Buffalo Pass
 |
| Maps/GPS: |
|
| USGS 7.5' Map: |
Rocky Peak, Buffalo Pass, Teal Lake |
| Statistics: |
| Difficulty: |
Number: |
Miles: |
Altitude: |
Obstacles: |
Time: |
| Easy Graded |
FR60 |
11.00 |
7,000 to 10,400 ft. |
None |
2-3 hours |
|
| County: |
Routt, Jackson |
| Adopted by: |
|
|
|
| Managed by: |
Routt National Forest,
Hahns Peak / Bears Ears Ranger District
Routt National Forest,
Parks Ranger District |
925 Weiss Drive
Steamboat Springs, CO 80487-9315
100 Main Street, PO Box 158
Walden, CO 80480 |
970-870-2299
970-723-2700 |
| Summary: |
Buffalo pass connects North Park and Walden with Steamboat Springs by crossing the Continental Divide just south of the Mount Zirkel Wilderness. The road is an easy two lane graded gravel road. |
| Attractions: |
Scenic, Trailhead |
Seasonal
Closure: |
Agency - November 30 to June 30
|
| Best Time: |
July - Best.
August - Best.
September - Best.
October - Be prepared for early snows. |
Trail Heads
Accessed: |
Buffalo Pass South, FT1101 - (south) Hiking, Horse, Mountain Bike, Motorcycle, ATV
Buffalo Pass, FT1101 - (north) Hiking, Horse, (Mount Zirkel Wilderness)
Dry Lake, FT1160 - Hiking, Mountain Bike, Cross Country Ski, Snowmobile
|
| Camping: |
There are two campgrounds along the road, Dry Lake Campground and Summit Lake Campground. |
| Base Camp: |
This would be a good area to base camp and explore the road and trails south of Buffalo Pass. |
| Fall Colors: |
Very Good - On the west side outside of Steamboat Springs. |
| Navigation: |
From Steamboat Springs, CO. head northeast on 6th Street toward Oak Street for 0.3 miles. Continue onto Laurel Street for 0.1 miles. Laurel Street turns slightly right and becomes Park Ave. Go 0.3 miles and turn left onto North Park Road for 407 feet. Take the 1st right onto Strawberry Park Road and go 0.8 miles. Turn left onto County Rd 36 and go 0.8 miles. Take the 1st right onto County Rd 38 and go 0.7 miles. This will enter the National Forest and become FR60, Buffalo Pass.
From Walden, CO. head south on Main St toward Van Horn Ave for 0.2 miles. Turn right onto CO-125 S/CO-14 W/Main St (signs for Granby/Steamboat Springs/Denver) and continue to follow CO-125 S/CO-14 W for 1.2 miles. Turn right onto CO-14 W (signs for State Route 14/Steamboat Springs/Kremmling) and go 11.4 miles. Turn right onto County Rd 24 and go 2.6 miles. Take a slight right onto County Rd 24 and go 243 feet. Continue straight onto County Rd 24 for 8.4 miles. The road will enter the National Forest and become FR 60, Buffalo Pass.
|
| History: |
Buffalo Pass is named for the buffalo that the native americans would ambush as they crossed from the Yampa Valley to North Park. The earliest use of the pass by mountain men was in 1865. Buffalo Pass was the main connection between North Park and Steamboat Springs until the highway over Rabbit Ears Pass was built. In the 1930s a major highwy that would traverse Colorado was proposed to make its route over Buffalo Pass, but was never started. The east side of the pass was improved by the Forest Service in 1959. The west side of the pass was also improved in 1965. |
| Description: |
Starting from Steamboat Springs were County Road 38 changes to FR60, you will pass a large parking lot on the right side. The road is two lanes wide, graded gravel. The road will run through aspen forests as it pass private driveways that are in a section of private property. At about three miles from County Road 36 you will come to the Dry Lake Campground on the left, and the Dry, FT1160, trail head parking lot on the right. Buffalo Pass road will continue through the aspen groves passing some spur roads that may go to dispersed campsites. At a hairpin turn will be an intersection with FR60.2A which goes about a mile into the forest before ending above the South Fork of Soda Creek. At about seven miles will be an intersection with the FR301 network of roads to the right. These roads cross Spring Creek and end after short spurs.
The forest will now be mainly pine trees. At about ten miles you will come to the FR306 network of roads to the right. These roads also dead end after short spurs. Continuing, you will come to Buffalos Pass at about tweleve miles. Here you will find the Summit Lake Campground to the left, FR310 to the right, as well as the trail head for FT1101. Continue straight on to cross over Buffalo Pass.
 |
Buffalo Pass, 1999
photo by:
Adam M |
 |
Buffalo Pass, small pond at the top, 1999
photo by:
Adam M |
You will now head down the other side through a series of switchbacks. At about fifteen miles you will come to a tight hairpin turn that has an intersection with FR625 to the left. From here you will enter into aspen forests and cross Little Grizzly Creek before you descend another pair of switchbacks.
 |
East side heading down, 1999
photo by:
Adam M |
 |
East side, 1999
photo by:
Adam M |
At a wide sweeping curve after the second switchback will be an intersection with FR620 on the right. This goes to the Percy Lake Trail Head and the Hidden Lake Campground. The road will continue down crossing Little Grizzly Creek again. The next intersection to the right will be FR20 which also goes to the Percy Lake Trail Head. From here it is about a mile to the intersection with FR615 to the left. After this intersection you will immediately come to the Grizzly Guard Station parking lot. Past this parking lot the road will change over to County Road 24, which will take you to Walden, or Muddy Pass.
|
|
Data updated - November 4, 2022
4WD Road driven - July 23, 2009
Copyright 4X4Explore.com - 2000-2022 |
