Steamboat Springs, Colorado

“Ski Town USA”, aka Steamboat Springs, is a western ski town with charm and character. Most known for Steamboat Ski Resort, there’s both a historic downtown and mountain village, situated about a few miles apart. Downtown Steamboat Springs is a true western town, with wide streets (for accommodating large cattle herds), welcoming locals, and timeless surrounding natural beauty.

In 2017 there were 12,965 recorded residents, making Steamboat a fairly big alpine community. Denver can be driven year-round in under 3 hours, weather pending on Rabbit Ears Pass. Salt Lake City is 5.5 hours almost straight west.

Strawberry Park Hot Springs. Photo: Frank DiBona

Visit the Yampa Valley once and you’re hooked or cursed they say. You’ll be back. Summer is also a favorite time to visit the “Boat”. It’s an excellent choice for those who can’t make a decision between a laid-back, relaxing vacation and an action-packed trip full of recreation. Thanks to Steamboat’s lower alpine elevation, it’s a happening place to be year-round.

It doesn’t get as blistering windy as some other Colorado locations and is a perfect adventure-land for recreation. As its name implies, there are two fantastic hot springs in town: Strawberry Park and Old Town. “The Boat” has among the best snow quality in the state. So if you are active and into winter sports, there’s a wide array.

History

The name Steamboat Springs came from early French trappers who thought they heard steamboats chugging up the Yampa River. It was actually the town’s hot springs bubbling, but the name stuck.

Steamboat Springs CO Hot Springs — Steamboat has mineral hot springs, some for soaking, not this one though.

They say if you come to Steamboat Springs, you’ll never leave or at least keep returning year after year. That’s the Yampa Valley curse. We mentioned it in our article on the best ski towns in Colorado.

Steamboat Springs is a ski town with a true cowboy flare. It’s naturally laid back, with a friendly and inviting feel. There is a separate mountain village and historic downtown Steamboat Springs. The mountain village, consisting of Gondola Square and Ski Time Square, is located at the base of the slopes. Downtown Steamboat is a short five-minute drive from the resort.

Main Attractions

Steamboat Ski Resort Night Skiing — Alpenglow skiing in Steamboat. Photo: Grant Gallows

Steamboat Ski Resort – One of the largest and most popular resorts in the state. Steamboat Ski Area features nearly 3,000 skiable acres, plus night skiing and an alpine slide too. There’s also skiing in-town at Howelsen Hill, the longest, continuously running ski area in Colorado.

People dream of sipping fine champagne chasing sunsets during their retirement, but who knew you could ski the stuff in Steamboat, thanks to its Champagne Powder®. The lower elevation of 6,732 feet means warmer temps and a ski resort below the tree line. The summit is 10,570 feet (a good ~1,000 feet under for CO). So no bowls to ski, but legendary tree skiing. Visibility bad? Duck into the glades.

Hot Springs – There are two hot springs destinations in town. Both hot spring resorts are spectacular and open year-round. Old Town is the family favorite, with both indoor and outdoor pools, slides, and a larger swimming pool too. Strawberry Park is one of the state’s favorites. Its hot spring pools are nestled on a hillside with sand bottoms. After dark is adults only and clothing is optional.

Yampa River – From high atop the Flat Top Mountains, the Yampa River forms and flows down into Steamboat Springs, from there heading west to Utah. In town, there’s a whitewater park that’s popular for river tubing and kayaking.

There are also commercial rafting trips on the Yampa River. Shorter trips are available in downtown Steamboat Springs. Go out for a morning or afternoon of rafting hitting the rapids in the whitewater park. You can also venture west on multi-day trips through Dinosaur National Monument.

Recreation

Colorado Rocky Mountain Living Water Skiing Steamboat Springs — Water skiing in Steamboat Springs. Photo: David Moulton

Camping:

Four local state parks offer nice campgrounds: Pearl Lake, Stagecoach, Steamboat Lake, and Yampa River.
Buffalo Pass in the Routt National Forest has a campground as well as free dispersed car camping along the pass. From downtown (heading west) turn right on 3rd Ave, and then right onto Fish Creek Falls Rd. Take 2nd left on Amethyst Drive which turns into CR 36. A few miles up on the right will be signs for Buff Pass/CR 38.
Rabbit Ears Pass has a campground and dispersed car camping on most dirt roads.
Read about the camping near Steamboat Springs, Clark, and Oak Creek.

Fishing:

Yampa River runs right through downtown, offering outstanding trout fishing.
Nearby state parks all have places for fishing.

Hiking:

Fish Creek Falls is located a mere 10 minutes from downtown Steamboat. This scenic locale is open year-round for hiking. It costs $5 to park your vehicle for the day.
To the east of town is Rabbit Ears Pass, with loads of trails.
Read about the hiking trails near Steamboat Springs.

Rabbit Ears Pass Highway 40 — Rabbit Ears Pass is on Highway 40. Photo: dervish

Accommodations

Booking.com

Hotels and Lodging:

Antlers at Christie Base – luxury 4 star
Chalet Val D’Isere – luxury vacation rental
Chateau Chamonix – luxury 4 star
Hotel Bristol – historic downtown
Sheraton Resort Villas – luxury 4 star
Strawberry Park – hot springs lodging
Torian Plum Resort – luxury 3-star ski-in/ski-out
Wyndham Vacation Resorts – luxury 3-star vacation rentals
Read about the best hotels in Steamboat Springs.
Read about the top 4 star hotels in Steamboat Springs.

Dining

Steamboat Springs CO Restaurant 8th Street Steakhouse — Cooking your own meat at 8th Street Steakhouse in Steamboat Springs. Photo: Cyndi and Dave

Steamboat locals like to eat well, and it shows in the cuisine around town. It’s a large enough town to support your classic fast-food chains, such as McDonald’s and Wendy’s, and in addition to fast-casual, ethnic eateries and plenty of fresh, western fare to choose from.

Bars and restaurants:

Ore House at the Pine Grove – Steamboat’s most iconic steakhouse, offers fine dining in a historic, Old West setting.
8th Street Steakhouse – Grill up your own steaks for a unique dining experience. What better place to enjoy western fare than Northwest Colorado.
Read about the best bars in Steamboat Springs.

Special Events

This video shows the Cowboy Stampede, the final event of the Cowboy Downhill.

Jan – MusicFest at Steamboat – six days of live music all over the town, plus lodging and skiing in one pass, early January.

Jan – Cowboy Downhill – Real cowboys race down the mountain in mid-January.

Feb – Winter Carnival – Ice sculptures, contests, and ski jumping in early February.

Feb – WinterWonderGrass – three-day part bluegrass music festival and part beer festival in mid-February.

Mar/Apr – Bud Light Rocks the Boat – live band every March Saturday in Gondola Square.

Apr – Steamboat Cardboard Classic – Closing day sledding competition where every team designs their own colorful cardboard sled. It takes place on the bunny slope into Gondola Square in mid-April.

Apr – Steamboat Pond Skim Closing Day Celebration – Last day of the year come out to test your luck on skiing or snowboarding over a pond at Gondola Square. Get soaked or be a hero!

Jun – Reds, Whites & Brews in the Boat – One day kicking off the start of summer with unlimited wine and craft beer.

Jun-Jul – Cowboy’s Roundup Days – For more than 100 years, Steamboat has celebrated its five-night Independence Day weekend festival.

Jun-Aug – Pro Rodeo Series – Summer PBR rodeo held on Friday and Saturday nights from mid-June to mid-August.

Jul – Hot Air Balloon Rodeo – A colorful weekend in Steamboat Springs in early July.

Sep – Steamboat OktoberWest – Steamboat’s western take on this German tradition in mid-September.

Read about the top events in Steamboat Springs.

Yampa River Valley.