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West Buffalo Pass Dispersed Camping
Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests & Thunder Basin National Grassland
Write a Review CR-38 Steamboat Springs, CO 80487 970-870-2299 307-745-2300 Official WebsiteGPS: 40.5294, -106.7568
Overview of West Buffalo Pass Dispersed Camping
Buffalo Pass has 3 gates restricting vehicle access depending on road condition in the spring. In general the lower gate opens late May, the middle in mid June and the last in late June.
Accessibility is not guaranteed, always scout ahead before driving down dirt roads. Learn more: Boondocking 101
Last Price Paid: $0
Reported by Loving Every Mile on 7/23/2022
Longest RV Reported: 26 feet (Class C)
Reported by Cassie on 8/4/2020
Pad Type dirt
Open Seasonally July to Oct
Elevation 9,219 ft / 2,809 m
Max Stay 14
Tent Camping Yes
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Q&A - Ask the Community about West Buffalo Pass Dispersed Camping
To ask questions of the owner or manager please contact the campground directly. 970-870-2299
camper-697949 asked on 6/13/2022
I have a truck. Can I still drive to the dispersed camping here..? In the most recent review from 6/12/22 it says it ...
Reviews of West Buffalo Pass Dispersed Camping 7 people have reviewed this location.
Cell Phone Coverage
Confirmed by 3 Users
Last reported 7/23/2022
Confirmed by 3 Users
Last reported 7/23/2022
Confirmed by 1 User
Last reported 6/29/2020
“The views are great, the road is horrible”
Reviewed 7/23/2022
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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| Days stayed: | 0 |
| Site Number: | 0 |
Overall Rating
The road on the WEST side of the pass (prior to Summit Campground) is just bad enough that you can still drive a high clearance vehicle. That statement is not a compliment. The road alternates between washboard, sharp rocks, more rocks, large ruts and did I mention rocks. I do not think this road has been graded in years. The views ... more
The road on the WEST side of the pass (prior to Summit Campground) is just bad enough that you can still drive a high clearance vehicle. That statement is not a compliment. The road alternates between washboard, sharp rocks, more rocks, large ruts and did I mention rocks. I do not think this road has been graded in years.
The views are amazing and cellular connection improves as one climbs, but it is not worth the damage you will do to the inside of your trailer. Leave this one to the Jeeps.
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AT&T 4G
Verizon 4G
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Beautiful views, rutty roads, worth the hike”
Reviewed 6/12/2022
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 1 |
Overall Rating
Roads leading to the site were closed to cars as of June (I was motorcycle camping so I had access). Going up was a bit rutty and windy which made for great fun on a bike probably not so much for a RV.
Still had some snow on the ground! Beautiful view, lots of wildlife, very hilly so not much level ground. Overall I enjoyed it!
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AT&T 5G
David would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Fall Time Magic”
Reviewed 10/2/2021
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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| Days stayed: | 2 |
Overall Rating
We stayed here for the fall leave change and was blown away by the colors this year. Had a great view of the city and the fall colors. Will be coming back again.
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AT&T 4G
Mike would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Road terrible ”
Reviewed 9/7/2021
Overall Rating
We are used to bad roads… this road is terrible! We were afraid of permanent damage to our small 20’ trailer. No place to turn around until you are on top. There were people camped in every nook and cranny. Can’t emphasize enough, do not take an rv up this road.
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Verizon 4G
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Insanely stunning but might destroy our RV if we tried to come here again ”
Reviewed 8/4/2020
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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| Days stayed: | 1 |
Overall Rating
Previous reviews say this road is rough. That was no joke. Sure, cars and trucks would be fine. But I wouldn’t do this again in our RV. That was insane. Glad we survived and made it. Views were incredible. We also saw a bear!
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Verizon 4G
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Beautiful views! ”
Reviewed 6/29/2020
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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| Days stayed: | 2 |
Overall Rating
Road is so-so but worth the incredible views. Everything was fairly spread out and the best spots are towards the very top!
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T-Mobile 4G
mnthayer would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Decent road to some amazing campsites. ”
Reviewed 8/12/2019
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 1 |
Overall Rating
I stayed one Sunday night, August 11, 2019. The Dry Lake campground was full like I thought it’d be so I traversed ahead. Once you cross the gate past the paid campground the road will get rougher, but it was nothing any car couldn’t handle. Getting up to the place I camped would be another issue. A mile and a half before the pin d... more
I stayed one Sunday night, August 11, 2019. The Dry Lake campground was full like I thought it’d be so I traversed ahead. Once you cross the gate past the paid campground the road will get rougher, but it was nothing any car couldn’t handle. Getting up to the place I camped would be another issue.
A mile and a half before the pin drop there is a very steep hill on the left that takes you to some awesome campsites. At least 4-5 campsites back here. If you keep going down the road there are plenty of other pull of sites. As there were a couple of pull off sites even before the place I camped, past the paid campground of course.
The sunset here is absolutely incredible. Tall aspens and beautiful skies. In the morning a fellow camper told me he saw a black bear cub wandering around his site, and apparently he has a twin!
Just a twenty minute(ish) drive from Steamboat Springs, this campsite and its views can’t be beat!
Sprint service was very spotty, enough to get a text out but not much else.
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
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Amenities
Hookups
- dry camping
- Dispersed Camping
Site Amenities
- fire ring
- pull thru
Pets
- pets
Nearby
Steamboat Valley View Dispersed Camping
The views are great, the road is horrible
- Loving Every Mile
Dry Lake Campground
Nice sites for access to trails, however campground loop is too tight.
- Loving Every Mile
Summit Lake Campground
Small trailers only, approach from the EAST side of the pass
- Loving Every Mile
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