
A paved mountain road to Rabbit Ears Pass in Colorado
Usa, north-america
83.36 km
2,873 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, buckle up for Rabbit Ears Pass, a seriously awesome mountain pass in northern Colorado! You'll find this beauty straddling Jackson and Grand counties, clocking in at a lofty 9,426 feet.
We're talking about U.S. Route 40 here, a fully paved road that'll take you on a wild ride. It’s a pretty steep climb, with gradients hitting almost 7% in spots, and a few hairpin turns to keep things interesting. You'll be sharing the road with locals and travelers alike, all soaking up the Rocky Mountain vibes. And hey, if you're feeling adventurous, you can cruise another 3 miles east to Muddy Pass – a slightly lower but equally scenic spot.
This epic stretch runs for about 52 miles between Steamboat Springs (hello, Yampa Valley!) and the charming town of Kremmling. Just a heads up, though: while Rabbit Ears Pass is open year-round, Mother Nature sometimes throws a tantrum. Expect short closures due to gnarly weather – especially in winter, when this pass earns its rep as one of Colorado's trickiest!
Where is it?
A paved mountain road to Rabbit Ears Pass in Colorado is located in Usa (north-america). Coordinates: 44.3269, -98.1754
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 83.36 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,873 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 44.3269, -98.1754
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