★ Field-verified · Dave's ownPublic land · dispersedFree
Routt County
Drive-up · public land · Routt County, CO · 40.52682, -106.74267
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Ask about this camp →Dave's been here. A spot from Dave's own travels on public land — free to camp. Conditions still change, so confirm access, stay limits and fire rules before you go.
A high-elevation clear area in the mountains northeast of Steamboat Springs. Has fire ring. Enough room for one or two vehicles. This mountain is very popular for boondockers and outdoor enthusiasts. There are numerous potential campsites in the area, but many will be occupied in peak season. Some cell service. Recommended due to proximity to Steamboat.
USGS topo — contours & terrain
Aerial — USGS / NAIP
Weather outlook
Loading the latest forecast…
Live NWS area forecast (~2.5 km grid, not elevation-corrected). Camp sits at 9,608 ft.
Fire & smokeNIFC · AirNow
Checking active fires & air quality…
Active wildfires from NIFC (within ~50 mi); air quality from AirNow. Always confirm current fire restrictions with the managing office before you go.
Everything you need — measured from camp
Straight-line miles · bearings approx · roads run longer
Nearest of each
- WWater4 mi
- @Mail5 mi
- FFuel6 mi
- GGrocery6 mi
- RxPharmacy6 mi
- OOutfitter6 mi
- ShShower6 mi
- +Urgent care6 mi
- HHardware6 mi
- LLaundry6 mi
- DDump18 mi
- MMechanic28 mi
≤30 mi30–4545+water
The read: water is basically at camp, fuel & food sit about 6 mi out.
Not within 60 mi: Propane. Plan those before you head up.
One dot per need — the nearest of each kind, straight-line from camp. Places from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors). Open in Google Maps ↗
The site
Access
Drive-up
Land
public land · dispersed
Elevation
9,608 ft
County
Routt County, CO
Coordinates
40.52682, -106.74267
Cost
Free
Nearby & resupply (OpenStreetMap)
- Water featureNorth Fork Fish Creek (stream) · nearby
- Nearest townSteamboat Springs · ~5.5 mi
- Drinking waterDrinking water · ~3.5 mi
- FuelMaverik · ~6.3 mi
- Propane / LPGnone within 31 mi
- Dump stationDump station · ~17.9 mi
- GroceriesNatural Grocers · ~5.5 mi
- PharmacyWalmart Pharmacy · ~6.2 mi
- Hospital / clinicYampa Valley Medical Center · ~5.8 mi
- HardwareACE Hardware · ~6.3 mi
From the field — what Dave saw, in person
Cell service
Had a signal
Getting there
Any vehicle managed it
Fire ring
Yes
Toilet on site
No
Tent friendly
Yes
Verdict
Recommended
Nearby restrooms — pit toilets, restrooms & rest areas (government data)
- Vault / pit toiletDry Lake · ~2.2 mi W · USFS
- Vault / pit toiletBuffalo Pass · ~3.3 mi E · USFS
- RestroomPowerline · ~3.3 mi E · USFS
- RestroomGranite Picnic Site · ~3.3 mi SE · USFS
Open this spot elsewhere
Other camps nearby
If this one is full, gated or washed out.
- Dry Lake Campground~2.2 mi
Snow, and when this opens
The nearest automatic snow station is Dry Lake at 8,240 ft, about 2 miles away. It sits about 1,368 ft lower than this camp, so treat it as a guide rather than a reading for this spot. We do not repeat a depth here, because any number we stored would be stale by the time you read it — the station publishes today's.
How we know this
Source
Dave's own travels
Confidence
Researched — The record is detailed and internally consistent, and the coordinates land where the managing agency says this site is.
How it was placed
FIELD VERIFIED by Dave Lalande -- he has stood on this site. Coordinates are his own GPX track point, not a geocode. County and state confirmed against the FCC Census Block API (Routt County, CO). Everything under 'From the field' is a direct observation; nothing here is inferred from a land record.
Field check
Verified on the ground. Dave has stood on this one. Conditions still change — confirm before you commit.
What we don’t know
A land record can put you within a few metres of a spot. It cannot tell you any of this — so check it yourself, and treat anything below as the open question it is.
- How many rigs actually fit
- Seasonal & winter access
- Current fire restrictions
- Whether any water here is drinkable
- Shade & wind exposure
- Noise and who else shows up
Before you go
Camping at altitude →When the high country opens →Winter vs summer roads →Camping with a dog →All field notes →
Been here? Tell us what changed. This page is built from public records, so the fastest way it gets better is somebody who has actually pulled in. Road washed out, site gone, gate locked, or it is exactly as described — all of it useful. Send a report →