The line off the porch at the iconic Clark Store in North Routt is an indicator that summer is truly here. Visitors and locals are patient knowing that the ice cream they order is worth the wait.

The Famous Clark Store

The Clark Store, located 17 miles from downtown Steamboat Springs, has always enjoyed a special reputation amongst locals. It serves as a well-stocked convenience store, post office, eatery, weekend pizza joint, and makers of the best ice cream for miles.

“A Slower Pace of Life”

“It’s the hub of the community up here,” said Lisa Ruff, a 40-year resident of the Yampa Valley, who recently bought a home in North Routt with her husband. The retired teachers opted to move north after selling their family home in Steamboat. “Timing wasn’t great, the pandemic hit while we were renting, but we got lucky before the housing rush,” she said. The couple feel fortunate to have found a place without having to leave Routt County. “It’s definitely a slower pace of life up here and more like the Colorado I was used to as a kid, which is a great thing.”

A Winter and Summer Wonderland

The Ruffs, like so many of their neighbors, chose North Routt for the lifestyle. In the winter, miles of snowmobiling terrain, cross country and snowshoe trails, backcountry skiing and ice-fishing opportunities abound. After the snow melts, locals take to the river and lakes to fish, paddleboard, boat, and the trails to hike, bike, and horse ride.

North Routt Offers Serenity

Sitting in the shadows of 10,774-foot high Hahns Peak summit, North Routt is an eclectic community bustling with artists, business owners, families, retirees, and those who relish the commute from town to a quieter pace of life. Libby Creamer, an elementary school librarian, said she pinches herself on the drive home after work. Creamer and husband Greg, a fishing guide, moved into their home off Seedhouse Road ten years ago. Built as a dream home by her parents, she’d spent all her summers on a cabin nearby before they opted to raise their own family in the house.

The Community of North Routt is Strong

When a wildfire threatened to destroy their property last summer, the community came out in force to offer help and take their menagerie of animals, including alpacas and horses, into their care.

“If you go into the ditch in North Routt, you can be sure someone will be there to pull you out,” said Lisa Ruff. “It’s just that kind of place, a tight-knit community where someone will always have your back.”