Black Bear Road is also the name of the C.W. McCall album
which contains the song that made the road famous. Black
Bear Road is a notorious jeep trail that starts from 11,018
foot summit of Red Mountain Pass on U.S. Highway 550 (between
Ouray and Silverton) to Telluride, Colorado. The Black Bear
Road crests at Black Bear Pass, elevation 12,840. 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 road was
made famous in a spoken word song by C.W. McCall of the same
name.
Black Bear Road is only open a few months out of the
year, in the late summer and early fall. Black Bear Road
usually doesn't open until the last week of July. The road is
traveled one way only, downhill (except for the annual
Jeeper's Jamboree in which the path is reversed for one day
only), from the Red Mountain Pass side. The start of the trail
is marked along U.S. 550 with the famous sign that reads:
TELLURIDE ——>
CITY OF GOLD
12 MILES - 2 HOURS
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE
CRAZY TO DRIVE THIS
ROAD - BUT IT HELPS
JEEPS ONLY
|
Black Bear Road is a difficult, dangerous trail even for
four-wheel drive vehicles. If you have to be rescued, expect a
towing bill in four figures. In 2004 a jeep slipped off the
slope near the beginning of the switchbacks and fell several
thousand feet, killing two of the passengers and severely
injuring two others. Do not attempt this trail if you are not a
highly experienced jeeper. Guided tours are available.
Onboard
Air
