Rabbit Ears Pass - Steamboat Springs, CO

Rabbit Ears is not your average mountain pass. Instead of climbing to a high point and quickly descending, Rabbit Ears Pass climbs to around 10,000 feet and stays there for several miles. It’s also one of the snowiest roads in Colorado, especially for one that’s open year-round.

The pass was called so by the earliest trappers because of its appearance like rabbit ears. It’s always been a historic marker for the approaching Yampa Valley. An improved highway opened in 1919. Muddy Pass is located a few miles east of Rabbit Ears Pass, also along US-40.

Activities on Rabbit Ears Pass

Routt National Forest Rabbit Ears Pass — Rabbit Ears Peak near Steamboat Springs.

There is a slew of activities available within the Routt National Forest on Rabbit Ears Pass.

Camping – Free, dispersed camping is easy to find on most dirt roads on the pass. There are also two campgrounds, Meadows Lake and Dumont Lake with reasonable nightly fees. The former is first-come, first-serve, while the latter accepts reservations.

Read about the camping near Steamboat Springs, Clark, and Oak Creek.

Fishing – Dumont Lake is the biggest lake on the pass. It’s located within a short distance from the highway. Muddy Pass Lake lies on the highway just east of Dumont Lake.

Hiking – The trail to Rabbit Ears is 4 miles beginning close to Dumont Lake. It can also be driven with a good 4×4. Numerous other trails exist from the parking areas on Highway 40. There’s always a map on site.

OHV – From Dumont Lake, there is a 4-mile high-clearance 4×4 road to the Rabbit Ears (FS Rd 291). There are other trails open to ATVs.

Winter – Once the snow settles, snowmobilers can be seen playing on the pass daily. Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are common too.

Getting There

Rabbit Ears Pass Continental Divide Sign — A sign along US-40 atop Rabbit Ears Pass in the Routt National Forest. Photo: Tony Webster

Highway 40 begins climbing to Rabbit Ears Pass shortly east of Steamboat. Parking for the pass is located on the highway at several points, including both a West Summit and an East Summit.