About this Location

Facility Overview

Buffalo Pass - Car Park (commonly recognized locally as the Dry Lake / Buffalo Pass Trailhead Parking Area) serves as the primary outdoor recreation staging ground at the gateway to the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests along Forest Road 60 (Buffalo Pass Road / County Road 38) just northeast of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. This rustic, open-air unpaved gravel surface lot provides crucial year-round vehicular access for wilderness enthusiasts. Because it is an open-air mountain trailhead lot, there are no vertical height restrictions or overhead clearance ceilings, making it readily accessible for standard passenger vehicles, high-clearance 4x4s, full-size pickup trucks, camper vans, and vehicles hauling recreation trailers. In deep winter, parking capacity is often constrained by snowbank clearing, so early arrivals and winter-rated traction devices are highly recommended.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Strategically perched where the paved section of County Road 38 transitions into rugged forest terrain, this parking area places visitors at the direct threshold of world-class mountain biking, hiking, dispersed camping, and backcountry snowsports:

Dry Lake Campground: Located immediately adjacent to the parking area, offering rustic seasonal Forest Service campsites nestled among aspen and pine groves.
Flash of Gold Trail & Spring Creek Trail: Direct trailhead access for premier downhill and cross-country mountain biking and hiking trails connecting Buffalo Pass directly back down into downtown Steamboat Springs.
Buffalo Pass Backcountry & Summit Lake: Continuing up Forest Road 60 leads deeper into the continental divide, Summit Lake, and renowned backcountry powder bowls popular for backcountry skiing, splitboarding, and snowmobiling.
Downtown Steamboat Springs: A scenic 15-minute drive (approx. 5 miles) down Strawberry Park and County Road 38 to Lincoln Avenue’s vibrant dining, craft breweries, boutique shopping, and historic hot springs.
Strawberry Park Natural Hot Springs: Situated approximately 4 miles away via Strawberry Park Road, making this an ideal recreational launch point before soaking in the mineral pools.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Ingress and egress are straightforward via County Road 38 / Forest Road 60. From downtown Steamboat Springs, drivers follow 7th Street onto Missouri Avenue, connect to Strawberry Park Road, and continue onto County Road 38 until reaching the trailhead parking turnaround. Road conditions transition from maintained asphalt to gravel, which can feature washboarding in midsummer and deep snowpack or ice during winter and spring mud season. There is no municipal public transit (Steamboat Springs Transit / SST) operating directly up Forest Road 60, so personal vehicles, 4WD taxis, or private recreation shuttles are essential for transport to and from the lot.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Open-Air Wilderness Surface Parking: Ample horizontal space accommodating standard passenger vehicles, recreation vans, and utility trailers.
No Height Restrictions: Open sky layout safely accommodates roof racks, lifted off-road builds, rooftop tents, and bike racks.
Trailhead Information Kiosk: Outfitted with US Forest Service regulatory notices, trail maps, backcountry safety guidelines, and avalanche safety information.
Seasonal Vault Toilet: On-site rustic Forest Service vault/pit restroom available near the trailhead entry.
Zero Parking Fees: Free public parking access for trail users and day visitors exploring National Forest lands.

Ideal For

Mountain Bikers & Trail Runners: Direct staging for epic descents down Spring Creek Trail or cross-country loops on Flash of Gold and BTR trails.
Winter Backcountry Enthusiasts: Essential trailhead parking for snowmobilers, snowshoers, Nordic skiers, and powder seekers accessing Buffalo Pass terrain.
Day Hikers & Nature Photographers: Unbeatable fall foliage viewing when surrounding aspen groves turn bright gold across the Yampa Valley.
Campers & Backpackers: Secure launching location for overnight stays at Dry Lake Campground or backpacking routes into Mount Zirkel Wilderness.

Visitor & Driver Tips

Winter Vehicle Preparedness: Forest Road 60 can become slick with hard-packed snow and ice. AWD/4WD equipped with dedicated winter tires or traction devices (chains) is strongly advised from November through May.
Arrive Early on Peak Weekends: The lot fills rapidly on peak summer weekends and prime powder mornings after heavy snowfalls; plan to arrive before 8:30 AM to secure a space.
Leave No Trace & Bear Awareness: Routt National Forest is active bear habitat. Lock all vehicles, secure food out of sight, and pack out all trash, as bear-proof dumpsters can occasionally be at capacity.
Check Seasonal Road Closures: Forest Road 60 is gated above Dry Lake during the winter season and transitions exclusively to over-snow vehicles (snowmobiles and snowcats).