There’s an expression in Steamboat that says “people come for the winter, but stay for summer.” It’s also true that people stay on for another winter and then simply don’t leave. With 36 hours to spend in Ski Town USA, the problem won’t be finding something to do, it will be whittling down the endless options. For those who won’t be hitting the slopes at the Steamboat Ski Area, here’s our take on making the most of your time in the ‘Boat.
Kick off the weekend at a fast and furious pace with Steamboat Snowmobile Tours. Snake through the forests and blast around open meadows on Rabbit Ears Pass and up to the Continental Divide. Dress warmly and be sure to pack goggles and a camera, you’ll need them both.
Head back to town to freshen up, but keep the layers on, as you’ll need them. Hop on the shuttle to Saddleback Ranch, a family-owned and operated, 100-year-old ranch located west of town. Step into a horse-drawn sleigh and wrap up beneath a wool blanket for a 30-minute sleigh ride beneath the starry sky. Savor a home-cooked meal at the Double Dollar Lodge, where cowboys will teach you a thing or two about roping. If time permits, you’ll be working off your meal with a do-si-do and a little line dancing.
Start the day at Creekside Café, a long-time local hangout for their legendary eggs benedict or mighty breakfast burrito. Their regionally sourced feast will set you up perfectly for a morning on snow.
Dress warmly and head to the south valley and the home of Grizzle-T Dog and Sled Works. Owned and operated by Iditarod musher Kris Hoffman and his wife Sara, their one-of-kind adventures are a sure-fired memory maker. Take a guided tour, or learn to mush your own team of Alaskan huskies. Sleds can take two people, (or three if you are with children under 80 pounds), and you’ll spend the morning beneath the breathtaking backdrop of the snow covered Flat Tops.
Travel back to town and grab lunch at Cruisers Sub Shop in Wildhorse Plaza. The vibe is beach meets mountain and you can sit in or take out. Swap ski gear for swimsuits and spend the afternoon soaking in the same mineral pools that brought the Ute and Arapahoe Indians flocking to the area since the 1800s. Kids will love the Old Town Hot Springs located in the heart of downtown, where they can ride the slides and scramble up the aquatic climbing wall.
Those looking to escape the hubbub of town can travel seven miles north to the Strawberry Park Hot Springs. The dirt road gets gnarly in winter, so save the driving to an expert and get a ride there and back from Sweet Pea Tours. Set among the trees in Routt County National Forest, the experience is rustic, and even more so after dark when clothing is optional.
After a day of crisp mountain air, you’ll have worked up an appetite. Head downtown and wander beneath a canopy of fairy lights along Yampa Street. Look across the river to the iconic Howelsen Hill, where young athletes train beneath the floodlights nightly. The favored coaching ground of the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club has produced 96 Olympians and counting.
Dining options abound from breweries to bistros. Grab a seat at the bar for happy hour or settle into the dining room at E3 Chophouse. Founded in 2013, their ranch-to-restaurant experience is a meat-lovers dream. Families rave about the low-key atmosphere at Mazzola’s on Lincoln Avenue. The long-time local Italian restaurant scores big with younger diners, who get to make their own dough balls.
Experience more of Steamboat’s legendary hospitality with a post-dinner stroll through downtown, stopping at art galleries and a host of quintessential mountain stores. Snap up at souvenir from 5th generation-run F.M. Light & Sons, where Stetsons and cowboy boots line the walls. Follow the scent of bourbon-roasted cashews and artisan chocolate from Blüml’s by Daniela at The Homesteader. The taste is so heavenly, Jay Leno stocks them in his green room for guests.
Rise and shine for coffee and a gigantic cinnamon roll at Winona’s. Sinfully delicious, they’ve been featured in Gourmet and Bon Appétit magazines. Walk further down Main Street to Straightline Sports and get kitted out with snowshoes for a classic Steamboat experience. Escape the crowds at Fish Creek Falls by heading along the nearby Uranium Mine Trail and catch a glimpse of the 283-foot frozen falls and the sprawling views of the south valley. This spectacular trail is three miles round-trip and climbs 800 vertical feet to an abandoned uranium mine built in the 1950s.
Less enthusiastic hikers in the group may prefer pedal power. Head south to Lake Catamount Nordic Center where you can try to the latest craze to hit this outdoor loving community: fat biking. Bikes are equipped with oversized wheels and riders can cruise over 15 miles of groomed terrain. The center is set around a pristine frozen lake, surrounded by 3,300 acres of private land.