Ouray's high passes turn a Jeep into a way over the mountains

Ouray sits in a bowl of peaks, and the old mining roads above town never really stopped being roads. The community calls itself the Jeep Capital of America, and commercial jeep tours have run over these high passes since 1946.

Two routes draw the most attention. Imogene Pass tops out around 13,114 feet on its way from Ouray over to Telluride, and it is often described as the second-highest drivable pass in the state. Black Bear Pass drops from Red Mountain Pass on US 550 down toward Telluride, with a famous one-way stretch of tight switchbacks.

These are not casual drives. The Forest Service strongly recommends a high-clearance, short-wheelbase four-wheel-drive vehicle for the steep section of Black Bear, calls the route technical, and says plainly it is not for inexperienced drivers. The roads are narrow, exposed, and have no guardrails, and they are open only in the warmer months once the snow clears. Many visitors skip the self-drive and ride with a local outfitter instead.

Conditions and opening dates change every year. Check current road status with the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests before you plan a trip.