BLACK BEAR MINE

NAME: Black Bear Mine
COUNTY: San Miguel
ROADS: 4X4X4X4
GRID: -
CLIMATE: Snow in winter and closed - open only for a few months in summer.
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Summer
COMMENTS: Bring your Jeep with Lockers and lift for an easier trip. You dont have to be crazy to do the road to the Black Bear but it really helps! But seriously, this road is for advanced expert wheelers with the right equipment only. Do not attempt to take a rental on this road or a full-size vehicle. Also, dont try it in the rain like we did. Its a lot more slippery!
REMAINS: A few remnants of the mines and the aerial tramways.

The Black Bear mines, above Telluride... well, heck with the mines - no one does this road to see the mines which arent much to speak of with the exception of the still hanging aerial tramway cables. Everyone does this road because of the road. Its known as the most dangerous pass in Colorado (although not the most deadliest which is Schofield). The road goes between a point just south of Ouray and crawls over to Telluride. It is clearly marked off highway 550. The pass is over 12,800 feet in elevation and the road is narrow and is quite fun climbing up the southeast side. The road becomes one way later but in the first part you can turn around if you chicken out. All the way to the top of the pass and then down to the other side to a point just before Ingram falls is a fairly tough road but if you think its hard you should definitely turn around once you hit the falls. As you start down toward Ingram Falls, the road becomes much more steep and there is a lot of loose rock causing your vehicle to slip and slide as you go down. Try to stay in 4 low first gear and stay off the brakes or the sliding gets worse. Right as you hit Ingram Falls, there is a small place to turn around and this is the point of no return. Once you start down the stair steps, the road is one way. We had heard you couldn't climb back up the stair steps because its so steep you would break your axles if you could even get enough traction. We thought we would try though since no one was coming, so we went down about half way and then actually backed up the stair steps. We dont recommend trying this although our ZR2 blazer with rear locker was able to make it up the steps. At this point, if you are afraid of heights you should take some Dramamine because a little more than half way through the stair steps, the road turns right 90 degrees and disappears and all you see is SKY! We thought of mounting wings on the truck and flying down to the Telluride airport thousands of feet below. The steepness of the road, the slippery rock and the view straight down can really get your heart pumping. Its locally called the "Pucker Factor". Once you make it down the stairsteps, the rest is easy... well, easy as long as you dont have a full size vehicle. If you driving a new Excursion or a Suburban, you might as well just drive it off the stairsteps and walk down to meet whats left of your vehicle at the bottom. Their are quite a few switchbacks to get down to Telluride, the first of which is the worst. Small jeeps can make it in a few turns, our small Blazer took 4 turns, Full size vehicles might as well back down the mountain. Before reaching the first switchback is a small outcropping of rock which makes the narrowest point on the road. We had 6 inches to spare on the cliffside and hit our bumper on the rock, kicking our back tire to the edge. The ZR2 Blazer is a pretty wide vehicle even though its not very long, just a little longer then a Jeep, but I couldnt imagine making it in a full-size vehicle. Your tires would definitely be off the ledge. From there the switchbacks get easier until you reach Bridal Veil Falls at which time you have to contend with other road hazards such as yuppie mountain bikers and hikers. Make sure to stop in Telluride and get a shirt that says you did Black Bear Pass so you don't have to do it again! Also, we highly recommend getting the extra adrenaline rush by doing it during a thunderstorm. Throw in a little lightning and just enough rain to make all the rocks really slick and you should get that extra boost! Submitted by: Todd Underwood. Ghosttowns.com


Black Bear 2003
Todd Underwood


Black Bear 2003
Todd Underwood


Black Bear 2003
Todd Underwood


Black Bear 2003
Todd Underwood


Black Bear 2003
Todd Underwood


Black Bear 2003
Todd Underwood


Black Bear 2003
Todd Underwood


Black Bear 2003
Todd Underwood


Black Bear 2003
Todd Underwood


Black Bear 2003
Todd Underwood


Black Bear 2003
Todd Underwood


Black Bear 2003
Todd Underwood


Black Bear 2003
Todd Underwood


Black Bear 2003
Todd Underwood


Black Bear 2003
Todd Underwood


Black Bear 2003
Todd Underwood


Black Bear 2003
Todd Underwood


Black Bear 2003
Todd Underwood


Black Bear 2003
Todd Underwood


Black Bear 2003
Todd Underwood


Black Bear 2003
Todd Underwood


Black Bear 2003
Todd Underwood


Black Bear 2003
Todd Underwood


Black Bear 2003
Todd Underwood


Black Bear 2003
Todd Underwood


Black Bear 2003
Todd Underwood


Black Bear 2003
Todd Underwood


Black Bear 2003
Todd Underwood


Black Bear 2003
Todd Underwood


Black Bear 2003
Todd Underwood


Black Bear 2003
Todd Underwood


Black Bear 2003
Todd Underwood


The backside bowl at Black Bear
Todd Underwood


The backside bowl at Black Bear
Todd Underwood


The backside bowl at Black Bear
Todd Underwood


Another shot of the backside bowl at Black Bear
Todd Underwood


Another shot of the the backside bowl at Black Bear - Telluride at the bottom
Todd Underwood


Another shot of the the backside bowl at Black Bear - Telluride at the bottom
Todd Underwood


Looking back
Todd Underwood


Moving down the backside bowl at Black Bear - Telluride at the bottom
Todd Underwood


We had to get at least one picture of one of the mines
Todd Underwood


Aerial tramway cable across middle of the bowl, Telluride at the bottom
Todd Underwood


This is where you start sliding and is before the stairsteps.
Todd Underwood


Another shot of where you start sliding and is before the stairsteps.
Todd Underwood


Another shot of where you start sliding and is before the stairsteps. Its steeper then it looks.
Todd Underwood


Another shot of where you start sliding and is before the stairsteps. This shows the true grade of the road.
Todd Underwood


Another shot of where you start sliding and is before the stairsteps. Youll need a locker or a winch to get back up.
Todd Underwood


Another shot of where you start sliding and is before the stairsteps.
Todd Underwood


Just before Ingram Falls
Todd Underwood


The Stair Steps
Todd Underwood


At the bottom of the stair steps looking at whats coming next
Todd Underwood


Side view of the beginning of the stair steps
Todd Underwood


Bridal Veil Falls
Todd Underwood


At the top of the stair steps in the rain
Todd Underwood


Here we goooooooo...
Todd Underwood


Going down the stair steps
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Still going down the stair steps
Todd Underwood


Still going down the stair steps
Todd Underwood


Looking back as we go down the stair steps.
Todd Underwood


Going down the stair steps, here comes the turn.
Todd Underwood


Going down the stair steps and making the turn.
Todd Underwood


Scchhheeeww, we made the turn!
Todd Underwood


Going down the stair steps, Ingram Falls start on the right.
Todd Underwood


At the bottom of the stair steps, looking at the road to come.
Todd Underwood


At the bottom of the stair steps, looking down at Telluride.
Todd Underwood


Starting out toward the first switchback.
Todd Underwood


Looking down at Telluride.
Todd Underwood


The narrowest part, good luck you full-sizers.
Todd Underwood


Approacing the first switchback
Todd Underwood


Starting the first switchback
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At the first switchback making the first turn.
Todd Underwood


And the second turn
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And the third
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And the fourth
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Finally!
Todd Underwood


After the first switchback.
Todd Underwood


Looking down
Todd Underwood


Approaching the second switchback
Todd Underwood


At the second switchback
Todd Underwood


At the second switchback, second turn
Todd Underwood


Made it through the second switchback.
Todd Underwood


Leaving the second swicthback.
Todd Underwood


Bridal Veil Falls
Todd Underwood


Bridal Veil Falls
Todd Underwood


Bridal Veil Falls
Todd Underwood


Bridal Veil Falls
Todd Underwood


Ingram Falls - looking back from where we came.
Todd Underwood


Bridal Veil Falls
Todd Underwood


Bridal Veil Falls
Todd Underwood


Bridal Veil Falls
Todd Underwood


Bridal Veil Falls
Todd Underwood


Bridal Veil Falls
Todd Underwood


Ingram Falls and the stair steps, way up thar
Todd Underwood


Ingram Falls and the stair steps, way up thar
Todd Underwood


Ingram Falls and the stair steps, way up thar
Todd Underwood


Ingram Falls and the stair steps, way up thar
Todd Underwood

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