Black Bear Pass

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4.9/5 (98 reviews)
Telluride, Colorado (San Juan County)
Last Updated: 10/02/2023

Trail Information

Highlights

Altitude Category Icon Altitude
Forest Category Icon Forest
Ghost Town Category Icon Ghost Town
Iconic Category Icon Iconic
Mine Category Icon Mine
Overland Category Icon Overland
Scenic Category Icon Scenic

The sign that once stood at the trailhead said it best; You don't have to be crazy to drive this road - but it helps. Traveling between Silverton and Telluride, Black Bear Pass is a legendary shelf road with 1,000-foot drop-offs, dangerous off-camber switchbacks, tight turns, and loose shale. It offers amazing mountaintop scenery as you climb to 12,840 feet and pass the breathtaking 365-foot Bridal Veil Falls, the tallest waterfall in Colorado. This Jeep Badge of Honor trail rightfully earns its title as one of the most dangerous trails in the country.

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Navigation

Black Bear Pass is a straight-through, 10-mile trail that begins at US 550 near the summit of Red Mountain Pass, historically known as the "Million Dollar Highway." The initial climb is easy and scenic, with beautiful wildflowers carpeting the high mountain meadows. Waterfalls cascade from alpine snow melt as you climb to the summit of the Pass. The descent into Telluride is vastly different, with zero room for error. The trail traverses narrow shelf roads with steep drop-offs that make it impossible to pass oncoming traffic. Because of this, the western descent into Telluride is one-way, downhill only. OHVs are not allowed to drive through the town of Telluride; hence they must turn around before the one-way section or secure a trailer ride through town. Drivers will navigate over several off-camber obstacles before peaking high above the town of Telluride just in time to traverse the narrowest and tightest switchbacks a vehicle can travel. Black Bear Pass is an impressive trail that requires your utmost attention for the entire duration of the trip. Any lapse of attention or judgment on this trail can result in a rollover which may lead to injury or worse. This trail should only be driven by experienced off-roaders in mechanically fine-tuned high clearance 4x4s.

Trail Reviews

4.9/5 (98)
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Official Crew
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130100
Temporary Closure
Rated 5/5
Visited: 10/02/2023

Bummed to find out the trail was closed after driving out here. This is at the top of my bucket list trails I have right now. But I discovered you can run the lower part of the trail up to the house on the cliff with the waterfall. That was still really cool. Although I can't talk to rating as the part I did was 2wd Honda Civics on it, but doesn't matter as the lower part was still worth the drive. Being aired down made life nice.
Trail Review: Black Bear Pass - Josh Noesser
Trail Review: Black Bear Pass - Josh Noesser
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Temporary Closure
Visited: 08/16/2023

Black bear pass is closed. Was never opened for the 2023 season. Please check with Core or land management in telluride before going.
Temporary Closure
Rated 5/5
Visited: 08/15/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

From San Miguel Sheriff.
Trail Review: Black Bear Pass - Rick Boyett
Trail Review: Black Bear Pass - Rick Boyett
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Official Crew
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28400
Temporary Closure
Rated 5/5
Visited: 08/14/2023

Not sure what all the back and forth has been about but Black Bear is still officially closed per San Miguel County Sheriff.
Open
Visited: 08/13/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

We started at highway 550 and made it all the way to Telluride on Sunday, August 13th. We took a picture of what remains of the snow drift just beyond the pass. Overall, the trail seemed to be in good shape.
Trail Review: Black Bear Pass - Robert Doherty

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