Buff Pass

[mt.aero]

Rode there for the first time ever today.. Neat place to ride... Lots of powder and even more tracks up there today.... Thanks to the local grooming folks for a good job considering the traffic ...

parking was a bitch.. Who in the /$;&/;;$ made it so short..???? Must have been a federal dumb a$$.. On the other end of the state we park along one side of the road and keep lining them up so everyone has a place to both turn around and park...what a novel idea...!!!!

That parking lot at Buff has been there well before there were even guys with gigantic rigs pulling a 40 place trailer. It was never intended to see the type and amount of use it does now. I personally love that it has very limited and difficult parking because my riding experience is better without gobs of people up there. And be careful if you decide to park past the 'no parking' signs... seen a lot of people get tickets up there... its patrolled pretty heavily.

As a 'word to the wise' for anyone that is not familiar with how the Buff lot works, how small it is and how fast it fills up with sledders, skiers and snowboarders, its best to just go to Rabbit Ears to park. Its the same riding area and has way more room for any gigantic rig that shows up.

 

[Eric R]

Thanks for the tip Mt.Aero.

I'm heading there for the first time this weekend and was wondering where to park. The help is appreciated!

Is the parking area for Rabbit Ears just off of 40? It's hard to tell from looking at google maps and not knowing what roads are open/closed. I figured I'd just get there and it would all work out...somehow. Ready, fire, aim...right?!

 

[mt.aero]

Thanks for the tip Mt.Aero.

I'm heading there for the first time this weekend and was wondering where to park. The help is appreciated!

Is the parking area for Rabbit Ears just off of 40? It's hard to tell from looking at google maps and not knowing what roads are open/closed. I figured I'd just get there and it would all work out...somehow. Ready, fire, aim...right?!

No prob. There are a few places to park on Rabbit Ears for sledders and they are all just right off of HWY40. Are you coming from the south? If so, soon after you pass the turn off for 14 that goes to Walden, you have the first spot on you left. Hit the East summit and there is parking there, a little further and there is a turn to the right and a more sheltered parking area there. Continue on to one spot at the Dumont Lake turn off at the side of the road (which the dumont lake road is closed in the winter) and continue a bit more and there is one on the left which is the Steamboat Snowmobile Tour lot and I have parked there in a pinch. If you pass the County snow plow area on your right, you have gone too far and are now in the non-motorized area of Rabbit Ears.

From Rabbit Ears, its probably an extra hour drive in the truck to the Buff lot, so if you park at Rabbit Ears, you will be riding sooner too. THere is also the Walden side of Buff for parking, but since I'm from Steamboat, I have never been there. I have a decent map of the riding area I can post if you want it. (when I get home)

 

[Boston Racing]

More than 6 states......

 

[rwebb35]

Solution? Maybe we all should quit talking about our riding areas! I've spent the last 27 years searching riding zones, summer & winter. Still finding new areas! It is much more rewarding when you discover areas on your own.

 

[Nychaze]

Man what a bunch of babies

"Everyone is riding my spot and I don't like it "

If you haven't had good riding this year you must be lost in the first meadow out of the parking lot... or you haven't made it out of the lot.

 

[edavis0202]

There is snow out there, just have to be able to get there

 

[mt.aero]

Man what a bunch of babies

"Everyone is riding my spot and I don't like it "

If you haven't had good riding this year you must be lost in the first meadow out of the parking lot... or you haven't made it out of the lot.

Agreed. If you cant go to Rabbit Ears or Buff and find fresh powder, you're doing it wrong.

 

[Eric R]

mt.aero, I'd love to see your map. Especially if it has the non motorized area that I didn't even know about marked out.

Thanks for the offer.

I'll take some video and pics and post when I get back.

 

[edavis0202]

It was good this weekend.

 

[mt.aero]

mt.aero, I'd love to see your map. Especially if it has the non motorized area that I didn't even know about marked out.

Thanks for the offer.

I'll take some video and pics and post when I get back.

EDIT: Found the map online...

 

[Boston Racing]

Make sure to use your head. Maybe that untouched tree line or hill is that way for a reason. Don't let your quest for fresh powder cloud your judgement. As tracked out as it is right now it may be tempting to take more risk than normal to get some fresh snow but this evening there is a man not going home to his family and 2 friends that had to haul his dead body out.

Please be smart out there.

 

[skibumsd]

We rode rabbit ears on wed and are going back today thursday. This was my first time here but we found lots of untouched snow that was not even remotely dangerous. There is plenty left! Once you started to get up higher it was actually snowing fairly hard a guess would be a inch a hour. Up high it is deep and there was some moderate wind loading already formed and getting worse so be smart and carefull in those areAs but it was deep and awesome!

 

[Powderpounder96]

We rode Buff Pass and after about three days it was decently untracked. But if you venture out enough you will find good snow

 

[Kzoo]

Buff is very hard to park trailers and was not designed for that.
The best place to park is Rabbit Ears. Rabbit has 4 different parking areas and you are able to ride down to Buff if you desire

 

[blazer71]

Solution? Maybe we all should quit talking about our riding areas! I've spent the last 27 years searching riding zones, summer & winter. Still finding new areas! It is much more rewarding when you discover areas on your own.

I agree with you on both accounts. But that's human nature to blab about something that's considered valued so it will never be contained. It all started when Snowest published it in it Top 10 list back in 2002 or whenever.