Steamboat Point

The road to Steamboat Point rapidly climbs from a lower bench to the highest point of Steamboat Mesa, called Steamboat Point. After switchbacking steeply up the side, it runs the length of the mesa, then forms a lasso-shaped loop around the highest point, with a short spur at the top accessing an epic overlook at the main point. This overlook offers stunning panoramic views of the canyons and mesas surrounding the Dolores River. Visible features include the Sheep Creek valley and the Palisade near Gateway, North and South Beaver Mesas, Dolores Point, Cottonwood Canyon, Sevenmile Mesa, and the backside of the La Sal Mountains. Looking directly across the Dolores River canyon to the southwest, you can see up Sevenmile Canyon to the area around the Top of the World trail, with Fisher Mesa in the distance.

Steamboat Point is classified as a B-road, which means it receives regular maintenance from the county. As such, the road surface is mostly smooth, graded dirt, though the road receives so little traffic that grass has started to grow over it in places. The most difficult part is the steep switchbacks at the beginning, which will require most vehicles to make multi-point turns. This section will need a low range for torque and speed control, though the rest of the road can be driven in 2WD.

While you could camp at the main viewpoint, it is not particularly level and is very exposed to the wind. A better campsite can be found off a short spur on the main level of the mesa, shortly before the final climb to the point. This campsite offers flat terrain, stunning views, and a few trees for shade and shelter, though it could still be windy. If you camp here, you will likely have total solitude, as very few people visit this area.