Black Bear Road

by: Bob Norton,

NM4Wheelers

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Black Bear Road is a thrilling, scenic 4-Wheel Drive road that thousands of people have experienced. Many ride the guided tours, leaving the driving to another. But, you must drive this one to really appreciate it! The location is in the beautiful San Juan Mountains between Ouray and Silverton, Colorado. About a quarter mile south of the summit of Red Mountain Pass on Highway 550 is the turn off. The 4wd road heads westward from there.

Contacts on the Internet and subsequent planning brought together several Jeepers for 4-wheeling vacations in Moab and Colorado. Kris and Liana traveled a long distance from their home east of Toronto, Ontario to enjoy the area. Kris, driving a just finished completely re-built CJ-5, is a C.W. McCall fan so he just "had to" drive this road. Terry, Tina and their son from the Dallas/Ft. Worth area in a Jeep Wrangler and I (Jeep Cherokee) rounded out the group this pleasant September (‘97) day.

Click on image for full screen version

The road climbs quickly and panoramas to the east and south unfold. There are usually snow banks to play in all summer long as you near the crest of Black Bear Pass. The pass is over 12,800 feet in elevation, we all did our share of huffing-n-puffing as we hiked at the top. The road begins to descend, passing remnants of mining activity. The Black Bear Mine was predominant in this area. A branch road leads down to Ingram Lake. This was a great location to take a break.

At a point where Ingram Creek begins to race downhill in a cut through the rocks, the road takes on an entirely different character! Not too many years ago, a bypass was built to eliminate having to drive down off-camber, potentially hazardous rock steps. I insisted on driving the traditional route so was the first to experience the tippy feeling. Good spotting by Kris and I made it past this spot OK. Next, Kris bravely followed the same original route. Kris was on the right line and ready to level off by proceeding forward. He felt a whole lot better when Terry jumped on the right rear corner of his Jeep! Terry then decided a less tippy route using part of the original trail would be satisfactory.

Now the real fun begins. The road begins a steep descent down a rocky, eroded stretch and then seems to disappear off the mountain. We walked this stretch to discuss spots to take photos and to be sure we were not about to drive off the edge! One sort of slides off the rocks slowly downhill. Plopping in the holes keeps the speed down and direction of travel in check. Fortunately, the roadway smoothes out before you get to the right turn. What a phenomenal view at the turn as the entire valley view of Telluride emerges just off the left side of your vehicle!

Click on image for full screen version

Past that point we take the first hairpin turn and follow with a short break at the remnants of an ore crushing structure. A short waterfall helps soothe the nerves after this introduction to the most thrilling portions of Black Bear Road. Just out of site below the edge of the trail is 125 foot Ingram Falls. Further down the road is the tightest hairpin turn of the many more to come. One must turn hard right and drive right up to the edge, then back up towards the rock wall with the wheel cranked hard left. Finally, a hard right and on down. Now that works fine for short and medium wheelbase 4-wheel drives. But, my first trip down Black Bear was in a F-150 full-size short bed pick-up. Too Big! No visibility over that humongous hood! That experience was so frightful that I STILL ask for a spotter to get around this corner, even with the smaller XJ. Kris and Terry drove around this corner like veterans!

Click on image for full screen version Black Bear Road drops out of the basin above the waterfalls (upper left) to begin the steep hairpin turn descent.

Scores of tight turns follow as the road continues down the mountainside towards Telluride. Our group stopped at the base of 365' Bridal Veil Falls for lunch and to exchange "congratulations" for joining the ranks of those who have successfully driven this famous road. We completed the circle route back to Ouray on the pleasant Imogene Pass road. From this return route, some great cross valley views of the Black Bear Road are possible showing the road zig-zagging downward from Ingram Falls.

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