Location
Ute Lodge – Location & Directions
Tucked away at the end of the road, the Ute Lodge is located 30 miles east of Meeker, Colorado at the edge of the White River National Forest.
Our cabins sit right at the Papoose Creek Trail head. You can walk out of your cabin door and be within the White River National Forest in seconds. A 4 mile hike will take you to the top of the Flat Tops.
Directions
From Denver, CO
From Denver – head W on I-70 to Rifle. Drive N from Rifle on Hwy 13 to Meeker. Go thru the town of Meeker and about a mile out of town veer R onto County Rd 8 (the sign says to Buford and Trapper’s Lake). Go 26.7 miles on County Rd 8 – then turn R at our sign – go another mile and then turn R again. We are at the end of this road.
Map it
Scenic Options from I-70
There are 2 scenic options. One is the Buford/New Castle Road from New Castle. We love driving this road but it is not for everyone as it is a long dirt road. The condition is often good. You will find this “Buford Road” from the North side of Main Street in downtown New Castle. Many miles later (over an hour of driving) you will come to a T at County Rd 8 at Buford. Turn R on County Rd 8 and follow the signs for another 9 miles – then turn R at our sign – go another mile and then turn R again. We are at the end of this road.
The second scenic option is from the Intersection of I-70 and Wolcott. Turn N on Hwy 131 and go to Yampa. Turn off at Yampa to go over Dunkley and Ripple Creek pass to come to us via the backroads – even longer dirt road than the previous option but spectacular views of the Flat Tops! You will most likely want to stop on top of the passes. Once you hit pavement go 2 miles and look for our sign on the L side of the road and turn L. Go a 1/4 mile and turn R at the T then go 1/2 mile and turn L at another one of our signs. We are at the end of this road.
From Fort Collins, CO
There are two routes from Fort Collins.
Travel W up the Poudre Canyon – thru Walden and beyond until you come to a T where you will take a R onto Hwy 40 and on over Rabbit Ears pass into Steamboat. From there you can either stay on the paved roads and continue on Hwy 40 to Craig or get here the adventurous way (see below). From Craig head S on Hwy 13. One mile before Meeker take a L onto Scenic byway County Rd 8. Travel 26.7 miles on CR 8 then take R at our Ute Lodge sign. Go a little over a mile to another Ute Lodge sign and turn R. We are at the end of this road.
From Rawlings, WY
From I-80 go S on Hwy 789 through Baggs and onto Colorado on Hwy 13 thru Craig. A mile before you reach Meeker turn L on County Rd 8 (the sign says to Buford and Trapper’s Lake). Go 26.7 miles on County Rd 8 – then turn R at our sign – go another mile and then turn R again. We are at the end of this road.
Get Here The Adventurous Way!
Or get adventurous and travel the long distance over gravel roads over two gorgeous passes (Dunkley and Ripple Creek). For the latter option get on 131 to Oak Creek. From Oak Creek – good luck finding the road that eventually gets you onto County Road 8 and on your way to Dunkley pass. I’ve ended up in Hayden once and Pagoda once but scenic non-the-less. Once you finally hit pavement go 2 miles and look for our sign on the L side of the road and turn L. Go a 1/4 mile and turn R at the T then go 1/2 mile and turn L at another one of our signs. We are at the end of this road.