Black Bear Pass — Red Mountain Pass to Telluride via Bridal Veil Falls
One-way down a cliff into Telluride.
Black Bear Pass starts quietly off US-550 at Red Mountain Pass, then climbs through tundra to a 12,840-foot summit with the whole San Juan range laid out around you. The old mining road runs one way, east to west, so you climb the easy side and commit to the descent. Past the summit you cross a boulder-strewn bench, ford a few snowmelt streams, then reach the Black Bear switchbacks, a stack of tight, exposed hairpins cut into a cliff above Ingram Basin. The pavement of Telluride sits 2,000 feet below, and Bridal Veil Falls pours off the opposite wall. The pass has a long record of rollovers and rescues, and it earned its reputation honestly.
This is a real Expert trail. You want a short-wheelbase 4WD with solid clearance, good tires, and ideally lockers and sliders. The switchbacks are so tight that long rigs have to make multi-point turns on the edge of a drop. Snow often blocks the top into July, so check conditions with the Forest Service before you drive up. Go in July through September, start early to dodge afternoon storms, and don’t attempt it alone if you’re new to exposure. There’s no fuel on the route, so fill up in Ouray or Telluride. Cell service shows up only near town. You get one of the most dramatic descents in Colorado, and a campfire story you’ll be telling for years. Have a dirty day.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Expert |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Rock |
| Features | High Altitude, Historic, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 12 mi / 19.3 km |
| Duration | 3-5 hours |
| Max elevation (ft) | 12840 ft |
| Best season | July-September |
| Minimum vehicle | Short-wheelbase 4WD, high clearance, lockers recommended |
| Nearest town | Telluride, Colorado |
| Land manager | USFS Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | USFS GMUG National Forests |
| Verified | |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock 4Runner or other stock SUV run Black Bear Pass?
It's a gamble. The trail wants a short-wheelbase 4WD with real clearance and ideally lockers, because the lower switchbacks are tight enough that longer rigs often need multi-point turns on a shelf with big exposure. Stock tires and open diffs make the rock steps near the top much harder.
When is Black Bear Pass actually open?
Best window is July through September. Snow lingers at the 12,840-foot summit into early summer, and drifts can block the trail, so check current conditions with the Uncompahgre Ranger District before you go.
Do I need a permit or pay a fee to drive Black Bear Pass?
No permit or day-use fee is required for the trail itself. It's on USFS GMUG National Forest land, so standard Forest Service rules apply, including stay-on-route and dispersed camping limits.
What's the hardest part of Black Bear Pass, and can I turn around?
The rocky steps near the top and the tight, exposed switchbacks dropping toward Telluride are the crux. The road is one-way, downhill only from Red Mountain Pass, so once you're committed past the top there's no going back up. Scout the first section and be sure of your rig and your nerves before you drop in.
What should I plan for on the trail: water, cell service, and camping?
There are water crossings, so check runoff levels, which run highest on warm afternoons early in the season. Cell service is spotty, so tell someone your route and download offline maps. Dispersed camping is available around Red Mountain Pass before you start, and you'll end up in Telluride for fuel and food.
Trail track
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