Rabbit Ears and Muddy Creek passes Colorado

[charlyhors]

We're heading to Denver from Dinosaur Co in the next couple days. Anyone have experience with Rabbit Ears Pass (near Steamboat) and Muddy Creek pass on hwy 131 and 40? We drive a 34' 5W.

Thanks

[JRP]

I lived in Steamboat Springs for 10 yrs, and drove up & down Rabbit Ears Pass more than I could count. From SBS on US 40 you'll be going up the steep side, about 7% grade from 7000 to 9500 ft elevation. You will go across a relatively flat plateau on top, but still gaining some elevation for about 7 miles to the actual high point, before dropping down the east side, which is much less steep at about 5.5% grade. Muddy Pass is actually lower than Rabbit Ears so coming from the west, its a non-issue, you'll be going down hill when you go by Muddy Pass about where hwy 14 intersects with US40.

not sure why you mentioned hwy 131, neither of these passes is on 131, it cuts off from US 40 before you start up to Rabbit Ears Pass.

[charlyhors]

thx!

[Al F]

The highway over Rabbit ears is a good wide road, no really sharp, sharp turns. There is a really nice scenic NFS campground near the pass, Dumont Lake.

 

I don't know what US-40 heading to I-70 is like though. After Rabbit Ears Pass, you can take a more level route, SR-14 to I-25. It does wind down a narrow canyon near Poudre Park. A few sharp curves in the canyon. Several years ago we drove our 40' DP on this route w/o any problems.

[JRP]

Depends on your destination and whether you're stopping along the way to tour, or just trying to get to point B. If your destination is in Denver, then the quickest and easiest route from Steamboat is US40 over Rabbit Ears to Kremmling, then hwy 9 south past Green Mtn Reservoir to Silverthorne and I70 east to the big city.