Steamboat Springs, Colorado is a cute and outdoor friendly small ski town in the mountains. When we went there we fell in love with the small town charm and all their was to do outdoors. There are several different things to do that you need an Steamboat Springs summer itinerary to figure out how to plan your trip! The town of steamboat springs has small town shopping, excellent food and locally brewed beer. It’s a summer as well as a winter destination, so look out for local music & events as well. Steamboat springs is suitable for a family trip or a weekend couples getaway.
BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT STEAMBOAT SPRINGS
If you are looking for the best time to visit, you are going to want to come in June or Early July. In June, it will be hot and (hopefully) all the snow will be gone – but no guarantees on that! June will be slightly cooler than July or August, and the rivers in the area will be at their highest, which is optimal if you plan to do any rafting. ember or late spring is still a beautiful time in Asheville. Spring and Fall are going to be out of season, with less activities going on. Winter is a GREAT time to visit Steamboat Springs to Ski or snow tube, however, this guide will not be able to help you with your trip planning!
GETTING AROUND IN STEAMBOAT SPRINGS
One of the best things about this little town is its amazing and free shuttle system! You will not need a car if you are staying in town or anywhere near the shuttle route. You can even camp at the KOA on the north side of town and the bus will pick you up. The free bus will take you just about anywhere in town, and it runs every 20 minutes, so you’re never waiting long to get on the bus. Visit the shuttle’s website here to see the map and schedule of the shuttle stops.
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HOW MANY DAYS DO YOU NEED IN STEAMBOAT SPRINGS?
Steamboat Springs can definitely be a weekend destination, but if you have a little longer, we recommend visiting for 3 days. The town is not close to much else, so to make your drive out worth it, if you can stay for three nights, you’ll get to experience more of what Steamboat Springs has to offer.
TWO DAY STEAMBOAT SPRINGS TRIP ITINERARY
Spending just a weekend in Steamboat Springs? These are our top choices! All the activities on this list are based on people who like to be outdoors and active like our family does. Honestly, we didn’t find much in Steamboat Springs that wasn’t for active people. We hope you’ll enjoy being outdoors in this town as much as we did.
Day One
MORNING: Go Tubing in the Yampa River
AFTERNOON: Explore Town & Have Dinner
When the water is high enough, tubing in the Yampa River can be an adventurous, yet still relaxing experience. This river runs faster than some of the rivers we have tubed, and there are several rock obstacles to go around. Along the Yampa River in town, there are several spots to tube over a small waterfall. You can also stop on the banks and get our of your tube for a while.
If you have your own tubes, plan to launch at the Sulfur Springs Stop. Ride the river for about an hour, and then get out at the exit by James Brown Bridge. Then, deflate the tubes and ride the shuttle bus back to where you are parked. (You aren’t supposed to take inflated tubes on the bus). If you’re really crazy like we are, you can camp at the KOA campground, ride the shuttle with your deflated tubes, then blow them up at Sulfur Springs. Then you can tube all the way back to your campsite!
If you want to rent tubes, there are several companies in town that will rent you a tube for a reasonable price. They have their own rafting shuttles that will pick you up at the end of the run and transport you back to your parked car.
AFTERNOON/EVENING: Explore Town & have Dinner.
Most of the stores in town are open 10-7, with restaurants open later. So after you tube, you have plenty of time to explore the streets of downtown and grab dinner from one of the great local restaurants. Remember that you can ride the shuttle into town in the summer, and it will run until about 10pm. As with any small tourist town, there are tons of place to grab t-shirts or cute souvenirs. After grabbing all your tourist items, we recommend visiting the following places:
Off the Beaten Path Bookstore – Two story bookstore with both new and used books. They have a large kids section and they also have a café and some tables to hang out and work.
Fuzziwigs Candy Factory – Old time classic candy store with a huge selection. The store also serves ice cream and has truffles and fudge for sale.
FM Light and Sons -This Western store has been around for over 100 years and sells a variety of items and apparel. You can find them by looking for the horse out front!
For dinner, there are a variety of options downtown. We noticed a TON of sushi, but weren’t able to catch the hours right to try it. For dinner check out Corner Slice Pizza, Carl’s Tavern, or O’Neil’s Tavern and Grill. We enjoyed Corner Slice Pizza for the kids because they had games for them to play while waiting for food and the pizza was delicious (they had an awesome gluten-free pizza too!). My husband also was digging the Ocean of Clouds Hazy IPA from Pike’s Peak Brewing.
Day Two
MORNING: Hike or Picnic at Fish Creek Falls
Afternoon: Swim at the Hot Springs Pool or Strawberry Park Hot Springs
Fish Creek Falls: Head about 5 to 10 minutes from the downtown area to take a hike to a beautiful waterfall! The waterfall is easy to access for anyone, including kids and the elderly. Parking at Fish Creek falls fills up fast, so plan to arrive early. You will also need to purchase a day pass for $5 a car (purchase on site). The hike is dog friendly, so feel free to bring your furry friends along!
Whether you want to relax for the day or spend the day exercising, there is an option for everyone at the falls. Follow the concrete path to the upper falls if you’d just like to have a look from above, or if you have someone in a wheelchair. You can access this path by heading directly to the right of the pay station. The concrete path will lead you to a great view and a place to stop with a picnic.
To head to the lower falls area, take the dirt path farther to the right of the concrete path. Head straight and this path will lead you directly to a bridge (great for photos) and then you can walk down the rocks to put your feet in the water. Pack a lunch! Then when you are heading back to your car, take the path on the right towards the upper falls for some areas with picnic tables. If you are up for a hike, you can continue to follow the dirt path once over the bridge. There is a second waterfall about 2.5 miles down the path for those who are feeling super adventurous.
Afternoon: Swim at the Old Town Hot Springs Pool or Strawberry Park Hot Springs
One of the bigger attractions in Steamboat Springs in the large Old Town Hot Springs Pool. Not just a pool, this place is an entire fitness center as well. They have classes, a rock wall, and even yoga. Pick up a day pass and it gives you access to everything they have to offer, including lockers. The main hot pool stays around 98 degrees, is chlorinated, and is open to all guests. The “Heart Springs,” which is a natural springs, is only open to those over 18 years old. In addition, you’ll find a lap pool and a water slide (the slide costs extra.) The day passes to the Old Town Hot Springs are on the pricier side, so if you do go, plan to take advantage of everything they ahve to offer.
If you are up for a little drive, there in another hot spring in the area called Strawberry Park Hot Springs. It is located just out of town. You can get a pass here for $20 for 2 hours. Keep in mind, that children are only allowed during the day, because clothing is optional after dark! Strawberry Park has a large springs pool area, and they also offer tent camping and cabins if you are looking for a couples retreat for the weekend.
THREE DAYS IN STEAMBOAT SPRINGS
Day One & Two
Follow the Guide for Day Two.
Day Three
MORNING: Bike or Walk the Yampa Core Trail and Grab a Coffee or Muffin Downtown.
AFTERNOON: Ride the Alpine Slide & Visit a Brewery
It wouldn’t be a complete trip to Steamboat Springs without checking out the Yampa Core River Trail! This trail is awesome. As its name suggests, it runs along the Yampa River, covering about 7-8 miles of concrete path. It passes right through downtown, so you can stop, park your bike at one of the many bike racks, and go into town for coffee or breakfast. This path is populated by bikers, so keep in mind those around you and stay to the right on the trail. If you are passing, let people know.
I recommend starting the trail at the Steamboat Springs bike & skate park. If you mountain bike, this is an attraction in itself (see picture below). The bike park is located at the end of Lagoon Court of the north side of town. You will be riding about a mile before you hit the downtown area. Some breakfast & coffee suggestions are: Causeway Coffee House, Creekside Cafe & Grill (also has lunch), Big Iron Coffee Co, Powder Day Donuts, or Yampa Sandwich Company (for lunch as well).
After riding to downtown, you can head back or continue on the trail about another mile until it reaches the Yampa Botanical Park. This huge botanical park is free to use from dawn to dusk. This is a great place to get off the bike and explore around. After the botanical garden, you have the option to head back to your car (or hotel) or ride another 2 miles down the route.
AFTERNOON: Ride the Alpine Slide & Visit a Brewery – or do the “brew trail”
If you finish up your trail ride before 6pm, you can head on over to the Alpine Slide, located at the end of 5th avenue. Not for the faint of heart, the slide is 2400 feet long, and lets you slide along the mountainside over Steamboat. You can catch this slide everyday except Tuesday!
Having made it through the slide, surely you have earned yourself a nice dinner and a local beer! If you’re drinking for the night, do the brew trail of the 4 best breweries in town that run from one side of town to another. Here is the list of breweries on the trail! All four of these breweries are also family friendly, so if you have kids don’t let that stop you from partaking!
Not a drinker? No problem. There are still some excellent restaurants that you may have missed earlier in your stay. Recommendations: Mazzola’s Italian Restaurant which has fantastically large servings or the 8th Street Steakhouse – where you cook your own steak right there at the table!
If you have questions about your Steamboat Springs Itinerary, please feel free to email us at [email protected]