The popular, but rugged Imogene Pass that connects Telluride to Ouray has not yet opened on the San Miguel County side for the summer season. Unfortunately, that closure didn’t stop a driver from getting into some serious trouble on the route – but the out-of-state driver might not be to blame for that mistake.

On the morning of June 18, the San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office announced that Imogene Pass, which reaches an elevation of 13,114 feet, would be closed “until further notice for a vehicle accident” – keep in mind that per the county website, the road was already under its winter closure when the crash took place.

According to a later update from the San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office, the vehicle involved in the crash was traveling near the top of Imogene Pass along a switchback when it slid on ice, exiting the road and rolling several times. The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle was a 58-year-old man from Phoenix, found standing in the roadway along with several bystanders by the time emergency crews arrived. Following the rollover, the man self-extricated from the vehicle and walked about 150 feet up a small incline to get back to the roadway.

Per the sheriff’s office, rumors were floating around that the pass would open on June 18, but those were inaccurate. While Imogene Pass has opened for the season on the Ouray County side, the San Miguel County side of the route remains closed due to lingering winter conditions, including ice.

The driver involved in the June 18 crash had traveled over Imogene Pass into San Miguel County from the Ouray side. According to the San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office, “the Ouray County Sheriff’s Office reported there was no signage indicating the pass status in San Miguel County and that Ouray County had mistakenly indicated the entire pass was open as of June 16.”

The man involved in the crash reportedly sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported for medical care. Signage has since been posted at the top of the pass related to the San Miguel County closure, and the Ouray County website has been updated.

The status of road closures on San Miguel County’s popular high elevation routes is posted to the county website. At time of reporting, Ophir, Last Dollar, and Norwood/Dolores passes have opened, but Black Bear and Imogene passes have not.

Once it does fully open, Imogene Pass is totally worth checking out if you’ve got the skills and vehicle to take it on. It’s one of the state’s best options for those who enjoy off-roading, known for its high-elevation alpine views and for linking Telluride and Ouray via a connection with Tomboy Road at the 13,114-foot summit of the pass. The Telluride tourism site describes the route as 17.9 miles long with an elevation gain of about 4,767 feet. Per OnX, the road has a technical rating of ‘6,’ which indicates it has moderate difficulty for off-roaders – not a route driven by the average person who just happens to have four-wheel drive. The OnX description says the road “demands vehicles with low-range gearing, 4-wheel drive, high clearance, and ideally, skid plates.”

This is a developing story. It may be updated if additional details are released.

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