Steamboat Springs: River Trails and Winter Sports History

Steamboat Springs brings together river scenery, winter sports history, and a range of things to see and do. The Yampa River Core Trail runs through downtown, while Howelsen Hill is known for its long skiing tradition. There is also a botanical garden, mineral-rich pools, a rodeo series with a history spanning more than a century, and access to local and regional history. When looking for a vacation rental, a simple question can help: Should your trip focus mainly on the river trail, sports history, or a mix of nature and culture?

Exploring the Yampa River

The Yampa River Core Trail is a seven-mile, non-motorized multi-use trail. It runs from Dougherty Road through downtown Steamboat Springs to Bear River Park, following the meandering Yampa River. There are scenic benches and picnic areas along the trail. The route connects the river with a path through the city center and a clearly named destination. It gives you a way to include exercise and scenery in your daily plans, rather than visiting just one site.

Gardens Along the Trail and Seasonal Access

The Yampa River Botanic Park covers six acres and has 70 unique gardens. The park is accessible on foot or by bicycle from the Yampa River Core Trail. The trail and garden offer two different ways to include nature in your travel plans: one along the river, the other in a garden setting. During the season, the park is open to visitors daily from sunrise to sunset. If you plan to visit, check the seasonal dates before you go.

Skiing History at Howelsen Hill

Since 1915, Howelsen Hill Ski Area has been Colorado's oldest continuously operating ski area. It also has North America's largest and most complete natural ski jumping complex. Howelsen Hill has been a training site for 100 Olympians. Its long operating history, ski jumping complex, and Olympic training connections come together at one named location. For travelers interested in skiing and sports history, it is a clear point of focus alongside the river trail and garden visit.

Water, Rodeo, and Regional History

Old Town Hot Springs has nine mineral-rich pools and two water slides, each 230 feet long. The pools and slides offer a different focus from a trail or skiing history and can be included in your travel plans as a separate point of interest.

The roots of the Steamboat Pro Rodeo Series go back more than a century. Brent Romick Rodeo Arena is just a few blocks from downtown, at Fifth Street and Howelsen Parkway in the Howelsen Hill sports complex. At the Steamboat Springs History Museum, the Lufkin Library Research Center offers local and regional history on factual and biographical topics for public use and research. The cultural range thus extends from rodeo tradition to factual and biographical perspectives on regional history.

Choose a Focus for Your Trip and Accommodation Search

If you want to plan your days around getting active and being near downtown, the trail and rodeo arena offer two specific locations: the trail runs through downtown, and the arena is a few blocks from the city center. Use these details as a starting point when searching for a vacation rental, then consider whether gardens, Howelsen Hill, Old Town Hot Springs, or regional history should play a bigger role in your trip. This lets you tailor your search to your travel group's interests.

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