Steamboat Springs is a gorgeous city on the Western Slope of Colorado that functions as one of the state’s preeminent skiing destinations during the winter, but also has plenty of appeal for tourists during the summer months. With it’s unique elevation and staggering natural beauty, visitors to Steamboat Springs will get the chance to experience a great deal of awesome things while in the popular city! From skiing the vast array of slopes to visiting the Tread of Pioneers Museum, join ViewCation as we take a look at the best things to do in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
Skiing the Slopes
Of course, the number-one reason that Steamboat Springs, Colorado, remains such a popular destination for tourists across the country is that it offers skiing unlike you’ll find anywhere else. Skiers often claim that the snow found in Steamboat Springs is the best of the best when it comes to skiing, and fans of the sport won’t want to miss out on the experience of trying this snow out for themselves.
Steamboat Ski Resort has come to be known as one of the absolute largest ski resorts in all of Colorado. Given that the state is known predominantly for it’s skiing, this is really saying something! The grounds of the resort span almost 3,000 acres of land, and this land is filled with trails. There are over 150 different skiing paths for visitors to Steamboat Springs to take, and those paths range in difficulty for skiers of all experience levels. Whether you’ve been skiing your whole life or are just starting out, you’ll find trails in Steamboat Springs that are just right for you.
Skiing isn’t for everyone, and there are plenty of other things for those visiting Steamboat Springs to do during the winter months while their friends are hitting the slopes. Visitors may opt to explore Colorado’s snowy mountainside using snowshoes or snowmobiles, and anyone will be able to get something out of the great views offered by the gondola ride.
Take a Soak in the Strawberry Park Hot Springs
The other thing that Steamboat Springs is best known for besides skiing is about as far from skiing as you can get! The name of Steamboat Springs comes from the fact that the city is brimming with naturally occurring hot springs, with one of the area’s best and most popular hot spring locations being Strawberry Park Hot Springs. These hot springs are open and piping hot year-round, which makes them a perfect place to visit whether you’ve come to Steamboat Springs for the skiing or you’re visiting during the summer months.
The water at Strawberry Park Hot Springs stays a consistent 104 degree Fahrenheit, meaning that visiting the location could be the perfect solution for those who find themselves freezing while visiting Steamboat Springs during the winter months. It’s not uncommon to find Strawberry Park Hot Springs completely packed during the winter nights, as skiers often come to relax their muscles after a full day out on the slopes. You can stop into Strawberry Park Hot Springs for a quick visit, but there are also lodging options available for visitors who would like to make the hot springs their main focus while exploring Steamboat Springs.
Visit Yampa River Botanic Park
At the center of Steamboat Springs’ bustling downtown area is a beautiful location by the name of Yampa River Botanic Park. This park functions as a hub of sorts for many of the city’s events, from festivals to weddings. There are various beautiful gardens present within the park, including Hummingbird Garden and the Butterfly Garden. There’s also a Children’s Garden, which allows unique exploring opportunities for children visiting the botanic park.
Explore Fish Creek Falls
While the Yampa River Botanic Park offers some nice and natural sightseeing within the confines of Steamboat Springs’ downtown area, those who are looking to get a true taste of the natural landscapes that the area has to offer may want to head over to Fish Creek Falls. Fish Creek Falls is an incredibly impressive waterfall located within Steamboat Springs, and it’s one of the most popular locations for tourists to visit while they’re in the area.
Fish Creek Falls can be found within the greater Routt National Forest and isn’t all that far of a drive for those staying within Steamboat Springs’ downtown area. The waterfall plummets down Fish Creek Canyon, falling nearly 300 feet before hitting the water below. When visiting Fish Creek Falls, visitors can simply take in the massive waterfall from the established viewpoint not far from the area’s parking lot, or they can get a much closer and more personal view by taking the hiking route.
Either way you choose to experience Fish Creek Falls, it’s going to be something that you won’t likely forget! The absolute best time to visit the popular waterfall is during the spring months, when the snowfall from the winter months has just started melting. This results in the waterfall being especially big and forceful. When the waterfall freezes over during the winter months, it becomes a popular location for ice climbers to visit from all around the world.
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Visit Steamboat Springs’ Surrounding National Forests
If you’re a nature lover or hiking connoisseur that finds themselves in the Steamboat Springs area, you’re certainly in luck! While the area is known for it’s skiing during the winter months, it’s nearly equally well known for it’s incredible hiking opportunities during the summer months. There are two notable National Forests surrounding the area of Steamboat Springs, with those being the Medicine Bow National Forest and the aforementioned Routt National Forest, the latter of which houses Fish Creek Falls.
To give you a taste of the vast forest area that surrounds Steamboat Springs, the forest spans nearly 3 million acres from Colorado all the way to Wyoming. Over the course of this landscape can be found staggering ranges of mountains, seemingly infinite grasslands, gorgeous lakes, roaring streams, and some of the thickest forests in the country. Amidst this expansive wilderness visitors will be treated to hiking and mountain-biking opportunities galore.
Besides Fish Creek Falls, some of the other notable locations that can be found within the confines of the National Forests surrounding Steamboat Springs are the North Platte River, Dumont Lake, and the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area. Like Fish Creek Falls, the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area is so impressive that it deserves it’s own spot on this video, which will be coming up now!
Explore the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area
The Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area is named as such because it is a designated wilderness area surrounding the staggeringly tall Mount Zirkel. Mount Zirkel is known as the highest mountain in the vicinity of Steamboat Springs, capping out at an immense height of over 12,000 feet. Understandably, the location has become a prestigious destination for lovers of the natural world.
It was in 1964 that the area surrounding Mount Zirkel was first designated as a wilderness area. This designation has allowed the area’s natural environment to be kept in pristine condition. Over the course of the over 150,000 acres comprising the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area, visitors will find over 70 lakes, as well as more than a dozen mountain peaks. The wilderness area is part of the greater Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, and many rivers flow through it.
While we’ve already explored a few of Steamboat Springs’ hiking opportunities, some of the absolute best ones can be found within the boundaries of the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area. There are around 150 miles of trails within the area, and they comprise some of the best of the best when it comes to the seemingly infinite trails that the area surrounding Steamboat Springs has to offer it’s visitors.
Walk Along the Yampa River Core Trail
While the Mount Zirkel Wilderness area arguably houses the preeminent hikes in the Steamboat Springs area, a much more relaxing walk can be found along the Yampa River Core Trail. The Yampa River Core trail is a trail that runs roughly eight miles, and it is completely paved. As the name of the trail suggests, it runs parallel to the beautiful Yampa River, which conveniently stretches from one end of Steamboat Springs all the way to the other.
Take in the Steamboat Springs Culture
While much of the appeal of Steamboat Springs lies in the surrounding areas vibrant nature, there’s also the matter of the culture within the city’s bustling downtown area. Some of the many ways to take in the culture of Steamboat Springs include visiting the Steamboat Art Museum, as well as taking in a performance by the Steamboat Symphony Orchestra.
The Steamboat Art Museum started out as a relatively small community project near the beginning of the millennium before blossoming into something much, much bigger. Now, the former community art project is a full-blown art museum! The museum is located within Steamboat Springs’ historic Rehder Building, and has housed nearly 50 exhibits. Besides the Steamboat Art Museum, another integral part of Steamboat Springs’ culture is the Steamboat Symphony Orchestra. The talented orchestra is made up of local musicians, and can be found performing at local events.
Learn about the History of the Colorado Pioneers
Besides learning about the current culture of Steamboat Springs, visitors may also be interested in learning about the city’s history. The Tread of Pioneers Museum is the perfect place for tourists visiting Steamboat Springs to learn about the pioneer origins of the city. Like the Steamboat Art Museum, the Tread of Pioneers Museum is housed inside of a notable historic building, with this one being a Victorian house that dates to the beginning of the 20th century.
Steamboat Springs may be known predominantly as one of the preeminent skiing destinations in all of Colorado, but it’s also got so much more to offer visitors year-round! Now it’s time to hear from you: did you know that Steamboat Springs got it’s name because of it’s numerous hot springs, and that the popular skiing town has incredible hiking opportunities during the spring and summer months? As always, like this video to show your support, and subscribe and hit the notification bell if you’d like to be among the first to know when more informative ViewCation videos are on their way!