Black Bear and Imogene Pass in an open diff 3rd gen?

[wake_rider]

We're heading to Colorado next week, and I wanted a bit of info about these two trails. Will either be too much for an open diff, mostly stock 3rd gen with my family (me, wife, and daughter) in the cab? I feel relatively confident in my driving abilities, but I don't want to put my family in a bad place.

So, what is the actual level of difficulty and equipment need that you need to have to reasonably do these trails, and am I within that range?

 

[derpiful]

We're heading to Colorado next week, and I wanted a bit of info about these two trails. Will either be too much for an open diff, mostly stock 3rd gen with my family (me, wife, and daughter) in the cab? I feel relatively confident in my driving abilities, but I don't want to put my family in a bad place.

So, what is the actual level of difficulty and equipment need that you need to have to reasonably do these trails, and am I within that range?

Should be completely fine! They're not super technical trails, just have the tight switchbacks and whatnot. Just have someone spot you on them, and you'll be fine. Took a stock TJ up both (on 29s) last year and it had no problems.

On a side note, these 2 are some of my favorite trails. Absolutely beautiful up there, you'll love it.

 

[sn0wrunner]

Yeah you'll be fine. Black Bear pass gets a lot of hype, but it's really just a dirt road with a few rocks here and there. If you aren't afraid of heights or being on a narrow shelf road, you'll be fine.

I've never been on a trail where not having a locker would prevent a 3rd gen to get through it. There might be obstacles on certain trails that an unlocked 4runner can't make it over that a locked one could. But there is just about always a line that you can take unlocked and make it through the trail. The IFS is what really limits these rigs, not so much having a locker or not. I wouldn't be afraid to run any trail unlocked that another IFS 3rd gen with a locker would do.

 

[JayRolla]

We're heading to Colorado next week, and I wanted a bit of info about these two trails. Will either be too much for an open diff, mostly stock 3rd gen with my family (me, wife, and daughter) in the cab? I feel relatively confident in my driving abilities, but I don't want to put my family in a bad place.

So, what is the actual level of difficulty and equipment need that you need to have to reasonably do these trails, and am I within that range?

TrailDamage.com - Black Bear Pass

TrailDamage.com - Imogene Pass

If you have issues driving very high mountain passes it could be a little tough. Other than that they are some awesome trails. Lets just say wife and kids do not approve of these trails due the high cliff sides and switchbacks.

 

[Unner]

Wish we had trails like that down here... Good luck!

 

[wake_rider]

Awesome. Thanks to everyone for the responses. I'm definitely doing Black Bear too, then Imogene Pass on the way out of Silverton. Now we just need to find a good place to camp in that area that's not so restrictive.

Thank you all! We leave first thing in the morning and I'm starting to get pumped.

 

[smallfry]

According to this site Black Bear Pass won't be open till the 15th.

https://soajeep.com/trail-maps-conditions/trail-conditions/

 

[wake_rider]

According to this site Black Bear Pass won't be open till the 15th.

https://soajeep.com/trail-maps-conditions/trail-conditions/

Nice find on that link. We're going to hang out in Colorado Springs for the better part of this week then head to the Silverton area around Saturday. We plan on being there until Wednesday before going to Taos for two days then back home to central OK. Hopefully Black Bear will let us have a roll through sometime next week.

 

[Kotrin]

Nice find on that link. We're going to hang out in Colorado Springs for the better part of this week then head to the Silverton area around Saturday. We plan on being there until Wednesday before going to Taos for two days then back home to central OK. Hopefully Black Bear will let us have a roll through sometime next week.

Silverton, OR??=)

Assuming not, but I've ran into a few trails over here in Oregon that say closed on webpages, but were open (even talked to local rangers) upon arrival. So best bet is to always take a number with ya and give them a buzz, 15minute call can be a life saver...

 

[T5RUNNER]

I did it in my ranger a couple years ago. It was beautiful and unique but not technical. My only issue was my longer wheelbase on the switchbacks. You could easily do it in a RAV4. Just remember it's a one way trail when planning your trip.

 

[TBuzz]

Yes I believe it's open. We were uo in the area last weekend and I was told by some locals it was open. I didn't confirm but can confirm that many times they open before the websites post it.


This was the top of black bear pass on June 26, 2016 and the websites still said closed.

 

[Bijan]

Wish we had trails like that down here... Good luck!

Ever heard of https://www.facebook.com/BOGGSANDBOULDERS/ ?

 

[choff1212]

Ouray Camping

Check out county road 14 for camping. Follow 14 up the make sure you don't turn onto 14a. Once you enter the state park area there's a ton of dispersed camping. Be careful we had a brown bear roaming around our site up there about 2 weeks ago!

 

[Unner]

Ever heard of https://www.facebook.com/BOGGSANDBOULDERS/ ?

I've heard of that place but never looked into it. Looks pretty cool though. I might try going there sometime in the fall once it cools down some, way too hot right now. Heat index of 100*+ makes wheeling uncomfortable.

I still dream of having trails like Engineer's pass, Imogene, Black Bear, all those beautiful trails in my backyard though.

 

[smallfry]

Looked at the forest service page a little bit ago and it said Black Bear pass is open to snow?

 

[Bijan]

I've heard of that place but never looked into it. Looks pretty cool though. I might try going there sometime in the fall once it cools down some, way too hot right now. Heat index of 100*+ makes wheeling uncomfortable.

I still dream of having trails like Engineer's pass, Imogene, Black Bear, all those beautiful trails in my backyard though.

I just spent a week in Gulf Shores, and man I feel you on that.

Plan a road trip - you wont regret it.

 

[atalarico]

Silverton, OR??=)

Assuming not, but I've ran into a few trails over here in Oregon that say closed on webpages, but were open (even talked to local rangers) upon arrival. So best bet is to always take a number with ya and give them a buzz, 15minute call can be a life saver...

Silverton, CO. Home of my favorite ski area related sticker...

Now we just need to find a good place to camp in that area that's not so restrictive.

This is my favorite part of off-roading up here...the primitive camping spots you find. It's the same rules (generally) as dispersed camping in any national forest...camp anywhere you want 100ft from water and don't go past 150ft from the road. Pick up after yourself, and try not to trample the tundra too much since it takes a crap ton of effort for anything to grow in the subalpine/alpine environment.

Check out county road 14 for camping. Follow 14 up the make sure you don't turn onto 14a. Once you enter the state park area there's a ton of dispersed camping. Be careful we had a brown bear roaming around our site up there about 2 weeks ago!

Woot! I've definitely just noted this for myself.

Oh, and be careful saying "Brown Bears". Technically all bears found in North America belong to the Brown Bear species, but Brown Bears are often confused as being synonymous with Grizzlies. It's true that all Grizzlies are Brown Bears, but not all Brown Bears are Grizzlies because Brown Bears is the larger family of bears that includes Polar, Grizz, Black, etc. We only have Black Bears in CO, so definitely practice bear country camp practices (especially down in the San Juans and such), but don't be too concerned about re-enacting Grizzly Man.

 

[SilvFx]

Note that the FJ Cruiser Summit X starts July 20th-24th. There will be a lot of people arriving early....so expect a lot of people on the trails and in campsites, town, etc.

https://www.fjsummit.org/

My recommendation is to go sooner than later so you can visit Ouray prior to everyone arriving for FJ summit.

Here is a thread on current trail conditions looked like Imogene is open and Black Bear was to be open by July 10th.

http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forums/2016-fjcruiser-summit/552730-2016-trail-conditions-2.html

 

[Kotrin]

Oh, cool. One day I'll make it back to Colorado with my 4Runner prefered of course. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[JayRolla]

Silverton, OR??=)

Assuming not, but I've ran into a few trails over here in Oregon that say closed on webpages, but were open (even talked to local rangers) upon arrival. So best bet is to always take a number with ya and give them a buzz, 15minute call can be a life saver...

Usually opposite in CO. Says open but they are closed a lot of times due to snow.