Black Bear Road

You don't have to be crazy to drive this road. But it helps!

Looking down to the road below from the top of the pass on Black Bear Road. View from the very top of the pass. The road down is towards the right of the photo.
From the top of the pass, looking down into the valley with mountains all around. Looking down the valley from the top towards Telluride, not yet visible.
Our vehicles lined up as we rest at the top of the pass. Jeep, Suzuki (that we drove last time we did Black Bear) and Pinz.
Richard, Dave, Jim, Missy and Ken resting at the top of the pass, before we start down the other side of Black Bear Road. Resting at the top.
My five year old son playing with his trucks on the rocks at the top of the pass. Jonathan playing trucks - wherever we are!
Telluride down in the valley, hazy in the distance, surrounded by mountains. View of Telluride as we come down from the top.
The lead vehicles heading down the road, more road visible in the valley. Looking ahead down Black Bear Road.
Closer to Telluride, but still way below in the valley. From the falls - view of Telluride.
Small waterfall, with Richard, taking a deserved break from driving and holding Kiyanna. The falls, after the hardest part. The most difficult stretch is the rocky ledge above the falls, almost visible to the top left in this photo.
Rocks around the waterfall, lots of rocks. Lots of rocks! Children playing at the falls.
Bridal Veil falls in the distance, down below! and the rocks nearby the falls. Beautiful view of Bridal Veil Falls from the waterfall on Black Bear Road.
Looking down on Bridal Veil Falls, as well as seeing the road back and forth below. See the road? We have to get down there.
Looking down seeing the road parallel to itself down the side of the mountain. A bunch of almost parallel roads. I think we counted 14 switchbacks, including one right before the falls, just after the most difficult part.
After the falls, getting on the road again, rocks everywhere, approaching another switchback. Our group leaving the falls, Jeep Cherokee, Suzuki (hidden), Pinz, Toyata pickup, Jeep, Jeep Cherokee (not visible).
Looking down on the top of the lead vehicle, the switchbacks are so close. Our leader takes a switchback. Most had to backup on about 3 or 4.
Switchbacks are the only way to make it down the face of the mountain down into Telluride. Then the Suzuki, as we wait our turn. This was an easier switchback. We didn't have as many 'two wheel rocker' switchbacks as I had expected.
After many switchbacks we are now below Bridal Veil Falls, looking up to it. Beautiful building above the falls. Close view of Bridal Veil Falls along one of the switchbacks below.