Thursday, September 27, 2018

Black Bear Pass - Walkthrough - Jeep Badge of Honor Trail - Telluride and Ouray Colorado

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqGDiRUvotw&w=640&h=360]

Black Bear Pass. Here's a great writeup from Dangerous Roads:

Black Bear Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.910 m (12,840ft) above the sea level, located in Colorado, USA. The road to the summit is called Black Bear Road, a dangerous dirt track. This jeep trail, officially called Forest Service Road 648, starts at an elevation of 11,018-foot (3,358 m) above the sea level, and ends in Telluride, Colorado. It's one of the highest mountain roads of Colorado.

Beyond the Black Bear Pass, the road is a collection of infamous switchbacks going to Telluride. This road, which passes Bridal Veil Falls, the highest waterfall in Colorado, is open just some months, from late summer (usually the last week of July) to early fall, and it can be closed anytime when the access is not cleared of snow. Do not travel this pass in severe weather conditions. Avalanches, heavy snowfalls and landslides can occur anytime, being extremely dangerous due to frequent patches of ice. It has a well-deserved reputation for being dangerous because of unpredictable snowstorms and blizzards, and driving under these conditions, can be extremely challenging.

https://www.dangerousroads.org/north-america/usa/177-black-bear-road-usa.html

🔔 Please SUBSCRIBE if you want to see my videos! 🔔

27 comments:

  1. Nice...really nice! I live in CO (Denver) and I'm such a looser because I hadnt done this epic trail and yet its practically in my back yard. Perhaps next year...

    ReplyDelete
  2. I never considered myself afraid of heights, until I did Shafer Switchbacks. Your videos of Black Bear brought back all those squeamish feelings I had, lol.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Loved the heights and views simply breath taking. What was happening with the front wheels of that blue JK at 13:08 and then again at 13:15?

    ReplyDelete
  4. One of my favorite trails. Unbeatable views! Great job on the video!

    ReplyDelete
  5. o3djeeps [ OVERCLOCK3D Jeeps ]September 27, 2018 at 1:37 PM

    If I recall correctly his swaybar link came loose and they resecured it. You can see Heath working on it right after.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I did Black Bear Pass in August. It’s reputation almost kept me from doing it because I don’t consider myself an expert four wheeler. There is nothing too technical about this trail, you just need to pay attention because carelessness can cost you your life. I found The Ouray side of Imogene Pass to be more difficult. Glad I did it though.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great video, its on my list for next year

    ReplyDelete
  8. Do you think someone could get a crew cab short bed f-250 or power wagon down the trail?

    ReplyDelete
  9. Yea, the zip tie we used to hold it in place came off. We put another on real quick

    ReplyDelete
  10. Great video! Thanks again for taking Gavin and I on the trail and guiding us even though we slowed you down

    ReplyDelete
  11. Are these one way trails? My wife not a fan of the heights and when we are close to an edge she damn near climbs into my lap.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Nathan Kennedy  I see, these things happen. I first thought the same kinda thing when I heart that aweful noise (like a breaking drive shaft, sway bar link or an axle) But in your case you hear the same snapping sound twice within 7 sec. That's why I asked what it was because when something breaks, usually it's over and done with one single snap. By the way, I love that blue color. One of the nicest colours for a Jeep.

    ReplyDelete
  13. o3djeeps [ OVERCLOCK3D Jeeps ]September 28, 2018 at 2:24 AM

    Yes. Black Bear Pass is a one way for the second half where the steps and switchbacks are. No oncoming traffic to deal with.

    ReplyDelete
  14. o3djeeps [ OVERCLOCK3D Jeeps ]September 28, 2018 at 2:27 AM

    It was great hanging with you guys. We had fun!

    ReplyDelete
  15. o3djeeps [ OVERCLOCK3D Jeeps ]September 28, 2018 at 2:28 AM

    Hmm. I don't see why it can't be done. May be a little more complicated on the switchbacks.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Awesome Video! def on the bucket list!

    ReplyDelete
  17. By far the best video and explanation of this trail. Love seeing the Maryland farm tag on your jeep! I'm from Hagerstown Md and will be heading out with my Lexus Gx470 next year. . I'm new to the off road world. Do you know of any good spots around us to offer road/camp in the mid Atlantic area? We do a lot of van camping I'm my AWD lifted chevy express van. Any help is greatly appreciated!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Not sure about the "harder on a motorcycle" comment,

    ReplyDelete
  19. o3djeeps [ OVERCLOCK3D Jeeps ]September 29, 2018 at 1:35 PM

    not sure why you're not sure... But my two buddies went through right before us on motorcycles and they said it was tougher right there... and I didn't feel like it was that tough in the Jeep.

    ReplyDelete
  20. o3djeeps [ OVERCLOCK3D Jeeps ]September 29, 2018 at 1:40 PM

    I'd jump into one of the overlanding Facebook groups like mid Atlantic overlanf society.... I wheel Rausch Creek and AOAA, but I don't really camp.

    ReplyDelete
  21. What’s a spotter!

    ReplyDelete
  22. What’s a spotter?

    ReplyDelete
  23. What a bunch of PUSSIES. I drove over this in 1977 with my friend Susan in her old Toyota Landcruiser. Roads were smaller, the vehicle had no tricked out tires or suspension. At the top of the pass (there was a gate back then) was a note that said UNASSAILABLE dated several days prior. We had a Toyota jeep, WTF. When we got into town, hundreds of people were out in the streets watching our descent. Apparently, we were the 1st to make it alive that year. My 2nd time was in my 1967 Volkswagen Bug.(not a baja). Was even more fun. Any pussy could do it now with the advanced equipment.

    ReplyDelete
  24. On my bucket list of trails to do 👍

    ReplyDelete
  25. Music choice is great CPO!

    ReplyDelete
  26. o3djeeps [ OVERCLOCK3D Jeeps ]October 2, 2018 at 1:51 AM

    #badass

    ReplyDelete
  27. o3djeeps [ OVERCLOCK3D Jeeps ]October 2, 2018 at 1:52 AM

    It's when you go offroading with friends... lol

    ReplyDelete