If your favorite time of day is golden hour, head to the Colorado Rockies in autumn where golden hues last the whole day through thanks to aspen leaves turning vibrant shades of amber.  There are countless Rocky Mountain road trips, but if you've never driven the San Juan Skyway and Million Dollar Highway in southwestern Colorado, it's time you experience the jaw-dropping panoramas and spectacular foliage as you wind your way through San Juan and Uncompahgre National Forests.  This 233-mile mountain adventure passes by the charming mountain towns of Durango, Dolores, Telluride, Ridgway, Ouray and Silverton.  Don't miss soaking in the nearby hot springs and taking a short detour to Mesa Verde National Park, where you can explore ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings.  Madeline Hotel in Telluride is the ultimate luxury basecamp to explore this alpine region.