Industry News
Black Bear Pass, one of Colorado’s most infamous and dangerous mountain roads, is closed indefinitely after a South Carolina man attempted to drive his Kia Telluride up the narrow, one-way trail near Silverton and got stuck. Despite warnings from locals not to try it, the driver pushed ahead and ended up with the vehicle’s wheels hanging off the edge of a switchback, leaving it perched precariously above the valley. The San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that the road is unsafe for cars and is now searching for a way to tow the vehicle out, a task made challenging by the steep, rocky terrain.
Photos released by law enforcement show the Kia teetering high above Bridal Veil Falls, with a sheer drop just inches away. Black Bear Pass begins at more than 11,000 feet in elevation and winds down to the town of Telluride, which sits at 8,754 feet. The irony is not lost that this was a Kia Telluride vehicle near the town of Telluride.
The trail is notorious for its hairpin switchbacks, loose rock, and dangerous exposure where one wrong move can mean disaster. In fact, the pass has a grim history: in recent years, three people were killed when a Jeep Wrangler plunged off the road. That history makes this latest incident all the more sobering.
For now, Black Bear Pass and Bridal Veil Road remain closed, with no clear timeline for reopening. While these kinds of mishaps happen from time to time, even to experienced off roaders, this case stands out not just for the vehicle choice, but for how close it came to ending far worse. The sheriff’s office noted that the Kia driver was extremely fortunate, but the closure is yet another reminder of just how dangerous Black Bear Pass can be.
