Want to try CO, Where's the best place to ride

[RMKVE800]

Hey guys I have been riding out in togwotee, wy area for the last three years and loved it but now its time for something new...
My interests are all boondocking and steep hill climbs, dont need trails except to get to good spots.

What would you consider the best riding areas are? I heard maybe Steamboat lake outfitters might be good? anyother ideas?

Thanks

 

[T&A1000]

You should check out Wolf Creek pass near durango.

 

[Mrs Snowrider]

Rabbit ears, Snowy Range (I know, it is in Wyoming) but it is on the border!

Crested Butte has some really steep stuff, high avy area though. ..

 

[Ex-Member]

Snowies has my vote.

 

[snowmobile6]

steamboat lake is a great area farwell mountain and california gulch has good hill climbing and boondocking and the continental divide trail is also a great area. there are mulitple play fields that are huge. I love the riding up there and steamboat is not far away if you need repairs. This is a really great area with a variety of riding and a good place for a cabin trip so you can get a chance to experince the whole area.

 

[blackcloud2k]

Rabbit ears or the grand mesa area. Really great places to ride that are not out of the way to get to. Snowies are great but yes they are in wyoming (thats where I ride most times since I can be on the trail in 1.5 hours from my house).

 

[RMKVE800]

Yeah we actually were looking at the snowies or steamboat lake! Is there any hotels near steamboat lakes trails/mountain? We would trailer them if need be around a 30min drive to a parking lot... we werent really looking at any lodges, so hotels would be the best bet!
Any advice would be great!

Thanks again

 

[BackCountryBob]

Google Dutch Creek Guest Ranch in Steamboat Lake. We have stayed in their cabins a few times and in good snow years rode our sleds across Steamboat Lake over to SLO (Steamboat Lake Outfitters) and used their access to the Hahns Peak trail system. You need to check with SLO to find out how to use them---we bought gas and snacks there and they gave us a SLO sticker.

Dutch Creek has an excellent resturant (need reservations for dinner) and breakfast is provided with the cabin rental. 800-778-8519

Go to www.sledcity.com and check out the Steamboat Lake trail map.

BCB

 

[bushy]

Steamboat Lake Outfitters has motel rooms or cabins. $89 a night and up. Bar/Resteraunt, gas, and I think a couple of rental sleds. Glen Eden resort, just down the road, has a couple of hot-tubs. The town of Walden is within a half hour of Buff Pass (RE pass north) or the Cameron Pass/Gould area and trail system that runs down to Grand Lake. You'll be plenty happy riding those areas for several days, but the south end of the Snowies and the Sierra Madre near Encampment WY are an hour or so North. Chevy Boy on here runs the North Park inn and suites up there. Good rates, workshop, sledder town with affordable resteraunts and brews.

 

[GYP M-80]

grand mesa has my vote

 

[RMKVE800]

What is the area/terrain around steamboat outfitters like? Im looking for more boondocking/steep climbs? Is this place anywhere near that or is it more flats?

 

[BackCountryBob]

SLO trails. There is a trail that leads to a super steep climb to the summit of Hahns Peak( requires large cahoneys), then Fairview and a trail that goes over to Clark with some climbs.

If you're looking for Togwotee in SLO you are out of luck.

There are a few guys on the 4M that ride there alot. Hopefully they will chime in.

 

[Steamboat-RN]

Steamboat Lake Outfitters has motel rooms or cabins. $89 a night and up. Bar/Resteraunt, gas, and I think a couple of rental sleds. Glen Eden resort, just down the road, has a couple of hot-tubs. The town of Walden is within a half hour of Buff Pass (RE pass north) or the Cameron Pass/Gould area and trail system that runs down to Grand Lake. You'll be plenty happy riding those areas for several days, but the south end of the Snowies and the Sierra Madre near Encampment WY are an hour or so North. Chevy Boy on here runs the North Park inn and suites up there. Good rates, workshop, sledder town with affordable resteraunts and brews.

I agree with Bushy. I would check out North Park Inn. The snow is usually better around Buff Pass and the Ears and there is more variety. Hahn's Peak/SLO is great if you know the area but it can be difficult to get around.
Also the snow is a little more prone to slide up near SLO.
The Walden area will put you right in the middle of several of the better areas in northern CO/southern Wy and you can get a pretty good feel for what the area has to offer for future trips.

 

[Numbnuts918]

SLO has my vote. Great boondocking some small climbs. If you want to climb you could drive out to Rabbit Ears Pass about 40 miles back east of downtown Steamboat up on the pass. Epic climbs up there. Gives me chills how high some of those are.Ive gone out there for the past 4-5 years annually. Good times.

 

[offroadmatt]

Book a ride with Chris Burandt.

 

[RMKVE800]

So to find steep and deep it sounds you guys would suggest me going out to Rabbit ears pass?
Does anyone know of any hotels near the mountain/trails that are easy accesible by rabbit ears pass?

Thanks again

 

[Numbnuts918]

You can probably ride both Rabbit Ears & Buffalo Pass in a few days. I would book @ SLO & drive up to the pass for a day or 2. You can ride out from SLO right from your cabin. On the way home you can hit up the Micro-brewery downtown Steamboat. Just dont tell the locals your a sledder. They will turn their noses up at that. Its a ski town.

 

[Steamboat-RN]

You can probably ride both Rabbit Ears & Buffalo Pass in a few days. I would book @ SLO & drive up to the pass for a day or 2. You can ride out from SLO right from your cabin. On the way home you can hit up the Micro-brewery downtown Steamboat. Just dont tell the locals your a sledder. They will turn their noses up at that. Its a ski town.

Even if you never got off the trails you would have a difficult time covering all of Buff and the Ears in a few days. I've lived there for close to ten years and still find new spots each season. Most non-locals just play the stuff near the trails and never venture deep into the backcountry. Try hooking up with some of the guys that ride here all the time and actually know what they are talking about. (Bushmaster is a good place to start)
Walden or Kremmling are good bets for lodging and are close to the action. Steamboat has more lodging and food but is considerably more expensive.
Plenty of sledder friendly people in the boat. If you want to ride both areas it is the place to stay.

Basically the terrain is very similar at Hahn's peak/SLO and Buff/Ears. Both have abundant boondocking and plenty of big pulls. Sand Mtn and the Dome up in the Hahn's Peak area are long hard pulls by almost anyone's standards.
Both have tons of boondocking and both have some decent trails for the less adventuresome. As a rule, Buff and the Ears get better snow. Buff creates it's own micro-climate that generates snow even when it is a sunny day on the Ears and up north.
The cons to the HP/SLO area is limited food/lodging/gas.
The pros are that it usually has fewer riders. Too far to day trip from the front range.
The cons to Buff/Ears is that it can get crowded at the trailhead/parking areas on weekends.
The upside is better snow.
Bottom-line is both areas offer multiple weeks of excellent sledding for the the true hardcore rider.
Enjoy!!

 

[bushy]

Aww shucks. lol Look me up if you want to ride for a day, I'd be glad to get you off the trail into some untouched pow. I wouldn't consider RE area much for big open long pull hill climbing. There are plenty of nice short pulls of 300' elev gain, but what that area really has in spades is good deep powder most all of the time. If you hit it on a 2 or 3 foot powder day, our hills will be all most sleds can handle. If it's set up a bit, that's when we drop over the "backside" where the sun never shines and the pulls are a little more freaky. te he he

 

[Boondock]

No snow is Colorado head north to the Snowys!!! Awesome riding at the Snowys