Colorado Adventure Riding: Black Bear Pass

I get it, it's closed. Well, it wasn't when we went down the road. No gates shut or locked, no signs posted, so we took our chan221es with the snow drifts! Turns out, it was a check box of a life time!!

License code: HIJYUCXLTLKQ5LBF

[jamesfairmind]

Brilliant recording quality, well done. I went down those steps on a 17 inch wheeled 690 SMCR fully loaded with 50+ lbs of luggage.and watching you I was puckering up just remembering it!

[patrickkennedy]

Always follow your own line. Never follow someone just because they are in front.

[bigspy]

Two things I've learned watching all of these Black Bear Pass videos. 1. Never go down on a heavy bike loaded down with gear. Nothing more than a bottle of water and a phone. 2. Never go down Black Bear Pass.

[darinanderson]

Having also taken a T7 over Black Bear pass (and having ridden motorcycles since I was 14 and the past 10 years in Colorado) this is an accurate take on Black Bear and the difficulty / considerations. I also walked mine down at the Steppes and I consider myself an above average offroad rider in good physical condition.

You'll always get people in the comments that say "well I rode a liter adventure over Black Bear Pass fully loaded and it was easy". Congratulations. But most riders aren't capable of that and that gives a false sense of security to those wanting to try but really shouldn't and once there have no other choice but to try to continue. That leads to injuries, bike damage, and long lines backing up behind you.

The Steppes are steeper than they appear on just about every video, often covered in slick rock dust, and a huge dropoff on an outside corner that approaches incredibly fast if you're not on top of your braking. The reward of this trail is amazing, but don't underestimate it.

[erickirn]

You really knocked the new off that T-7!! lol. Nice job!!

[derekheuring]

I'm too old and broke down to ride the Alpine Loop on a motorcycle. My last dirt bike was a 1978 Honda XL250 that I sold after riding it for 22 years. Still started on the first kick! Wife and I are heading for the Loop this Summer but in a lifted Power Wagon on 37's but definitely not going down Black Bear pass, we wouldn't want to dent the Martini shaker.

[TerrySylvester-ipon]

I did it on my T7 in August 2022 as a detour from the TAT; made it through the steps clean, then tipped over like a complete bozo on the switchback below the creek crossing. Not wanting to miss any of the TAT route, I went up Ophir pass and back down in the dark. I was one tired fellah after that day! Black Bear was honestly not as hard as I was expecting from reading YouTube comments but it could easily go pretty badly with a bounce in the wrong direction, especially since I was riding it alone. Taking it slowly was the key.

[dubla]

All your smaller bike riders left you two! lol. Awesome video

[billbright]

That one guys tank looks like he could ride across the Sahara without fueling.

[jimmcbride]

The camera never does the steepness justice. Did Black Bear on a 350, can't imagine the challenge on a loaded adventure bike.Nice work!

[MotoGiant]

good job capturing the terror of Black Bear !! Maybe the most iconic road in the world? Glad YouTube finally showed me something I am interested in watching! Subbed!

[beadblaster]

Black bear is a hwy compared to what it was 10 years ago. There are travelcompanies that take you down black bear in the back of pickups.

[Thelnferno]

The butt-pucker factor was real just watching this video! Usually cameras don't pick up the incline/decline angles, but it did in this video lol!

[MeerkatADV]

The county changes at the very top, which is where the sign has been posted that the pass into Telluride has been closed. Stop riding closed trails if you want us to be able to continue to ride these roads. Black Bear was essentially not open this year, and was not opened this year specifically because of stupidity such as this and people having to be evacuated off of the pass that never should have been there.

[knuckles-]

Back in the 60s we rode our dirt bikes up to the top and turned around and came back down this was before all the stupidity that caused the road to be made one way down I’m surprised that it’s still open at all

[SunSpireSunny]

Been watching your videos all morning, love your content! I dont ring the youtube bell often but you convinced me! :)

[CORNDODGER]

Nice video am leaving this am for 2 weeks of back road scouting around Craig and Baggs area

[bryanreeme]

Encouraged to see an old klr doing it. maybe me & mine can manage it to 😳

[ebhkkc]

the problem is people go way to slow....this is very easy if you know how to ride. let the suspension work and have confidence

[gjnorvell]

The easiest line on the steps is the outside edge for a motorcycle. The inside line is looks more comforting but is a lot harder.