Black Bear Pass

I was traveling out west and stopped in Telluride for a couple days. I drove through town and wanted to see Bridal Veil Falls. So, as it turns out, it is Black Bear Pass trail that you take up to the waterfall and powerhouse, starting at the end point of Black Bear Pass and going the opposite direction from the description here. Although I encountered some packed snow a short way up, I made it up the switchbacks to the powerhouse easily. My first time driving in snow in my Jeep (I live in Alabama). Oh, and the waterfall was almost completely frozen. Still, it was quite beautiful.

The county has closed the trails for the season due to snowfall.

Saw this crash in the news from October 10th: https://abc7ny.com/jeep-crash-telluride-video-trail/7261060/

An epic trail that will keep your knuckles white as you hit the switchbacks toward Telluride.

Difficult they say, dangerous they say! be careful they say! :) spectacular view!

San Miguel County has temporarily closed Black Bear Pass at this time.

Awesome day. First on the trail, didn’t see anyone else.

Some of the best scenery of any trail you'll find. The road is not overly technical, "merely" treacherous. Some photos here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/73617693@N06/albums/72157716641372916

Recent snows have melted enough that the trail is open. I did the trail on 9/13/20 with my 2001 TJ along with 2 JL Rubicons, and a JK sport. None of us had any problems. Overall this is not a difficult trail if you have some off roading experience. There are some narrow spots, especially on the switchbacks. It was much easier than I thought it would be after reading other reviews.

Recent snows have rendered Blackbear impassable for now. Word has it that the trail is muddy to the summit but snow has blocked the trail on the Telluride side.

That was awesome! Was glad to have a spotter at the steps and the rest was fairly easy and fun trail.

Unbelievable trail. My first run of Black Bear Pass and did with the CCC4W Club. So glad to do it with the club and experience drivers. We started out of Ouray up the Red Mountain on the Million Dollar highway. Then a beautiful climb to the Black Bear Pass. The decent was very enjoyable with the vast variance in sections (downhill from pass, steps by river, waterfalls, and cliff switchbacks). The view were breathtaking. There are section on the trail that can really cause issues if you take the wrong line, but very doable if taken slow. Ran it in with a stock JL Rubicon.

Weather was amazing and the trail was outstanding. Being a holiday weekend the traffic was insane and the people who had been before said it was unusually heavy.

Awesome trail! Loved, loved, loved this one. Was a little technical pass the summit and the switchbacks weren't as bad as described. Just pay attention to your wheels.

This, combined with Imogene, was quite possibly the most intense and exciting experience of my life... so far. I completely agree with the previous review that there were some obstacles prior to the steps which were far more difficult and challenging. This is without a doubt a bucket list trail. Did I white knuckle the steering wheel? Yes. Did I have to nervous tinkle numerous times prior to the steps? Yes. Did I feel like a bad ass when I got to the bottom? Yes. Yes I did!

Honestly I didn’t think the steps were that bad. There are a few obstacles before them though that I found more challenging. Added a few new scratches to the skid plates but the views were completely worth it!

This is definitely a bucket list trail for the views alone. Coming down off of the steps and looking over into Telluride is amazing and pictures don’t come close to doing it justice. Definitely off camber in areas leading up to and on the steps that require slow movements and full attention. Ran the whole trail in a JK Sport with MTs and a disconnected sway bar. The extra flex up front definitely helps to keep all tires planted but I think a stock JK should be able to get through the trail without issue as long as the right lines are followed. I ended up between a group of vehicles from Nevada and they were nice enough to spot me through which sped up how long the obstacles took. Although a good amount of stock vehicles could probably make it through, having a short wheelbase and decent articulation made it much easier. There are a few reviews that say this trail isn’t super technical, there are areas where picking the wrong line can put you in a bad spot and it should not be taken lightly given how serious going off the trail can be.

Wow. My first time running Black Bear and it was nothing short of incredible. The views were way better than I thought they would be. The steps weren’t too bad, just take your time. There are a couple unnamed rocky obstacles before the steps that you should use caution on. If you hit them at the wrong angle it could roll you on your drivers side. The switchbacks weren’t too bad. The road is narrow but not as narrow as Devil’s Punchbowl / Schofield Pass. The tightest switchback wasn’t even that bad. My buddy just had to backup once in his 4 door Wrangler. Excellent trail and it was not as scary as everyone makes it out to be.

Ran this trail for the first time - absolutely epic views! The Steps are terrifying, but if you're paying close (close, close, close) attention, following a good line from the vehicle in front of you, and/or have a good spotter, they're not as bad as I thought they'd be. I'd run this trail again in a heartbeat - it's just amazing!

The mudslide is clear Black Bear was declared OPEN per San Miguel County.

Black Bear Pass is closed until further notice as a result of a mudslide on the lower portion of Bridal Bell Falls Rd.

Earned it's reputation! Glad I had a crew in front of me and was able to use their spotter for "The Steps" section. I had just had my brakes replaced and serviced a week prior, driven up from Denver, just run Imogene the day before, and then they decided to give out at the to of the switchbacks. Horrifying reminder to double check everything important before you go on a trail as an unnoticed slow leak of brake fluid caused the failure. Thankfully, we made it to the bottom thanks to the help of some other trail users without any harm to my passengers or myself. Not an incredibly technical trail, but there are a few spots that require some careful line choice as they can be steep or off-camber with some serious consequences.

Was able to get on Blackbear Pass soon after it opened for the season. Was a great ride and a Hell of a view. Started raining about the time I got to the top so made it a bit more interesting. Not a hard trail but can mess with you head a bit being close to the edge that high up.

What a great trail! No obstacles on the way up to the pass, and a bit past it. Any 4x4 can make that part. Once you pass the “extreme road” sign and the one way starts into Telluride, well equipped experts only. I can confirm that there’s not established dispersed campsites on the pass, but there *are* a lot of good places to park and sleep. This might be a 6 based on off-camber shelf road slipperyness in the tough part above Telluride (rather than obstacles); tire placement is life or death critical in at least two places, and I was caught by surprise with an off camber sideslip above the shelf once. I did not find the steps to be the challenging part. It’s probably in the eye of the beholder; experts will say no big deal because there are no serious obstacles; passengers and first timers will feel their mortality. Whether it’s a 5,6, or 7, be advised on the pucker factor and possible risk. We used spotters on the tightest switchback, but not elsewhere. Just stay inside and away from that cliff. Do not bring a full sized truck or van down the telluride switchbacks! Short wheelbase only. A 4Runner or Unlimited/4dr wrangler will work fine. I have seen gladiator and full size vids. I would not want to drive a full size, no way. We ran this in a stock JL 4dr rubi, no sweat. The lifted JK’s in my group had a slightly harder time with the tight spots. Bridal Veil Falls is awesome.

Hands down one of my top 3 favorite trails to run. Got to the trail head pretty early to beat the "traffic" and the notorious afternoon storms...and to time our lunch in Telluride. Wildflowers made every trial that weekend much better.

Announced as OPEN today per San Miguel County road and bridge department!

Currently, San Juan County has issued CLOSURES on all their backcountry passes. San Miguel, Hinsdale, and Ouray County issued a travel at your own risk advisory. https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sanjuan/maps-pubs/?cid=fsbdev3_002300

I have not been to Black Bear to verify, but according to San Miguel County Black Bear is open. Be cautious with changing weather conditions as this could change at a moments notice but I will do my best to update the trail guides in this area as soon as the county announces their closures for the season. https://www.sanmiguelcountyco.gov/406/Road-Conditions

Trail is still open but the snow & ice had accumulated beyond what I felt were safe levels to continue past 2.7 miles in.

I believe the rating is a bit high considering the rating given to some other trails, but the pucker factor on this trail descending into Telluride is intense. I made it through no problems with my 2008 Subaru Forester with 2" lift. I believe anyone who is experienced with off roading can make it through this trail with anything that has a relatively short wheel base and decent ground clearance. You definitely do not need a built rig for this. The trail is absolutely amazing. I've traveled Europe, been all over the US, and this was hands down one of the most amazing drives of my life. I will be coming back here at least once a year!

Open again per San Miguel County Road and Bridge

Whelp that didnt take long. Black bear is temporarily closed while San Miguel County removes an overturned vehicle. Bridal Veil Road is open to the falls. Drive safe out there!

We ran Black Bear the morning after it opened for the season as part of the 2019 Unlimited LJ Adventure. Right before the steps there is a massive amount of snow still from what appears to be several avalanches. There was still some snow on the trail, but I'm sure it is melted now. As you come down the Telluride side, the county has done a lot of work to the road and blasted a bunch of rocks. It makes things a bit interesting as there is a ton of loose rock in areas now that were dirt before. It's still as dangerous as ever, so pay attention and do not attempt this trail if you are new to 4 wheeling.

Per San Miguel County Road and Bridge: Black Bear Pass is open. Drive Safe!

Per San Miguel County Road and Bridge: Crews are making progress on Black Bear Pass - it should be open next week.

Visited the lower portion of the trail (closest to Pandora/Telluride), through Waypoints 13 & 14 to access Bridal Veil Falls. Repairs have recently been made to the Ingram Creek crossing at: N37.923795, W107.769816 to reopen the trail to the falls. The culvert was replaced on July 15 due to a washout which occurred on July 14. Quick work by the County kept the closure of the lower part of the road to a minimum. There is a significant amount of water flowing over Bridal Veil Falls and the parking area adjacent to the falls is muddy and slick.

Update from San Miguel County Road and Bridge: Black Bear Pass - Major repairs are needed where the road crosses Ingram Falls. County crews will begin repairs and clear the pass as soon as Imogene has been opened.

Due to the heavy, late snows San Miguel County is not going to be able to start clearing the high mountain passes as early as usual. Plans are to begin Ophir Pass mid-June, followed by Imogene and then Black Bear. Updates will be posted on the County Web Page www.sanmiguelcountyco.gov

I have not been to Black Bear to verify, but according to San Miguel County Black Bear is open. Be cautious with changing weather conditions as this could change at a moments notice but I will do my best to update the trail guides in this area as soon as the county announces their closures for the season. https://www.sanmiguelcountyco.gov/406/Road-Conditions

Black Bear is currently closed due to snow. It is likely to remain closed for the season now, but be sure to check with the local district.

Trail is still open and very dry. Where there are typically waterfalls on the east side, right now they are nothing but trickling water. Ingram Falls and Bridal Veil are very low on volume also. Beyond the water situation, the views are incredible on this trail, and being my first time on it in the fall, it was cool, but I do prefer the lush green scenary better.

I ran this trail into Telluride and Imogene out of Telluride and back to Ouray on September 16th, 2018. The trail has stunning views and is definitely a bucket list / merit badge trail. However, I probably will not return to run the trail again. This area of Colorado has trails that are either prettier or more technical than Black Bear Pass, but few, if any, trails are more dangerous. I just didn't think the risk vs. reward was worth it. For those who are in town visiting and have little experience with shelf roads or are concerned this trail might be too harrowing, I really would recommend Imogene over this one.

Took 3 days to convince my wife to do Black Bear. She ended up loving it.

This is a fun trail and the views are spectacular.

Excellent run. Trail is in great shape.

The trail will be temporarily closed the morning of 7/24 to remove a vehicle from an accident over the weekend. There is no specific time this work is ending. If you are running Black Bear on 7/24, it's best to call the office to find out if they have reopened things.

Officially open per San Muguel County, CO.

From San Miguel County: Black Bear Pass will open Thursday, June 28th at 10:00 a.m.

Officially closed for the winter per San Miguel County, CO. https://www.sanmiguelcountyco.gov/AlertCenter.aspx?AID=34

Per San Miguel County, CO Black Bear Pass is not recommended for travel as a result of weather conditions: Black Bear Pass- drifts,snow and ice on the north facing aspects. Travel not recommended at this time. http://www.sanmiguelcountyco.gov/AlertCenter.aspx?AID=44

What a difference one month can make! In late July, the weather was rainy and cool; in late August, it was dry, clear, and mild. I ran the trail with a group of Isuzu's and my club, Colorado Land Cruisers. We had six rigs total, with no problems on the rocks, shelves, or switchbacks.

What an amazing trail this one is! The views are absolutely incredible and the 2 sides of the pass couldn't be more different. Coming from 550, the trail slowly makes it's way to the summit with a trail wide enough to drive a dump truck on. The summit provides spectacular 360 degree views and once on your way down, you are greeted with narrow shelves and airplane like views of the town of Telluride. The switchbacks after Ingram falls are just as hairy and tight as they have always been, but it seems the more times I do them, the easier I feel behind the wheel.

I drove Black Bear with Greg and Jim to produce the guide; Greg had done Black Bear many times before in Jeeps and his Land Cruiser. This was my first time on Black Bear, and though I've been 4x4'ing for 20+ years, I was anxious. The experience didn't disappoint--this is an outstanding 4x4 road! We met Gary at the trailhead--he and his family were visiting the San Juans from Missouri. He asked if he could join us, of course we said yes! Everyone had a great time and we made memories for a lifetime.

Our First Off-Road Adventure Being from Missouri, opportunities are not exactly plentiful for true sight seeing, off-road adventures. As a member in an off-road vehicle forum, I was intrigued and drawn to Black Bear Pass. I watched several YouTube videos and talked with experienced persons regarding Black Bear being the first trail I wanted to travel. We struck out and planned our trip to the San Juan's with Black Bear at the core of our trip. This being our first real 4x4 trail, we were cautious. My family and I had the distinct pleasure of coming into contact with the TrailsOffRoad mapping crew who were putting together the trail report upon which I am documenting our trip. We followed the crew through the route and found no significant issues or obstacles. Our Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon was more than able to perform with only a couple of incidents where skid plates contacted any rocks, at all. The day was damp and the trail was wet with puddled water in a few distinct areas. Clouds rolled in and obscured some vistas, but overall the trip was at least an 8.5 or 9 out of what could have been a perfect 10! I'm not convinced that the clouds did not add some ethereal quality to the day. The trail appears to be in good shape, having minimal issues with trail quality as compared to my expectations. A few large rocks are present and care must be taken to not attempt to force them aside or simply muscle your way over them. Taking your time will result in a much more enjoyable experience. Please note on the trail report the waypoints as defined for your notice. As a first time trail adventurer, it is my opinion that as long as you have a competent, engaged driver and a 4x4 vehicle with sufficient ground clearance (at least 9"); if you take your time and pay attention to your driving line, have a complete understanding of your own personal limits and the limitations and capabilities of your vehicle, this trail is perfectly attainable for even a first time driver. I was not experienced in Colorado off-road driving, but a complete understanding of my inexperience kept me focused on the road. I feel like I missed out on some scenery by being totally focused on my responsibilities in the driver's seat, but my family's safety and that of our new trail friends was more than enough reason to be completely attuned to the trail. The ascent to Black Bear Pass is not difficult, and the wildflowers in bloom were among the most beautiful and memorable I have experienced in nearly 40 years of Colorado visits. The descent is where the challenge truly begins. Knowing how to use your 4x4 components, knowledge of transmission low gear usage, not riding the brakes - all components of winter driving for anyone who has experience in snow - these are the keys to success on the loose rocks and steep angles of Black Bear Pass. Go slow, watch the road first, pay attention to obstacles and challenges and STOP before you attempt to view scenery. The switchbacks with their 2, 3 and 4 point turns (depending on vehicle) require your complete attention and focus. There are no guard rails to protect you or to impede your view! Remember: Safety First! So long as you make it down safely, you can always travel this route again. Don't put yourself or First Responders in harm's way. Be smart, be sensible and be responsible!