Camping On Rabbit Ears Pass | Free Camping Steamboat Springs

Dispersed camping on Rabbits Ears Pass is a beautiful option for free camping near Steamboat Springs. Heading east from Steamboat Springs along US Highway 40 the road passes into Routt National Forest. Here you’ll find a number of dirt roads branching off of the highway leading to different hikes, lakes and campgrounds. And along many of these forest roads is where there you’ll find opportunities for beautiful dispersed camping.

Quick Info: Dispersed Camping on Rabbit Ears Pass

Cost: Free

Ownership: Forest Service; 14 day limit

Directions: From Steamboat Springs, take the US-40 E for about 23 miles. Turn left to reach the camp spot discussed here. But note that there are many options for dispersed camping on Rabbit Ears Pass Road before this turn.

Solar: Good

Miles From Town: About 23 miles from Steamboat Springs

Water: None

Road Conditions: The dirt road is in decent condition with the exception of one rough rutted section

Cell Service: Yes

Our Experience Camping on Rabbit Ears Pass

We spent a couple hours checking out the forest roads that branched off of Highway 40 looking for dispersed camping on Rabbit Ears Pass. Since Grandma was coming out for a visit, we wanted to make sure we had a great spot! While we were looking, we noticed that many of the roads that allow dispersed camping were deeply rutted and not in good condition for taking a trailer. The roads that were in good shape had some great dispersed camp spots but they were already occupied. While we were on the hunt, we learned that this area is very pretty and also quite popular.

Eventually, we found a nice camp spot near the eastern boundary of Routt National Forest along Highway 40. Our turn off was about 2.5 miles from the paved access road to Dumont Campground. There are several dispersed camp spots along this short forest road.

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Once we turned onto this dirt road, there was a nice little spot in the trees but a bit too close to the highway. We drove further, made it to the ruts and turned right down the rough rutted driveway to our new camp spot! But you can also continue further along the main dirt road and there are two more small dispersed camp spots in the tall trees. Shortly after these two spots the road ends at a small parking area before the creek.

Our Spot

Our new camp spot had a loop at the end making it easy to turn around and to get situated. The setting was nice and open with pretty views, surrounded in a beautiful meadow of tall wildflowers. There was a wooded section nearby for shade. And we were home!

While we were camping on Rabbit Ears Pass we had good cell service for T-Mobile but not AT&T. And as far as traffic goes, it was pretty minimal. This was a very peaceful and private camp spot with the exception of some random noise from the highway.

We were hoping to see lots of wildlife in the flowery meadow. But we only spotted a couple deer, a rabbit, a hummingbird, some chipmunks and plenty of bugs and butterflies.

Things to do Nearby

There are many trails that can be accessed in the area. From this camp spot, we were able to walk to two nearby trails. One was the Continental Divide Trail which we followed just briefly. And the other crosses the creek at the main dirt road’s end.

We followed the mellow trail through the mix of meadow, aspen, conifers and wildflowers. We don’t know where exactly this trail leads but it was very pleasant and peaceful. Added bonus is that it was walking distance from our camp spot.

The paved road to Dumont Lake is about 2.5 miles west along Highway 40. Keep following CR 199 to reach a developed campground as well as a network of hiking trails. We followed the trail near Dumont Lake and it was mellow and scenic until it crossed the water then it climbed up into the woods. Rabbits Ears Peak Trail is another of the trails that can be accessed in this area.

If you head east from our camp spot along Highway 40 for about a mile and a half you’ll see Muddy Pass Lake. This lake is located just off the highway. While we were camping nearby, we saw people fishing here and we also witnessed a helicopter using a hose to get water from this lake to put out a nearby fire. Luckily they caught the fire in time and it didn’t have a chance to spread.

There are several other forest roads and trailheads to explore along this corridor of Routt National Forest on Highway 40. But if you’re up for a drive there’s even more to see and do in this pocket of Colorado. You can’t go wrong.

Thanks for Reading!

We hope you enjoyed this article about camping on Rabbit Ears Pass! If you would like to see more of our articles about some great dispersed camping spots, check out the links below:

• Dispersed Camping at Kyburz Flat near Truckee
• Camping Near Steamboat Springs
• Camping and Climbing at Indian Bread Rocks
• Dispersed Camping Near Badlands National Park

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