Rabbit Ears Pass
Encyclopedia
Rabbit Ears Pass is a high mountain pass
in the Rocky Mountains
of northern Colorado
in the United States
.
The pass straddles the continental divide
at the southern end of the Park Range
along the boundary between Grand
and Jackson
counties. The pass is named for nearby Rabbit Ears Peak, a mountain in Park Range to the north that is prominently visible from the east side of the pass during good weather. It separates the upper basin of the Yampa River
on the west with North Park
and the upper basin of the North Platte River
on the east. The west summit, though steeper (7%), is lower (9400'), and the true high point is the east summit. Although lower in elevation than many of the high mountain passes farther to the south in the Colorado Rockies, the pass often receives a great deal of snow in winter and is subject to regular short closures during heavy winter storms. The meadows beneath it along U.S. Highway 40 allow for reliable cross country skiing. The pass provides the route of U.S. Highway 40 between Kremmling
and Steamboat Springs
. It is one of three crossings of the continental divide along the U.S. Highway, along with nearby Muddy Pass
to the southeast and Berthoud Pass
as it approaches Denver. The pass is significantly steeper on the western side (near Steamboat Springs) than the eastern side, where it descends along a slow incline towards Muddy Pass. There is a single runaway truck ramp on the west side for truckers whose brakes become hot while braking down the incline.
Access to the Old Rabbit Ears Summit can be achieved by turning north off of Highway 40 to Dumont Lake. The old summit is marked with a stone monument. The road is now Grand County Road 199. From the old summit, it is easy to reach the base of Rabbit Ears Peak via 4x4 trails.
Mountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...
in the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
of northern Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The pass straddles the continental divide
Continental divide
A continental divide is a drainage divide on a continent such that the drainage basin on one side of the divide feeds into one ocean or sea, and the basin on the other side either feeds into a different ocean or sea, or else is endorheic, not connected to the open sea...
at the southern end of the Park Range
Park Range (Colorado)
The Park Range, elevation approximately , is a mountain range in the Rocky Mountains of northwestern Colorado in the United States. The range forms a relatively isolated part of the continental divide, extending north-to-south for approximately along the boundary between Jackson and Routt counties...
along the boundary between Grand
Grand County, Colorado
Grand County is the 21st largest of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 12,442 at U.S. Census 2000...
and Jackson
Jackson County, Colorado
Jackson County is the fourth-least densely populated of the Colorado 64 counties of the U.S. state of Colorado. The county population was 1,577 at the 2000 Census. The county seat and the only municipality in the county is the Town of Walden.- History :...
counties. The pass is named for nearby Rabbit Ears Peak, a mountain in Park Range to the north that is prominently visible from the east side of the pass during good weather. It separates the upper basin of the Yampa River
Yampa River
The Yampa River is a tributary of the Green River, approximately 250 mi long, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It's located in the Southwestern United States...
on the west with North Park
North Park (Colorado basin)
North Park is a high, sparsely populated basin in the Rocky Mountains in north central Colorado in the United States. It encompasses a wide valley in Jackson County rimmed by mountain ranges at the headwaters of the North Platte River and several smaller tributaries, including the Michigan River,...
and the upper basin of the North Platte River
North Platte River
The North Platte River is a major tributary of the Platte River and is approximately long counting its many curves, It travels about distance. Its course lies in the U.S...
on the east. The west summit, though steeper (7%), is lower (9400'), and the true high point is the east summit. Although lower in elevation than many of the high mountain passes farther to the south in the Colorado Rockies, the pass often receives a great deal of snow in winter and is subject to regular short closures during heavy winter storms. The meadows beneath it along U.S. Highway 40 allow for reliable cross country skiing. The pass provides the route of U.S. Highway 40 between Kremmling
Kremmling, Colorado
Kremmling is a Statutory Town in Grand County, Colorado, United States. The population was 1,578 at the 2000 census. The town sits along the upper Colorado River in the lower arid section of Middle Park between Byers Canyon and Gore Canyon...
and Steamboat Springs
Steamboat Springs, Colorado
The city of Steamboat Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Routt County, Colorado, United States. The city is also known as "Steamboat," "The Boat," or "Ski Town USA". As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,088.The city is an...
. It is one of three crossings of the continental divide along the U.S. Highway, along with nearby Muddy Pass
Muddy Pass
Muddy Pass is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of northern Colorado in the United States.The pass straddles the continental divide along the boundary between Jackson and Grand counties. The pass separates North Park and the headwaters of the North Platte River with Middle Park near the...
to the southeast and Berthoud Pass
Berthoud Pass
Berthoud Pass is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado in the United States.The pass is located west of Denver, and provides a high route between upper Clear Creek Canyon to the upper valley of the Fraser River in Middle Park to the north...
as it approaches Denver. The pass is significantly steeper on the western side (near Steamboat Springs) than the eastern side, where it descends along a slow incline towards Muddy Pass. There is a single runaway truck ramp on the west side for truckers whose brakes become hot while braking down the incline.
Access to the Old Rabbit Ears Summit can be achieved by turning north off of Highway 40 to Dumont Lake. The old summit is marked with a stone monument. The road is now Grand County Road 199. From the old summit, it is easy to reach the base of Rabbit Ears Peak via 4x4 trails.