Cool Dispersed Camping at 10,000 feet at Steamboat Springs, CO
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byBob
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This shot was taken on the drive along the way from Leadville to Steamboat Springs. It’s a gorgeous drive!
After Randy and his group left Leadville for Salida, Colorado, I knew we had a record-setting heat wave coming so I liked the idea of staying up at high elevation. I decided to start working my way north so my next stop was Steamboat Springs, Colorado. I had camped there last year for about a month on top of Rabbit Ears Pass so I was glad to know where I had a very high elevation camp (10,000 feet) with great Verizon 4G signal right in camp –that’s a hard combination to find. With all that going for it, away I went!
Looking down at my camp on the way up the nob. All these photos were taken in July 2016.
Last year when I was there I searched for good cell signal and found it when I took Forest Road 199 back to Dumont Lake campground and then headed up FR 311 which is the first left past the campground. I then turned right on FR 291 which is rough enough to discourage the average Joe from taking but I was satisfied I could handle it. I went back as far as I was comfortable and set up camp.
Climbing up the nob behind my camp.
I loved that camp but it turned out that road got very little vehicle traffic but it was the main hiking trail up to the Rabbit Ears formations themselves. I put up with the foot traffic but was determined to find a better campsite the next time I came back. Read my post about that camp here: http://www.cheaprvliving.com/boondocking-2/camping-at-steamboat-springs-colorado/
I was so happy with that camp last year, I decided to go back to the same general area. But rather than turn off FR 311, I would just keep going straight up the mountain, I was sure I’d find a good camping spot somewhere up there and I was right. The road wasn’t bad but it wasn’t good either, any 2wd truck or SUV could make it but it was rocky and you had to go slow to crawl over the rocks–no big deal.
Finally I came to a gorgeous campsite that was on a slight ridge with a beautiful view down on the other side look like Rabbit Ears, but it was still very pretty. The short driveway into it has some big rocks and holes that I wasn’t happy about crawling over–I had visions of breaking an oil pan on them! Fortunately, people had been going around that spot and created a subtle new driveway into the campsite. That made it easy so I just popped right up on it and was home for the next little while!
Our camp at sunrise.
One of the things you need to be concerned about when looking for a camp is how far away is the nearest good shopping. Steamboat Springs is a very pleasant little town as far as I am concerned and it was only 10 miles away. It had both a Safeway and City Market grocery store (owned by Kroegers) so that was nearly ideal as far as I was concerned. A Walmart would have been better, but you can’t get everything!
I was just about even with the Rabbit Ears, that’s them on the horizon at the far left. From this side angle they don’t look anything like rabbit ears, but they do from the front.
Another thing I look for in a campsite is how good and safe is the road and how much traffic is there on it? Specifically, is the walking good on it for Cody and I? In this case both were very good! We got very little traffic and because the road was so rocky, traffic was driving along very slowly. The one thing I didn’t like was that most of it was uphill, which is harder for me to walk on… but, it’s also better for me to climb hills since it’s aerobic–so I accepted it as a blessing in disguise.
Cody and I walked up the mountain every evening and there was still snow along the road the higher you went, even in July!
One thing that stood out to me was the big nob that loomed over our camp, so as soon as I got there I determined I had to climb it to see the view. So that first day I did just that and really enjoyed it!! It had a terrific view looking down at the van and the mountains all around on the horizon. It was well worth the huffing and puffing on my older legs and lungs!
I’m so lucky to have friends join me wherever I go! Bob
I stayed about a week and had one friend join me and then it was time for me to move on and visit another friend–more about that later. I loved this camp and highly recommend it to you to beat the heat! It gets little traffic and has a great 4G signal! The further you go up the mountain you’ll see more campsites if the lower ones are taken. Enjoy!
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Kinda up there, hard breathing?
Rob, yes it can be. You definitely want to acclimate before going that high and take it easy at first. Bob
Beautiful!
Thanks Cindy. Bob
Steamboat does have a Walmart, its in the same shopping center as the City Market (unless it just closed down recently).
Jim, I can’t believe I forgot that, I stopped in there at my last trip through town. Brain fart or Senior moment!! Bob
another area around Steamboat you would like for boondocking is NW of the town. Just west of downtown Steamboat turn north on Elk River Rd (hwy 129)and go approx. 22 miles toward Steamboat Lake, Hahns Peak area; just after the small town of Clark (limited shopping) turn right and go up county rd 64 right along side the Elk River for about 10 miles. There are many camp spots right along the river or continue until the county rd turns into FS400 and takes you up to some high country open meadows near the Mt Zirkell Wilderness (but outside the official wilderness area)
Thanks Jim, I’ll check that out the next time I’m there. Can you remember if there was a good Verizon cell/Data signal there? That’s essential for me. Bob
Gorgeous, gorgeous, thanks again for all the great camping spot tips.
I’m always glad to help Camilla. Bob
We were there in June and Walmart was in the same shopping center as City Market. Your pictures are gorgeous.
Yes of course, there is a Walmart there!! Thanks. Bob
Bob are you in this area or are you still in Oregon or where ever you are, it seems you are all over the map these days if so maybe I can say hey have a ice tea with you if not take care
Joe, I’m in Oregon and will be for awhile–you are welcome in my camp at any time! Email me first to get a map to my current location. akrvbob@gmail.com
Thank you so much Bob for giving us these great spots with GPS coords. I’ve been writing them down and it really helps while traveling in our Van. Hopefully one day our paths will cross. We really loved the Quartzsite spot back in March.
Jams, hopefully I’ll see you this January at the RTR?
Ah, I remember that place. Beautiful, even though I couldn’t stop to enjoy it for long. I had a load of newsprint, and one of the receivers was the Steamboat Pilot.
Thanks for all the info!