Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Most of Steamboat's numerous springs are warm rather than hot, and some have been
damaged by highway construction. The nicest spring is 3 miles from Old Town at
Straw-
berry Park
. It's open until midnight and you can actually bathe in it. Most of the other spas
are in the area around 13th St on both sides of the river; look for the map and brochure
A
Walking Tour of the Springs of Steamboat
for more information.
Mountain Biking
The
Steamboat Trails Map
shows mountain -bike routes around town, in Stagecoach and
Pearl Lake State Parks and in the Mt Zirkel Wilderness. It's available at the visitor inform-
ation center and any bike shop in town. Steamboat Mountain Resort promotes biking on
Mt Werner, allows bikes on the Silver Bullet Gondola and rents them at the Thunderhead
lift.
Top rides close to town include Emerald Mountain (the big one accessed right from
town), Red Dirt Trail located about 2 miles west of town off County Rd 129 and Elk River
Rd, and Mad Creek Trail, located by the Strawberry Hot Springs.
Road riders can follow the Yampa River bike trail for 7 miles along the river.
BICYCLE RENTAL
Orange Peel Bikes
( 970-879-2957;
www.orangepeelbikes.com
; 1136 Yampa St; bike rental per day $20-65; 10am-6pm Mon-Fri,
to 5pm Sat)
In a funky old building at the end of Yampa, this is perfectly situated for renting
a bike to ride the trails criss-crossing Howelsen Hill. A staff of serious riders and mechan-
ics can offer tons of information about local trails, including maps. This is the coolest bike
shop in town, hands down.
Snow Sports
Steamboat Mountain Resort
( ticket office 970-871-5252;
www.steamboat.com
; lift ticket adult/child $94/59; ticket office 8am-5pm)
The
stats of the Steamboat Ski Area speak volumes for the town's claim as 'Ski Town, USA' -
165 trails, 3668ft vertical and nearly 3000 acres. With excellent powder and trails for all
levels, this is the main draw for winter visitors and some of the best skiing in the US. In
the ski area there are (overpriced) food and equipment vendors galore.
There are runs at every level, a snowshoe area in the middle and race areas near the
base. The area is particularly renowned for tree skiing, and the removal of saplings and
SNOW SPORTS
