Is Black Bear Pass difficult?
Try this 13.7-km point-to-point trail near Telluride, Colorado. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 5 h 27 min to complete. This is a popular trail for hiking, mountain biking, and off-road driving, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day.
Is Black Bear Pass still open?
Imogene is open from Ouray to the summit. Ophir Pass, Last Dollar Pass & Black Bear Pass are open.
Can you walk Black Bear Pass?
The Black Bear Road crests at Black Bear Pass, elevation 12,840 feet (3,910 m). The road descends over a set of infamous switchbacks as it navigates the heights above Telluride. The road passes Bridal Veil Falls, Colorado, the highest waterfall in Colorado. The trail/road can be hiked, biked or jeeped.
Is Black Bear Pass scary?
The trail is two-way as it begins on US 550, but switches to one-way at the point it gets narrow and scary. There are very few spots wide enough to pass from here on down. It is known as one of the most dangerous roads in the country due to narrow shelf segments and unnerving drop-offs.
How long is Black Bear Pass open?
10.26 miles
Nearby Trails
| Status: | Open |
|---|---|
| Typically Open: | 07/01 – 11/01 |
| Difficulty: | 5-7 ( DIFFICULT – SEVERE ) |
| Length: | 10.26 miles |
| Highest Elevation: | 12840 feet |
How long does it take to run Black Bear Pass?
Here’s a summary of what to expect: The point-to-point trip is about 10 miles long, but will take around 3 hours even for the most experienced driver. Start off with a moderately easy off-road drive from the start point just south of Red Mountain Pass to the top of Black Bear Pass (c. 3.2 miles)
Where do you start Black Bear Pass?
Red Mountain Pass
The road starts from State Highway 550 at Red Mountain Pass (signed as Forest Road #823) and climbs quickly to Black Bear Pass at 3.2 miles. There is ample room for parking at the Pass where there are views into Ingram Basin. The road then descends into Ingram Basin, past Ingram Lake and the Black Bear Mine.
Is Black Bear Pass paved?
Located in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, the road to the summit is unpaved. It’s a dangerous dirt track known as Black Bear Road (Forest Service Road 648). It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Colorado.
What town is at the bottom of Black Bear Pass?
The road crests at Black Bear Pass, elevation 12,840 feet (3,910 m), and descends over a set of switchbacks as it navigates the heights above Telluride….Black Bear Road.
| Black Bear Pass | |
|---|---|
| Traversed by | Unpaved road |
| Location | San Juan / San Miguel counties, Colorado, U.S. |
| Range | Rocky Mountains |
| Coordinates | 37°53.9717′N 107°44.5783′W |
What are the worst mountain passes in Colorado?
Spencer McKee
- Black Bear Pass. Black Bear Pass is notoriously billed as the ‘most dangerous’ road in Colorado and that’s a claim that’s hard to argue.
- Mount Evans Scenic Byway.
- Monarch Pass.
- Independence Pass.
- The Million Dollar Highway.
- Lake Como Road.
- I-70 through Glenwood Canyon.
- Vail Pass.
What is the steepest pass in Colorado?
Slumgullion Pass
Just outside of Lake City, Colorado, Slumgullion Pass is an ultra-high mountain pass with an elevation of 11,530 ft (3,514 m). With grades on the north side of the pass up to 9%, State Highway 149 is the steepest, maintained paved road in Colorado.
Is the Black Bear Pass open in Colorado?
Beyond the Black Bear Pass, the road is a collection of infamous switchbacks going to Telluride. This road, which passes Bridal Veil Falls, the highest waterfall in Colorado, is open just some months, from late summer (usually the last week of July) to early fall, but it can be closed anytime when the access is not cleared of snow.
Is there a black bear pass accident toll?
There is no definitive black bear pass accident toll; however, the San Miguel County Sheriff’s office has closed the trail a few times a year recently, as the road’s popularity has grown.
Is Black Bear Pass worth the pay-out?
But the pay-out is truly worth it, with amazing scenery and a great rush of adrenaline! Black Bear Pass was made famous in 1975 in C.W. McCall’s music and has captured the imagination of off-road drivers ever since. The road leading to it starts 13 miles south of Ouray, at 11,018 ft altitude, and climbs to 12,840 ft at the summit.
Where does Black Bear Road start and end?
The road is narrow and intense. Where does Black Bear Road start and end? The start of the trail is marked along U.S. 550 with the famous sign that reads: But the sign was often stolen and eventually the responsible authorities ceased to replace it.