Middle Rat CR (FR 504.1) in CO

Road corridorRio Grande NF, Divide Ranger District

36 mi from Del Norte

Maps 10,214 ft

Dispersed camping generally allowed

U.S. Forest Service default; a local order can restrict it.

Motor-vehicle season 5/16–3/14Stay limit: 14 days · within 30 days

VerizonWEAK

AT&TWEAK

T-MobileWEAK

StarlinkEXCELLENT

Difficult

6.9 of this road’s 11.3 miles are maintained for high-clearance vehicles, 8.3 miles of it dirt.
Estimated climb: 1,300 ft over 11.3 miles through 3 switchbacks, with sustained grades near 16% and pitches to 26%.
Terrain estimates show roadside drops of up to ~140 ft on the downhill side.
Dead-end road; turnaround space is not mapped.

6 known camp spots along this road, between mile 5.1 and mile 8.8: reported by travellers.

Limited privacy

Limited separation from through roads or other sites here, with the nearest through road 0.1 miles off.
McKenzie Mountain stands 1,531 ft above the map pin, 1.1 miles west.

Dispersed camping is camping outside of developed campgrounds on the Rio Grande National Forest. There is no fee to dispersed camp.
Camping rules

September normals 29–63°F, 1.9″ precipitation. Monthly averages, PRISM 1991–2020.

Middle Rat CR (FR 504.1) in CO -- Camping Rules & Access in Colorado