While many think of Steamboat as a winter destination, summer has grown in popularity at an incredible rate. Summer visitors are beginning to understand why the locals say that "you'll come for the winters, but stay for the summers". It is a wonderful time to be in the Yampa Valley.

Long before Steamboat Springs became the world-class ski resort it is today, the Ute indians adopted the area as their summer home. The inviting waters of numerous natural springs, mild climate, abundant wild game and rivers teeming with fish, made the area a true paradise. The town got it's name when trappers traveling through the area in the mid 1800's found a spring that made a chugging noise which sounded to them like a steamboat.

The valley and surrounding wilderness areas offer a perfect environment for an almost limitless variety of summer activities. These range from horseback riding to mountain biking, golf, hiking, rafting, kayaking, ballooning, tennis, rodeo, music festivals and many special events.

This only adds to the thriving life-style of the Western-town of Steamboat Springs which boasts a welcoming community of friendly people from around the globe, no matter when you choose to visit.

It's difficult to think of Steamboat as a resort town. More families than movie stars wander its streets. Mountain bikes or horseback are the preferred mode of summer transportation. Steamboat's retail giant is F.M. Light & Sons, whose slogan "Outfittin' the west since 1905" suggests a western heritage that existed long before skiing. Steamboat is a gem with no pretensions, just waiting to be discovered.

A walk down its one Main Street offers many opportunities for "window shoppers". Hours can pass browsing through the bookstore & coffee cafe set in a remodeled Victorian home. Shoppers can challenge their credit cards at rugged outerwear clothing shops, are galleries, unique gift boutiques and finish off the afternoon at Steamboat's own microbrewery or Old Town Pub!

Steamboat Springs lies in the Yampa Valley in the N.W. Colorado Rockies at a base elevation of 6,700ft.

The dry clean air environment invigorates visitors year-round. Summer months are blessed with lower precipitation and daytime temperatures that reach the 80's and average 60°F.