Steamboat Springs Off The Beaten Path

The Steamboat Village with its 20,000 condos and 80,000 guests ( these are estimates ) did not deter a deer from coming into the parking lot at the Gondola base to have breakfast .

A tractor trailer drove right by the deer and the deer showed no fear .

Mt. Zirkel Wilderness is located in the Routt National Forest, 1,126,346 acres of wilderness in Northern Colorado. Mt. Zirkle encompasses about 1/10th of the Routt Nat'l Forest and is located within Steamboat's Sawtooth Range. The Continental Divide runs along the wilderness, and there is a 60 mile trail encompassing the area. The area is teeming with alpine lakes, wild animals, flowers. Nature's finest, indeed.

If you're looking for a true backcountry experience, travel a bit north of Steamboat.
Hahn's Peak 's distinctive shape towers along the landscape of northern Colorado. At almost 11,000 feet, this tall mountain is a strenuous and long climb. The pain is completely worth it for views of the backcountry that Northern Colorado has to offer. Steamboat Lake lies at the foot of the peak, and both are fantastic getaways during the summer. The Lake offers fishing, camping, boating, a full-service marina and a swimming beach. Beware, the water is cold.

From Steamboat Springs go west two miles on U.S. 40 to County Road 129. Turn north and drive 26 miles.

Every mid-July, Steamboat hosts a hot air balloon festival. Year round, Steamboat is famous for balloon-rides, however the festival is the pinnacle of this local favorite. Innumerable balloons fill the skies for a balloon rodeo, and at night you can see the valley light up with the balloon glow.

Devil's Causeway - a gorgeous hiking or mountain biking trip through The Flat Tops area of Routt Nat'l Forest. Approximately a 7 mile loop.

The "Causeway" is this rocky ridge that drops off on either side that you must cross. It's a bit scary, especially when it's windy and you may begin to envision getting blown off and plunging to your death. Really. So get on your knees and crawl if the wind is too strong.

You do get some of the most beautiful views of the Flat Tops from here.

Drive west on US 34. When you see a large concrete water tower on your right, you are getting close. Take a right on Wild Lane and park in lot about 1/4 mile

This has got to be the best known landmark in the Steamboat region. Two 100-ft pinnacles sit on top of this mountain.

The hike up is moderate, although the grade increases drastically towards the end. Be prepared for a steep finish.

Go inner-tubing down the Yampa River during the summer. The Yampa runs through downtown Steamboat, and it's a pretty slow moving river with a few decent rapids. It's a great way to relax and enjoy the scenery and sun. There's also some natural hot springs along the Yampa - very refreshing.

There are several shops that rent tubes, check out the link below for information

Hike through beautiful meadows, swim in alpine lakes, climb up to 12,000 ft (~3650 m).

Mount Zirkel Wilderness is easy to access from Steamboat. It is located within Routt National Forest, in the Sawtooth Range of the Rockies.

Drive west out of Steamboat Springs on Hwy. 40 approximately 2 miles and turn right on Elk River Road (County Road 129). Follow CR 129 about 18 miles to the Seedhouse Road (Forest Development Road 400; also CR 64) and turn right.