Staying Safe Off-Roading in Black Bear Pass CO | On The Trail

There's no room for error when you're on switchbacks at the edge of a cliff, and on this episode of On the Trail, we're staying safe off-roading in Black Bear Pass, CO. Known for its beautiful views and treacherous trail, Black Bear Pass is definitely a bucket list item for any off-roader. See how we got down without rolling a rig, and how you can do it, too!

0:00 Black Bear Pass Basics
2:02 Jeep JL & Jeep Gladiator Breakdown
3:02 Off-Roading Essentials
4:10 Ouray to Black Bear Pass Summit
6:00 Climb Impressions & Overbuilt Jeeps
7:41 Beginning the Descent
9:36 The Steps
12:18 Offroad Switchbacks
16:51 Black Bear Pass Impressions

While most of the time when you're on a difficult or dangerous trail you'll want a Jeep on 40s, having a low center of gravity and short wheelbase is critical surviving off-roading through Black Bear Pass CO. That said, we brought out a Jeep JL on 40s, a Jeep Gladiator on 40s, and a Jeep JL on 37-inch tires. All of them are are Nitto Trail Grapplers. However, the three drivers are all extremely experienced, so navigating the trail shouldn't be too difficult for them.

If you ever wanted to know how to get through Black Bear Pass CO, we'll show you how to do it safely and come back with stories to tell.

Got a place you want us to explore? Drop us a comment and let us know where we should go next.

For Trail Basics, Everything You Need to Know To Go Off-Roading:

Driving Line Trail Guide Articles by Regions:

#BlackBearPassCO #TrailGrappler #NittoTire #OnTheTrail

[texasxlander]

This video tells the story of Black Bear Pass accurately. This trail requires 100% of the drivers attention and should not be taken lightly. Hope to see this team in Texas soon!

[FloridaFlyer]

That was a fun video to watch. Some of the best drone video I have ever seen. Kudos to whoever is running the drone. Can't wait to head up there this summer with the new JL!

[imrevin]

Great vid, however I won't lie- mega bummed at the lack of coverage on the Gladiator through the switchbacks...

[stephencarbajal]

Glad to know the gladiator can make ot thru a trail like this, all I hear how the long wheelbase hurts the rig. Awesome seeing Mel too

[davesanders]

Such as easy trip! Not like that "other group" that had to deal with vehicles coming the other way, mountain bikes and hikers on the road. Then the snowstorm/rain and rolling/flying boulders across the road. THEN, after they got thru all that and were "safely" down from the top discovered they were trapped by a really big mudslide and had to wait a few hours until a big shovel came out to clear a path. (I think that was another 2 hours) FUN TIMES.

[rigs-trails]

Definitely some of the better drone footage I’ve seen - it looks fun and challenging no doubt.

[mikep]

Wow, my stock Nissan Xterra Pro- 4X made it without
a problem, rear lockers did help on one switch back.

[herbmanning]

Way to point out the resource damage at 8:30. Tread lightly. Thumbs up.

[newbwheeler]

Well at least you got high def. footage of how NOT to take a switch back on Black Bear pass.

[JH-mtpp]

I did Black Bear in a CJ 5 with manual transmission in the early 1980's. No spotter. My wife got out and walked a couple of times lol. I'm 68 years young now and still do trails in the Ouray/Silverton area. I'm glad I checked Black Bear off when I was young and rentals were allowed on it.

[JH-mtpp]

Since it's been almost 40 years since we ran this trail my memory is a little fuzzy. The worst part for me was a steep downhill section with loose shale. Keep in mind I'm in a carbureted CJ5 with manual transmission. Carburetors do not like 12, 000 feet. I had to fight keeping the Jeep running and work a clutch. The Jeep died in the shale section and would slide about 3 feet, stop, and repeat. I could hear the shale bouncing down the side of the mountain. This is where my wife walked lol. Your narration of Black Bear is the best I've seen. It's been 40 years but you do a great job of conveying the fear that Black Bear brings lol.

[bvillarreal]

Nice! Saw you guys filming at the top of Imogene back in September! Nice Rigs!

[gladia.gatr]

Awesome video!

Did Black Bear Pass on my JKU now I can’t wait to take my Gladiator out there. 🙌🏽🙌🏽

[SkooledINC]

Took my stock XJ through black bear, really fun but also really sketchy when you start going down the steps. Barely got high centered on the rocks after the waterfall. I agree with what Mel says tho, Colorado trails are better suited for smaller vehicles.

[NigelNaughton]

That was some pretty awesome perspective of the whole trail. Watching it was even sketch!! haha.. I've done some of those passes (not BB pass) and they can get pretty crazy.

[DieselFirefighter]

Going there at the end of July. Can’t wait!

[jasondevereaux]

Black bear was the first "real" wheeling I ever did. Helluva of a first time. Black bear out, imogene back. Awesome views...from what I saw of it. Lol

[davidshuttleworth]

Great video. Great looking rigs; now I need to contact hefty to see if they are able to fit those bumpers to a JK

[billknudson]

I haven't seen any videos of an Audi Q7 going over Black Bear Pass. With the new cameras at all angles on the vehicle, the Quattro driving all the wheels, the height adjustment, and the braking system for going downhill, it would be interesting to see how the Q7 could handle the pass.

[Gearhead]

Black Bear is an easy trail the switch backs are a little tight, but other than that uneventful. I ran the trail backwards back in 2015 during a Superwinch special event.