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The number of trails in the area is prolific. We have guide books at our chalets and will be happy to advise on the different options available. To give you a taste of what is out there below are some trail descriptions.

Please remember that trail conditions may vary and you should judge your physical ability cautiously to take account of our altitude. You should be in good physical condition to undertake any trails that require climbing.

Steamboat Ski Area
Emerald Mountain / Howelson Hill
Explore the Surrounding Area

STEAMBOAT SKI AREA
Mountain biking at Steamboat on Mt. Werner in the Medicine Bow/ Routt National Forest offers many thrills and challenges. Bikes are available for rent or of course you can bring your own bike. You can ride at your own pace on a network of well marked mountain trails. Individual trails on the mountain vary in length with the longest being up to 6 miles. Trails run as far as the top of Storm Peak. A few detours are possible. Helmets are required on the mountain. Mountain bike tickets are valid all day, weather permitting.

BIKE TRAILS
Profiles of major mountain bike trails are provided beside each trail description to assist you in planning your trips. These profiles show the general elevation changes encountered on various trails but may not show all details of terrain encountered.

DUSTER/BROADWAY LOOP From Thunderhead, ride across the mountain to Rendezvous Saddle. Beginners may want to return to Thunderhead the same way; this is the easiest mountain bike ride on the mountain. More advanced riders may return to Thunderhead or Valley View via Broadway and Spur Run ski trails. This alternative includes a 700-foot elevation descent and climb in the Elkhead area.

ZIG ZAG TRAIL Starting at Thunderhead Peak, Zig Zag starts down the Why Not ski trail and continues on double-track and road to the base of the mountain. This is the most popular trail to the bottom. Zig Zag includes some challenging terrain and great views!

VALLEY VIEW TRAIL The trail is primarily single-track to the bottom of the mountain and provides a more difficult alternative to the Zig Zag Trail. Predominantly downhill, there are some ups and downs, and the views make this vigorous ride well worth it. For an added twist, try taking the Elkhead trail to Moonlight, which starts with up-and-down terrain, then continues into a series of downhill switchbacks. Riding Elkhead to Valley View avoids double-track roads, making it single-track nearly all the way to the bottom. Another trail to Valley View is Huffman's, which starts at the top of the Silver Bullet gondola.

STORM PEAK CHALLENGE/PETE'S WICKED TRAIL Well-named, a challenging ride to the top of the Continental Divide. Start at Thunderhead and head uphill to the summit of Storm Peak. This trail will test your physical strength, with steep terrain, sharp switchbacks, and rugged trail conditions. But the view from the top will be worth it! Return via the same route, or complete the loop on Pete's Wicked Trail, for a very complete tour of the mountain.

DUSTER/SUNSHINE LOOP From Thunderhead, ride across the mountain to Rendezvous Saddle, then find a formidable single-track that climbs to 9,775 feet in the Sunshine Bowl area. The trail then traverses through the aspen trees in an area called The Shadows, famous in winter for its awesome powder skiing. Return to Thunderhead via the lower section of the Storm Peak Challenge.

CREEKSIDE LOOP Ride up Zig Zag trail from the base of the mountain, then return down a challenging single-track, which joins Burgess Creek Road briefly before returning to the mountain. This ride includes an elevation gain of over 1,000 feet with very steep uphill and downhill sections and four creek crossings.

SHORT CUT, TENDERFOOT & YOO HOO LOOPS Starting at the base of the mountain, you may try any of these loops, which share some of the same terrain. Yoo Hoo includes a challenging downhill. These loops offer something for just about any rider in good physical condition.

No formal maps exist of the trail network but you can start by climbing any of the double-track / jeep trails behind or adjacent to the horse stables at the base of the Alpine Slide, or by ascending the trail that climbs the ski jump out-runs, and joins Blackmere Drive, a moderate jeep road that will take you up to "The Quarry" - a fabulous lookout near the summit of Emerald Mtn. As you ride up Blackmere drive you will see a number of single track loops off either side. These can provide a fun challenge for the ride to The Quarry (either up or down), as well as "Steamboat Moab" - a short challenging section of slickrock just below the top of the ride. From the quarry you can ascend "The Lane of Pain" to the ridgeline of Emerald Mountain where "Lymans Luge" offers a challnging single-track downhill connection to the forest trails, or you can join the "Forest Traverse" from just below the quarry, which will connect you with many other fun (mostly singletrack) routes down and around the mountain.

STEAMBOAT - YAMPA CORE RIVER TRAIL Terrain - Easy ride except for steep descents and tight turns into the three railroad underpasses. Elevation Gain - Very little, follows the Yampa River grade. Length - About 5 miles of pavement. Suggested Maps - City of Steamboat map. Directions - The Core Trail is a concrete trail that follows the Yampa River through town. You can access the trail almost anywhere near the river but the west end of the trail is at the entrance to the Dream Island trailer park, just west of the Werner Library, and the south end is at Whistler Park, in a residential area behind the Holiday Inn. Watch out for numerous roller bladers, joggers, and other traffic. The underpasses are closed during the spring runoff due to flooding.

SPRING CREEK TRAIL - SHORT Terrain - Easy Elevation Gain - 200 ft Length - 4 miles Suggested Maps - Trails Illustrated: Clark, Buffalo Pass; Routt Ntl. Forest Directions - Park at the intersection of Maple and Amethyst just down Maple from the high school football field. Ride up the dirt road (watch for vehicles) to the Mountain Park. Continue on the road over the hill past the two ponds and picnic area and cross Spring Creek over the first bridge. The road continues with numerous rolling hills as it follows Spring Creek through the canyon. The short trip turns around at the second bridge. Return down the same road which now becomes a great downhill ride back to your vehicle.

SPRING CREEK TRAIL - LONG Terrain - Easy to moderate Elevation Gain - 1200 ft Length - 8 miles Suggested Maps - Trails Illustrated: Clark, Buffalo Pass; Routt Ntl. Forest Directions - Park at the intersection of Maple and Amethyst just down Maple from the high school football field. Ride up the dirt road (watch for vehicles) to the Mountain Park. Continue on the road over the hill past the two ponds and picnic area and cross Spring Creek over the first bridge. The road continues with numerous rolling hills as it follows Spring Creek through the canyon. Cross the creek the second time over the green walking bridge and follow the road another 1/4 mile and just start up the hill. The new Spring Creek Trail takes off to the right just above the start of the hill. The trail follows the canyon uphill another 4 miles with numerous crossings (I believe there are 13) of Spring Creek. All the bridges have been completed but with high spring run off you may still get your bike and/or your feet wet. The trail ends at the parking area across from the Dry Lake Campground on the Buffalo Pass Road. At this point you have the option of either returning back down the trail or heading down the Buffalo Pass Road to Strawberry Park. Turn left towards town then left again 1 mile later to take you past the schools and back to where you parked your vehicle. Note - many of us prefer to take this loop in reverse of how it is presented here. The ride up Buffalo Pass to the trailhead has some great views of the valley and the single track Spring Creek Trail is a real blast going down.

HOT SPRINGS TRAIL Terrain - Moderate - a steep, sustained uphill climb followed by a steep descent down a very narrow, rugged trail. Some road riding at the beginning and end. Elevation Gain - 600 ft Length - 17 miles Suggested Maps - Trails Illustrated - Clark, Buffalo Pass; Routt National Forest; Rocky Peak Topo Directions - Ride out the Strawberry Park Road from town. The pavement ends at about mile 3 and a gravel road continues across Soda Creek and up a long 2 mile climb to Copper Ridge. There is a parking area at the base of the hill if you choose to drive. There is no parking on the county road or at the Hot Springs Park. From the top of the hill (spectacular view of the ski mtn and valley below) there is a fast, steep descent to the Hot Springs. Pick up the Hot Springs trail at the far end of the parking area. Continue along the trail for 2 miles of great single track. Either return back up the trail to town (or vehicle) or turn left when the trail intersects a dirt road, then through two Forest Service gates down to County Road 129. Turn left on the paved road and complete the loop back to town.

MAD CREEK LOOP Terrain - Moderate to difficult - approximately a 1.5 mile steep climb then 1.5 mile descent on a dirt double track. Elevation Gain - 700 feet Length - 5.5 miles Suggested Maps - Trails Illustrated - Clark, Buffalo Pass; Routt National Forest Directions - Head out of town going west on Hwy 40 then turn north on Hwy 129 towards Clark. The start is at the Mad Creek parking lot, off County Road 129. Take the old Forest Service road which is 0.5 miles back towards town on Hwy 129 and go through the two Forest Service gates. Climb up the road (the Hot Springs trail takes off at about 0.5 miles) up over the ridge (1.5 mile steep climb) then down the other side (1.5 mile descent) to the Mad Creek valley. Cross Mad Creek over the bridge and head toward the cabin. Take the single track trail to the left just before you get to the cabin. Go through the green gate and turn left on the downhill single track (this is the intersection with the Red Dirt trail). Go through another Forest Service gate then enjoy a fast downhill back down to the parking lot. Watch out for the steep drop offs in the Mad Creek canyon. Note: do not take a dog with you in case of encounters with rattlesnakes!!

GREENVILLE MINE LOOP Terrain - Moderate - entire route on double track Elevation Gain - 1300 feet Length - 14 miles Suggested Maps - Trails Illustrated - Clark, Buffalo Pass & Hahn's Peak; Routt National Forest Directions - Head out of Steamboat going west on Hwy 40, then turn north on Hwy 129 to Clark. Forest Road #440 takes off to the right just before you enter the "town" of Clark. You can park at the Clark Store if you go inside to get permission or you can park on FR 440 beyond the first 1.5 miles which crosses private land. The road climbs for 2.6 miles to the intersection with FR #471 which goes to the right. Begin the loop by taking #471 about 2.5 miles to the intersection with FR #469 which goes to the left. Follow #471 almost another 2 miles where you will again meet #440. Turn left on #440 and ride 3.5 miles to complete the loop. Head to the right down the hill to your vehicle.

NIPPLE PEAK LOOP Terrain - Difficult Elevation Gain - 1200 feet Length - 21 miles Suggested Maps - Trails Illustrated - Hahn's Peak; Routt National Forest Directions - Head out of Steamboat going west on Hwy 40, then turn north on Hwy 129 to Steamboat Lake. Continue another 3 miles to the turnoff to the Hahn's Peak Lake Campground (road #486). At mile 2 the road makes a sharp turn to the left across a creek. The road you want is road #487 that takes off to the right in the middle of the sharp turn. I usually park the vehicle here. Ride 2 miles up the road until you see trail #1156 crossing. The trail to the right is the Nipple Peak Short Loop listed below. You want to take the single track trail to the left which heads up the hill. This trail will probably have numberous "hike-a-bike" sections before you get to the saddle at about 1.5 miles. Check out the view from the saddle, it is spectacular! The 2 mile ride down can be trecherous so take your time. At the bottom you intersect the California Park trail #1147. Turn right and begin a 4 mile grind to the saddle near Nipple Peak. The trail down has many drop offs so again be careful. About 2 miles down the hill you intersect the Iron Mountain road (#488) which is the Nipple Peak Long Loop #2 listed below. Continue across the Iron Mtn road on the single track for another 2 miles or so when you intersect road #047. Follow this road down until you get to Hwy 129 right at the Summit Creek Guard Station. Head up the hill for 2 miles to Columbine then down the hill 1.5 miles to the Hahn's Peak Lake Campground turnoff to the right. Ride up the road the final 2 miles to your vehicle.

RABBIT EARS / MOUNTAIN VIEW Terrain - Moderate to difficult Elevation Gain - 500 feet Elevation Loss - 3,500 feet down Mt. Werner Length - 26 miles Suggested Maps - Trails Illustrated - Buffalo Pass; Routt National Forest Directions - Head out of Steamboat going east on Hwy 40, up Rabbit Ears Pass, to the turnoff to Dumont Lake. Take the old highway past the turnoff to the lake until you find the "bronze marker" (a large stone monument marking the top of the original highway) on the north side of the road. Park your vehicle here. Begin the ride headed north on the dirt road (road #311), over the irrigation ditch, and up the hill. Continue on the road another 3 miles until the road crosses a creek in the middle of a flat meadow, heads up a hill with a turn to the left, and passes through a grove of trees. You will usually see cars parked here. The single track trail (trail #102) begins in the trees on the right. The first mile is a steep downhill with a short section of level at the bottom just before you cross Fishhook Creek. Head up the hill on the other side of the creek and follow the trail another mile to Fishhook Lake. The trail crosses the creek right where it exits the lake. Follow the trail up the hill and around the lake. At the far side of the lake there is a trail to the right going to Lost Lake. This is a 1/4 mile side trip well worth the time. The main trial continues past the Lost Lake intersection into the trees and through a couple of meadows another mile to Lake Elmo. The trail circles the lake and on the far side meets a very old jeep trail. (Note: If you dismount your bike right when the trail makes the sharp turn to the right and heads away from the lake, you can walk 25 yds. to the back side of the lake and find a small cold spring to fill your water bottles.) Follow this old jeep trail about 1/2 mile where you will come to a 4 way intersection. The trail to the right is a very short trip to Lake Percy and Round Lake. The trail straight ahead continues along the divide to Buffalo Pass. You want to take the trail to the left which heads to Long Lake. The trail meets an old road just before you get to Long Lake. Follow the road to the right about 1/4 mile and look for an obvious intersection to the left which goes down the hill. Drop down this road, cross the creek then the dam, and find the single track trail which continues from the far side of the dam. Start the descent down the Fish Creek Falls trail and within the first 1/8 mile you will see the Mtn View Trail making a sweeping turn up to the left. You ride about 2/3 mile on the new single track before you meet the old beetle road. Turn right on the road and ride another 1.5 miles at which point you should see the new single track taking off to your right. The trail leaves the road just before it opens into Long Park in fact you can see the park through the trees. It's a little over 5.5 miles from the old beetle road to the top of the ski mountain. This section of the Mtn View Trail has some spectacular vistas so be sure to bring your camera. From the top of the ski mountain you can turn left to ride down Pete's Wicked Trail (if you still have the energy) or you can turn right and head down the Storm Peak Challenge trail to the ski area base. The Fish Creek Falls trail (from Long Lake) is a 7 mile trail back to Steamboat. The USFS plans on erecting signs warning that this is a dangerous trail and should be used by expert riders only. The trail starts out very gentle with an easy path through meadows and beside the creek. As you approach what is known as the second falls, the trail becomes extremely steep and rocky. The smarter riders dismount here and hike-a-bike through the difficult sections but walking with a bike the footing can still be treacherous. Once you cross the bridge, the trail becomes less trecherous but not necessarily easier. The closer you get to the bottom, the more hikers you will encounter so please go slow and give them the right of way. The trail bottoms out at the famous Fish Creek Falls bridge. From the bridge, you are asked to walk your bike the short climb to the parking area where you will meet the road for the final 3 mile ride back to town.

RABBIT EARS / BUFFALO PASS Terrain - Moderate to difficult Elevation Gain - 500 feet Elevation Loss - 4,000 feet down Buffalo Pass Road Length - 35 miles Suggested Maps - Trails Illustrated - Buffalo Pass; Routt National Forest Directions - Head out of Steamboat going east on Hwy 40, up Rabbit Ears Pass, to the turnoff to Dumont Lake. Take the old highway past the turnoff to the lake until you find the "bronze marker" (a large stone monument marking the top of the original highway) on the north side of the road. Park your vehicle here. Begin the ride headed north on the dirt road (road #311), over the irrigation ditch, and up the hill. Continue on the road another 3 miles until the road crosses a creek in the middle of a flat meadow, heads up a hill with a turn to the left, and passes through a grove of trees. You will usually see cars parked here. The single track trail (trail #102) begins in the trees on the right. The first mile is a steep downhill with a short section of level at the bottom just before you cross Fishhook Creek. Head up the hill on the other side of the creek and follow the trail another mile to Fishhook Lake. The trail crosses the creek right where it exits the lake. Follow the trail up the hill and around the lake. At the far side of the lake there is a trail to the right going to Lost Lake. This is a 1/4 mile side trip well worth the time. The main trial continues past the Lost Lake intersection into the trees and through a couple of meadows another mile to Lake Elmo. The trail circles the lake and on the far side meets a very old jeep trail. (Note: If you dismount your bike right when the trail makes the sharp turn to the right and heads away from the lake, you can walk 25 yds. to the back side of the lake and find a small cold spring to fill your water bottles.) Follow this old jeep trail about 1/2 mile where you will come to a 4 way intersection. The trail to the right is a very short trip to Lake Percy and Round Lake. The trail to the left heads to Long Lake and the Mountain View trail to the Stmbt Ski Area. You want to take the single track trail straight ahead which will continue along the divide to Buffalo Pass. This 6 mile section is generally up-hill although not too difficult. The trail ends in a parking area about 1/4 mile from Summit Lake and the top of Buffalo Pass. You now have an 11 mile descent on a rough road. You will meet the pavement at the bottom of the hill . At the stop sign turn left and ride back into town. As an alternative, you can ride 8 miles down the hill to Dry Lake Campground. The Spring Creek Trail takes off from the parking area on the left, directly across from the Dry Lake Campground. This is a wonderful, wide single track trail which will take you 6 miles down into town while crossing Spring Creek 15 times.

Steamboat Bike Resources
If you are unable to bring your own equipment we are able to arrange bike rental packages for guests wishing to check out the great trails in the area.