—both accredited by the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations, the world’s foremost guiding authority. Patrick’s handlebar moustache and rowing-champion build spoke to his exploits on Aconcagua, while Steven’s beanie and calm demeanour reflected his ice-climbing in Denali. Their blend of expertise and easy humour transformed sudden squalls and precarious ridgelines into shared tales we’d recount long after returning home.
From storm-lashed ridges to emerald basins, the Million-Dollar Trek isn’t just about mileage—it’s about forging memories where the road’s name echoes the staggering cost (or the vistas) of the legendary Million-Dollar Highway. More than anything, it’s proof that real treasure is found in the laughter, camaraderie and wild moments high in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains.
I’m Jules, passionate about current events and travel. Curious about the world, I explore trends, analyze events, and share my discoveries. Through my insights and stories, I take you across the globe to fuel your curiosity and thirst for adventure.
