The Rabbit Ears Pass straddles the Continental Divide in Northern Colorado and is a source of recreational activity areas of all kinds. Rabbit Ears Pass area is outside of Steamboat Springs on Highway US 40. It covers 56 square miles and is an important transcontinental road started in 1911 and completed in 1917 and is being upgraded to this day.
Rabbit Ears in the Distance 
Beginning Path
The strange name comes from distant view of a distinctive shape of a rabbit with extended ears. There are two extended columns of basalt rock formations forming the ear and can be seen from many angles for miles.
“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” II Timothy 4:3-4 NIV
Toward the Pass 
Enchanting Views
The hike to the rock formations is 6 miles long and the elevation at 9,426 ft. (2,873 m) and made this my hardest hike in 2020. The trail was really steep at end. Really steep! There were horseback riders and several hiking groups not masked during Covid.
My husband scrambled to the top of the lower rocks to reach the left “ear.” It was flat on top and windy as well. Access to the right rock “ear” was more difficult. There was no trail to get to the crevice and a long drop from precarious footholds. If he tried to get to the crevice it looked pretty bad and he was not outfitted for rock climbing. I walked around at the bottom and did not climb to the columns.
Left “ear” 
Right “ear”
Try to park at the second parking lot to decrease mileage by at least 1 mile. You will be happy you did when you return. If you have a four-wheel drive, there is more parking even farther along the trail.
A smoke plume billowed in the distance on this cool fall day. That bit of smoke then became a monster fire one month later destroying thousands of acres. Even in September, the roads were closed north of the Pass because of fire.
What do you see when you look at rock formations? How have you challenged yourself to achieve your hiking goals?
Smoke in the distance 
Looking North toward right ear
