Black Bear Pass

Rating: 4
This trail is not difficult from a technical standpoint. There are a few loose ledges that can be hairy if you take a bad line (another 4Runner slid and it rolled onto its side earlier that day), but if you go slow and carefully it isn't bad.

Location:
This is located between the summit of Red Mountain Pass and Telluride.

Trailhead
This trail is ONE WAY and the beginning is located near the summit of Red Mountain Pass (highway 550). The road is located 0.2 miles to the south of the sign marking the summit. The road is to the west. Coordinates are 37.896734, -107.713392. Once you are on the dirt road, it is well marked and there at any intersection directing you to Black Bear Pass.

Description
This road is often combined with Imogene Pass to make a loop. If you are planning on doing the loop, remember that Black Bear Pass is one-way from Ouray to Telluride.

This road has a reputation for being dangerous. The switchbacks are narrow and on a steep slope. Although the road isn't steep, the slope of the hill is steep enough that the switch backs are narrow and a few of them require at least a 3-point turn. It is recommended that you check your brakes before attempting this road. This road is NOT for the fainthearted or the novice off-roader.

The switchbacks are so narrow that it is impossible to pass an oncoming vehicle. For this reason, the road is ONE WAY at the switchbacks and you can only travel in the downhill direction. You must start from the east side and travel toward Telluride. The bottom of the switchbacks are wider and there is two-way traffic up to the Bridal Veil Falls.

Most of the road is a simple road that isn't difficult. There are a few short climbs that are a little loose, but there is nothing technical for most of the trail. The hardest part of the road is immediately before the switchbacks. These are a series of small ledges that are off camber. The ledges are not perpendicular to the road. In addition to being off camber, the ledges are also a loose shale and it is easy to slide. I didn't think it was too bad, but earlier in the day another 4Runner had rolled onto its side. I assume it wasn't a great line and it was made worse from sliding on the loose surface. I ended up going down the small ledge more perpendicular and it wasn't even exciting.

After the first series of ledges, the road narrows. The surface is loose at this location and there are a few more small ledges. Make sure you have a good line and go slow. Don't be afraid to use a spotter to watch your line because the road is fairly narrow.

Once you complete the ledges, the rest of the road is easy. Although the switchbacks are easy and there is nothing technical, they do have a strong pucker factor. The road is narrow so there is no room for error. Make sure you know your line and the location of your tires. Don't get too close to the edge OR the inner side of the road. There is a youtube video of somebody who went up the inner wall and rolled down part of the hill (they were unharmed, the Jeep was much worse).

A few of the switchbacks are so tight that you have to do a 3-point turn. I was worried about this part, but it isn't steep and I never felt out of control.

Once you go down the narrow section, the road widens and two-way traffic begins. This is the location of the Bridal Veil Falls and Power Plant. These falls are gorgeous and can be seen from Telluride.

Here is the KML and map of the trail.

We had just put a 2" lift and 33" tires on the 4Runner a week before. 

We did Black Bear to try them out.  

 As you can see, most of the road is simple and not technical.

 What a great sign

 This is the beginning of what a lot of people call "The Ledges." It isn't very difficult, but it is a little off camber and the loose shale makes it a little more interesting. A good line and careful driving should keep you safe. This is where another 4Runner rolled onto it's said earlier in the day.

 This picture is very misleading. This was actually very narrow and the slope to the passenger side is very steep. This picture really flattened things out. Telluride is thousands of feet below and it is a steep hill. This picture is taken near the small waterfall at the top left of the next picture. 

This shows the switchbacks nicely. This is taken from the Imogene Pass road.

This is Bridal Veil Falls and power plant. 

This is Bridal Veil Falls. It is 365 feet high.