Gore Range Loop, CO, USA

Long weekend around Steamboat, Lynx Pass

September, 2023

2.5 days / 107 miles

After working a half day, I drove up and parked my car at the Rabbit Ears Peak trailhead in the late afternoon, and rode less than 10 miles into the really scenic area north of Dumont Lake. This is part of the Continental Divide Trail, and I found a great camp spot I think on Lake Elmo. I wish I could have stayed there longer… it might have been one of the top 10 camp spots of all time! Although, there were lots of moose around, including some that came within 100 feet of my tent some time in the middle of the night… that got my heart pounding for sure.

The next day I continued a little north and then turned west down to Long Lake, following the trail up along the south side to connect to the main single-track that led to the top of Steamboat ski area. I think I used a suggested route on mtbproject.com to find my way down the mountain on some zig-zagging singletrack, and finally ended up at a bagel shop south of Steamboat for a tasty second breakfast. I hooked up with the Great Divide route and rode south all the way to Lynx Pass Campground… and was the only one in the campground that night.

The next (cold!) morning, I rode about 3 miles east on the highway and then turned north onto FR 147. There was a decent climb on that road, but it was great riding with zero washboard. It brought me over to FR 100, where I turned north again and took this road all the way back to my car. I finished mid-day and drove home… after a quick stop at Hot Sulphur Springs.