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Thread: Black Bear Pass

  1. #1

    Default Black Bear Pass



    Black Bear Pass has been on my bucket list for some time. I hear those switchbacks calling me for summer 2022. I generally avoid trails that have a lot of human activity but sometimes you just have to do it before the option is no longer available.


    https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2021/12/02/new-forest-plan-could-lead-to-closure-of-colorados-black-bear-pass-the-most-dangerous-road-in-the-country

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    Default Re: Black Bear Pass



    Ouray / Silverton / Telluride is worth as much time as you can spare to visit. Black Bear Pass is a bucket list trail and has some great views, but I've enjoyed many of the others trails around there more. Make time for other cool stuff down there when you go, in addition to Black Bear. I'm sure I'll be back down there next summer or early fall again also.

  3. #3

    Default Re: Black Bear Pass



    open_circuit previously posted:
    "Ouray / Silverton / Telluride is worth as much time as you can spare to visit. Black Bear Pass is a bucket list trail and has some great views, but I've enjoyed many of the others trails around there more. Make time for other cool stuff down there when you go, in addition to Black Bear. I'm sure I'll be back down there next summer or early fall again also."

    Good point for sure, I've done a number of trails in the area and absolutely love camping on the less popular routes. Black Bear is just so popular it kind of chases me away but if there is a possibility that it will be closed down I will have to make an exeption and deal with the crowds. I'll be making my way over there in early August as part of my anual 14 day camping trip.

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    Default Re: Black Bear Pass



    When we went down there the first time we ran the Alpine loop first. Well I really did't feel the need to air down more then 22 psi we did that because none of the trails are really hard. And the speed limit on the roads are just 45 at best so once the front sway bars were disconnected no need to reconnect until the drive home. So on the morning we went to run Black Bear pass we drove right passed 20 rigs and jumped to the front of the line. Pretty much had the trail to ourselves the whole day. It really is a trail I'm glad we did. Not hard at all but highly recommend doing it!

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    Default Re: Black Bear Pass



    I think the scariest road down there is 550 from Ouray to Silverton. It's the only road I've been on with a 20mph speed limit and everyone is going 10.

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    Default Re: Black Bear Pass



    When I did the trail it was on a Thursday or Friday, and we saw few other vehicles. It was late season too which likely helped but there are definitely times you can hit it when you won't run into much traffic.

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    Default Re: Black Bear Pass



    1) If during the high season, consider a late afternoon / just before sunset getting off of the trail schedule. I'd assume that would be low traffic.

    2) Forest Service article aside... Black Bear is one that garners emergency response, which is an expense and thus a consideration for closure, but it's also a trail that brings $$$$$$ into the local economy - a big reason to keep it open. I'd find it curious if the local economy would want to (have the forest service) close it.

    3) I hope no trails get closed and that options expand !!

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  10. #8

    Default Re: Black Bear Pass



    The local economy I think would be impacted greatly. It doesn't look like it will be closed but just the mention of such an iconic trail for closure is cringe worthy.


    Jim previously posted:
    "1) If during the high season, consider a late afternoon / just before sunset getting off of the trail schedule. I'd assume that would be low traffic.

    2) Forest Service article aside... Black Bear is one that garners emergency response, which is an expense and thus a consideration for closure, but it's also a trail that brings $$$$$$ into the local economy - a big reason to keep it open. I'd find it curious if the local economy would want to (have the forest service) close it.

    3) I hope no trails get closed and that options expand !!"


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    Default Re: Black Bear Pass



    Gretchen previously posted:
    "The local economy I think would be impacted greatly. It doesn't look like it will be closed but just the mention of such an iconic trail for closure is cringe worthy."

    A few years ago the local sheriff was trying to close it. It failed at the time due to local economic impact. This sounds like the next push.
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    Default Re: Black Bear Pass



    I wonder if there could be an issue with closing off access to valid mining claims?

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    Default Re: Black Bear Pass



    I continue to just wish they would put a serious gatekeeper on it.

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    Default Re: Black Bear Pass



    speedkills previously posted:
    "I continue to just wish they would put a serious gatekeeper on it."

    Need one at the bottom too. That bronco sport that rolled this year entered the trail from Telluride at the base of the trail.

  15. #13

    Default Re: Black Bear Pass



    Jim previously posted:
    "I wonder if there could be an issue with closing off access to valid mining claims?"

    After reading the article again I saw nothing addressing mining claims. "Forest Service, adopted a new planning rule in 2012 that charged its various agencies with developing science-based plans that consider a multitude of factors, including local ecology, social concerns, and economic sustainability. In addition, the Forest Service noted that the 1983 plan offered "no internal agreement" on what the various land designations meant, nor did it provide means for actually implementing the designations."

  16. #14

    Default Re: Black Bear Pass



    I've lived in the mountains for a number of decades and within the last 10 years alone I have seen a radical increase in off road recreation use. To me it seems like the forest service needs to increase motorized vehicle access which would be Alternative C. rather than decrease which would be Alternative D. Unauthorized trails should become authorized and existing Wilderness boundaries should be expanded without impeding into motorized vehicle access or private property.

  17. #15

    Default Re: Black Bear Pass



    speedkills previously posted:
    "I continue to just wish they would put a serious gatekeeper on it."

    I think most trails should have gate keepers specifically targeting Side x Side's.

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    Default Re: Black Bear Pass



    I’ve lived in the high country for a few decades now also and definitely notice the OHV areas are always much more abused and trashed and with problems than the “street legal vehicles only” trails. I prefer to go on roads where sxs’s are not allowed, but I’ve said this many times before 🤷🏽 .
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  19. #17

    Default Re: Black Bear Pass



    RockyMtRebel previously posted:
    "I’ve lived in the high country for a few decades now also and definitely notice the OHV areas are always much more abused and trashed and with problems than the “street legal vehicles only” trails. I prefer to go on roads where sxs’s are not allowed, but I’ve said this many times before 路 ."

    Don't all Front Range trails allow ATV/Side x ?

    We live so close to each other. We'll have to wheel together some time.

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    Default Re: Black Bear Pass



    Most of the trails in the front range do allow OHV, but not all. I’m in California right now and the street legal trails here are so much nicer than the OHV trails!
    I’ll be back in Allenspark in a week or so and will be looking to do some wheeling in around the holidays and in January!
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    Default Re: Black Bear Pass



    And all of a sudden a rock the size of a jeep came rolling in front of me...

    https://youtu.be/4mvFhl5_HYw?t=138

  22. #20

    Default Re: Black Bear Pass



    What an amazingly stressful job, I so would not want to do that.

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