Activities | Colorado Summer Vacations

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Steamboat Ski Resort is widely known for its winter beauty, but during the summer you can enjoy Mt. Werner in a completely different way. Bring your camera, your hiking boots, and even your mountain bike for a breathtakingly scenic day spent high above the Yampa Valley. Hiking, biking, or just enjoying a casual lunch at one of Mt. Werner's four on-mountain restaurants combined with the breathtaking scenery are sure to make your visit to Steamboat Springs a memorable one. The gondola operates daily from 10:00am to 4:00pm.

After an invigorating day of skiing, there's no better way to unwind than at Strawberry Park Hot Springs. Enjoy the epic mountain scenery as you take a 30-minute shuttle tour to the famous mineral springs, where you can soak in the therapeutic thermal pools with temperatures up to 105 degrees. If you will have a sturdy 4WD vehicle, you can drive up to Strawberry Park on your own; otherwise you are required to use a shuttle service due to the challenging mountain terrain. If you would like us to reserve a shuttle, just specify the size of your group and the preferred time of day for your hot springs visit. Both shared and private tours are available. Tours leave every 90 minutes from 10:30am to 9:00pm, and you are guaranteed a soak time of at least 75 minutes. Please note that after dark, no one under 18 is admitted and clothing is optional!

Haymaker Golf Course

At Haymaker you will find a hint of Scotland here in Colorado, with classic links-style golf in the Yampa Valley basin.   Haymaker is an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Keith Foster, including a full practice facility, a pro shop, and Staxx Restaurant.  The course features rolling fairways, deep bunkers, meandering streams, and surrounding native grasses, all in a setting bordered by mountains.

Rollingstone Ranch Golf Club

Robert Trent Jones II designed Rollingstone Ranch's course, which has been open to the public for over 30 years.  Located along the flanks of Mt. Werner, the magnificent layout is complete with tumbling streams as well as endless rows of aspen & evergreen trees.  The tee shots are dramatic, the bluegrass and ryegrass fairways are challenging, and the undulating greens are large and protected by many bunkers.

Steamboat Golf Club

Founded in 1964, the Steamboat Golf Club is the oldest established golf course in the valley.  The affordable, family-oriented, and scenic 9-hole course borders the Yampa River and offers beautiful views of the valley and of Mt. Werner.
 

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Located right near the Yampa River, Life Essentials Day Spa is a full-service spa that offers massages, facials, aromatherapy, manicures, pedicures, body wraps, acupuncture, and much more. Visit for an hour or spend the entire day! Or if you're interested in reserving an in-home massage appointment, please see below.

For your convenience, you can also arrange for a massage therapist to come directly to your Porches townhome.  If you do not specify a certain treatment, we will arrange for a regular 60-minute massage.  Specific spa treatments can sometimes be arranged for in-house appointments, but we will contact you if there is a problem fulfilling your request.  Please be specific, including the type and duration of each spa treatment, as well as the number of people who are interested.

One of Steamboat's most exciting summer attractions, "The Howler" is fun for the entire family.  Enjoy scenic views of downtown Steamboat Springs as you ride a chairlift to the top of historic Howelsen Hill.  Using a sled provided to you at the top of the lift, you are in control of your exhilarating ride as you wind down 2,400 feet of track through the bends and curves of Howelsen's beautifully contoured landscape.  Hours vary throughout the summer, but The Howler is open most days from 12:00pm to 5:00pm.

All-terrain vehicles are a fantastic way to explore the lay of the land and are fun for the entire family!  Steamboat Lake Outfitters offers ATV tours on old mining roads that wind up and around historic Hahn’s Peak and through the Routt National Forest.  Tours give you the opportunity to see beautiful wildflowers, experience incredible views of the Continental Divide, and enjoy an occasional glimpse of wildlife.  Scenic ATV tours are led by an experienced guide, with the ideal group size being no more than 4-6 vehicles.  NOTE: All riders must possess a valid driver’s license or learner’s permit. 

Whether you would like to enjoy a leisurely cruise down the Yampa River bike path, or take on some serious single-track mountain biking, Steamboat offers miles and miles of trails for every ability level.  Our knowledgeable concierge will be happy to assist you in choosing the right bike trail for you and your family.  Steamboat has several fantastic local bike shops that offer a wide variety of rentals.

Ski Haus

Steamboat Ski & Bike Kare

Gondola Bike Rentals at Ride Sports

Stagecoach Reservoir

Surrounded by the majestic Rocky Mountains and located in the verdant Yampa Valley south of Steamboat Springs, Stagecoach Reservoir enjoys incredibly calm mornings and evenings for water sports of all kinds.  Visitors also enjoy great fishing for rainbow trout, northern pike, and kokanee salmon.  The 780-acre reservoir features a full-service marina, boating opportunities, and several nature trails.  Gas, firewood, ice, fishing tackle, and camping supplies are available at the Stagecoach's camper services store. 

Steamboat Lake Marina

Steamboat Lake is a beautiful manmade lake that was created about 40 years ago in the Willow Creek Valley of the State Park Range, approximately 28 miles north of downtown Steamboat.  The surface of the lake reflects the majestic Hahn’s Peak at an elevation of 8,100 feet.  Boating, fishing, swimming, and camping make Steamboat Lake one of the most popular areas in Colorado.  By late summer, the water temperatures only reach the low 70s for a refreshingly cool dip in the lake at the Dutch Hill swim beach.  Boat rentals and dock rentals are available all summer long for your boating and fishing enjoyment.  In addition, exploration of the hiking trails throughout the park offers an array of native wildlife as well as pristine views of Meaden Peak, Farwell Mountain, and the peaks forming the Continental Divide.

A fun event for the whole family, Steamboat’s very own Pro Rodeo Series is one of the most successful weekly rodeos in the USA.  While the roots of rodeo in this ranching town trace back over 100 years, the humble beginnings of the weekly rodeo were in the mid-70s as the “Friday Night Jackpot.”  Contestants gathered once a week to compete for their accumulated entry fees.  The Pro Rodeo Series has since been expanded to include both Friday & Saturday night events.  Each night of rodeo festivities includes some or all of the following events: Bull Riding, Calf Scramble, Ram Scramble, Tie-Down Roping, Bareback Riding, Saddle Bronc Riding, Steer Wrestling, Cowgirls’ Barrel Racing, Pee Wee Barrel Racing, & Clown Act intermissions.  Gates open at 5:30pm every Friday & Saturday from mid-June to mid-August, and events begin at 7:30pm.  You can book discounted rodeo tickets through the Porches concierge.

Cattle Drive

If you’ve always wondered what it would be like to be a real cowboy, head on out to Saddleback Ranch and experience the thrill of helping to work cattle on a 7,000-acre real working ranch!  Unlike most horseback riding opportunities in the area, this is not your typical nose-to-tail ride.  You will help move cattle, check them for sickness, gather in the strays, and make sure that everything on the ranch is running smoothly.  The cattle drive is suitable for ages 8 & older as well as all ability levels; horses and riders will be matched accordingly.  Free transportation is offered to and from Saddleback if needed.  So come on out and enjoy a real Western adventure at a family-owned and operated ranch!  One 4-hour cattle drive leaves the ranch at 8:00am every morning from Tuesday through Saturday.

Saddleback Ranch
You can either take a 30 minute horseback ride or horse-drawn wagon ride to our new Double Dollar Lodge, where you will be welcomed with cold drinks and the chance to take in the gorgeous scenery before dinner.  After dinner, take the opportunity to learn the art of calf roping!  At the end of the evening, you will enjoy the ride home viewing the beautiful Colorado sunset from the wagon or on horseback.  We recommend this wagon ride dinner for families and larger groups.

Elk River Guest Ranch

Enjoy a wagon ride in the midst of a mountain paradise, with a magical place to relax and dine.  Start off the evening with delicious hors d’oeuvres in Papa Ed’s Saloon, followed by a lovely horse-drawn wagon ride down the road along the Elk River.  Then loop back through the ranch to a roaring fire and enjoy a delicious dinner.  This is a great wagon ride dinner for couples who want a quiet evening getaway.

Horseback Riding

If you would like to experience the quiet of the mountains, the roar of the river, and an opportunity to observe wildlife in its own domain, go horseback riding at a local ranch during your vacation in Steamboat.  You'll travel into the forest through lush aspen groves, wildflower-studded hillsides, and majestic pines. Children must be at least 8 years old and able to ride their own horse.

Imagine a beautiful alpine hike on Mt. Werner with mountain views for miles and miles.  Add to that a delectable gourmet lunch served by your guide, and you have the perfect alpine experience!  Steamboat Ski Resort offers 3 guided gourmet hikes each week, each approximately 1 hour long with a fantastic gourmet lunch provided.  Lunch may include international cheeses, croissants, baguettes, fresh Italian pasta, seafood salads, assorted fruits, rare peppered slices of beef, smoked turkey, country ham, salmon filet poached in wine and herbs, fresh chocolate-dipped strawberries, éclairs, summer cobblers made with mountain berries, and of course a glass of wine for the adults.  All of which are served on a magnificent deck with white tablecloths and spectacular views.  So come on up and drink in the grandeur of Mt. Werner! Hikes are offered Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays from June 20th to August 22nd. Meet your guide at the information Center in the Gondola Square at 10:30am.

Zephyr helicopter tours can design a customized tour anywhere in the Yampa Valley for you and a friend.  Enjoy incredible views of Mt. Werner, Buffalo Pass, the Flat Tops, Elk River Valley, Rabbit Ears Pass, and the Yampa Valley aboard one of their helicopters.  Their goal is to give you a fantastic bird’s-eye view of the beautiful valley we live in, while always remaining environmentally conscious.

Swimming

Old Town Hot Springs, one of Colorado's premier hot springs, is a multi-use complex, open to the public. Old Town Hot Springs is located in downtown Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The facility is open seven days a week and features an olympic-sized pool, a kiddie pool with fun animal toys, eight hot spring-fed pools, two water slides, a fitness center, exercise classes, and massage. Steamboat's Old Town Hot Springs is a must on your visit to Steamboat.

There is no better way to enjoy summer in Steamboat than tubing down the Yampa River!  If you prefer the convenience of tube rentals rather than purchasing your own, Backdoor Sports and One Stop Ski Shop can equip you with just that.  Please note that tubes are rented out on a first-come, first-served basis only.  All rates include not only a tube rental but also transportation from the take-out point back to the starting location, where your car will be parked.  Both tube rental companies are located in downtown Steamboat next to the Yampa River for optimal convenience.  The primary difference between the two stores is that Backdoor is less expensive and offers traditional “doughnut” tubes for a more interactive tubing experience, while One Stop rents out tubes with a covered bottom for a drier, more easygoing ride.  Take your pick!

Backdoor Sports

One Stop Ski Shop

The Tennis Center is one of the finest indoor/outdoor tennis facilities in the country and is available to the public by reservation. Hours of operation are from 8:00am to 9:00pm every day of the week.  There are 6 indoor cushioned hard courts, 6 outdoor clay courts, and 4 outdoor hard courts.

Strings in the Mountains Music Festival has enhanced the cultural landscape of Steamboat for 20 years with their extensive schedule of musical events that appeal to every age and musical inclination. Strings offers an international roster of musicians — from classical to bluegrass, Grammy winners to young rising stars — coming together throughout the summer to produce one of the country’s most wide-ranging music phenomena. For information on this season's concerts, visit Strings Music Festival.

The beautifully sculpted gardens of the Yampa River Botanic Park are a great place to take a break, and admission to the park is free to the public!  Benches, walkways, and a grassy knoll are available for picnicking, bird watching, or just relaxing.  The gardens attract a wide variety of native birds and butterflies.  Some of the miniature gardens included in the botanic park are the tranquility garden, the vegetable garden, the rose garden, the iris garden, the hummingbird garden, the rainbow garden, the medicinal herb garden, the children’s garden, and many, many more.  Throughout the summer, hour-long outdoor concerts called Music on the Green are featured every Thursday at noon.  The park is open from dawn to dusk from the first day of spring until the first heavy snowfall.  Contact the front desk for directions.

A great way to cool off in the summertime, Steamboat’s very own Howelsen Ice Arena hosts a plethora of activities and programs for all ages and ability levels.  From figure skating classes to hockey leagues, broomball to speed skating, private rentals to public skating sessions, you can find it all at the Howelsen Ice Arena, the coolest place in town.  They offer public skating sessions 7 days a week, so whatever your schedule, you can find time to come out and skate with your family and friends.  For those of you that do not own your own skates, they offer both figure skate and hockey skate rentals. Howelsen's public skating hours fluctuate from week to week. Please inquire at the front desk for the most current information.

At Rocky Mountain Ventures, they can customize half-day or full-day guided rock climbing trips in various surrounding locations, including Rabbit Ears Pass and the Fish Creek Falls area.  Adults, teenagers, and children as young as 6 are all more than welcome to participate, and they can accommodate anyone from first-timers to advanced climbers.  The climbing is all top-rope climbing, which means that the rope is attached to the climber, goes up through bolted anchors at the top, and goes down to the guide at the bottom who does the belaying. The climb’s height varies from 25 to 60 feet, although we also offer multi-pitch advanced climbing areas which can be as high as 450 feet. The hiking time from the parking area to the climbing location varies from 5 minutes at the beginner location to 20 minutes at the advanced areas, so all climbers should wear regular hiking shoes or boots.  Water bottles, day packs, and all climbing equipment (helmets, ropes, & harnesses) are provided.  Half day and full day trips are offered, for more information visit Rocky Mountain Ventures.

Barry Smith’s Mountain Sports Kayak School has been serving Northwest Colorado with top-quality kayak instruction since 1980.  Barry Smith has been exploring rivers and canyons most of his life, and has even been featured in magazines and on National Geographic Explorer, kayaking the Grand Canyon of the Colorado and the Hvita River Gorge in Iceland.  The most popular program at his Mountain Sports Kayak School, based right here in Steamboat, is structured for those who have never kayaked before or have tried it only a few times.  This 3-hour program is a great way for you and your family to experience the fun and challenge of kayaking.  All kayaks & equipment are provided. Classes are offered at 9:00am and 1:00pm, 7 days a week.

Enjoy the beauty of Colorado from a new perspective. Choose the river trip that is right for you. From spring runoff right into autumn splendor, our knowledgeable staff have several rafting trips that can fit your specific requirements. Be it an exhilarating whitewater thrill, a scenic and serene float trip or a fun filled afternoon on a "duckie". The rivers of Colorado provide family fun and lifelong memories!

There are plenty of fantastic kids’ summer programs available in Steamboat that your children will love. Yampatika, a great local non-profit organization, hosts a series of 2-hour activities and week-long day camps with an emphasis on nature exploration. The city of Steamboat offers the outdoor-oriented “Adventure Bound in Steamboat” day camp for elementary-age children as well as morning activities for younger children. Or you can opt for Steamboat Ski Resort’s very own day camp, the Kids’ Adventure Club, which is offered daily or weekly. Each of these programs runs from mid-June to late-August and children must be between 3 and 12 to participate. Please contact a Porches concierge for more details.