Black Bear Pass Summit

"Some people call this show-stopping section of vertiginous rock cliffs on Forest Service land the Iron Way, but area romanticists use the Italian name. If you can’t stand staying in the foothills when Telluride ’s mountains beckon, the two-mile horizontal traverse known as Via Ferrata is a must-see—though inexperienced climbers should hire a local guide (at one point, you'll find yourself climbing iron ladders 500 feet up the volcanic rock). Still, it’s worth the effort for the thrill of seeing area icons—such as Bridal Veil Falls and the box canyon—the way the local sparrows do."