2012 Steamboat Spring Bike Guide

2012 Bike GuideSTEAMBOAT SPRINGS

Bike Town USA ®

MAPS & TIPS ROAD RIDES FAMILY CRUISING SAFETY TIPS

Trail Descriptions p. 35

Locals’ Favorite Rides P. 16

2 STEAMBOAT SPRINGS BIKE GUIDE

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Community NewsWelcome Letter ................................................. 10What’s New ....................................................... 11Event Calendar................................................... 13Marquee Events ................................................ 14Locals’ Favorites Rides ..................................... 16Bike Town USA ............................................... 18Bike Shop Round-up ...................................... 20Bike Rentals ........................................................... 21Local Bike Manufacturers ............................. 22SSWSC Update .............................................. 24Over the Hill Gang ........................................ 25Using the Bus....................................................... 25Best Riders in the ‘Boat .................................. 26Adaptive Cycling ............................................. 27

SafetyRiding with Livestock ...................................... 28Safe Routes to School .................................... 29Safte Routes Map ............................................ 30 Riding Right ........................................................... 32IMBA ..................................................................... 32Road Safety .......................................................... 33Bike Tips ................................................................. 33 Routt County Riders ....................................... 34

Ride GuideUsing the Guide................................................ 36 Historic Bike Tour .............................................. 37Core Trail Map.................................................. 38Emerald Mountain ............................................ 40Beall/Ridge Trails ................................................ 44Rotary Trail ............................................................ 45

Ski Area.................................................................. 46Skyline Trail............................................................ 51BMX/Pump Tracks .......................................... 52Spring Creek Trail .............................................. 53Hot Springs Area ............................................. 54Lower Bear ........................................................... 56Nipple Peak ......................................................... 57Big Red Park ......................................................... 58Grizzly-Helena ................................................... 59Seedhouse ............................................................. 60Harrison Creek.................................................... 62The Divide Trail .................................................. 63Lynx Pass ................................................................ 65Road/Mixed Rides .......................................... 66Bike Town USA Partners ............................. 68Family Rides ........................................................... 71Hayden................................................................... 73Spoke: Tammy Jacques-Grewal ............... 74

Table of ContentsInside the Guide

200Riders 26Miles 1Cause

July 28, 2012 • Steamboat Springs, Colorado •ride4yellow.com

Fighting cancer globally and locally

RIDE 4 YELLOW


Doug Davis - Director, Steamboat Springs Bike Town USA Initiative

Rich Lowe - Chairman, Steamboat Springs Bike Town USA Initiative

Eugene Buchanan - Magazine editorMike Polucci - Advertising director

Laura Tamucci - Creative services managerSteve Balgenorth - Circulation manager

PhotographersMatt Stensland, John F. Russell, Joel

Reichenberger, Ben Clark, Dave Dietrich, Doug Davis, Aryeh Copa and Larry Pierce

MapsRob Marin

Advertising representativeErich Strotbeck

Advertising designTodd Wilson, Rachel Girard, Stephanie

Corder and Severiano DeMarco

For advertising information, call Mike Polucci at 970-871-4215

Bike Town [email protected]

Cover photo by David Dietrich

2012 Bike GuideBike Town USA ®

Luxury Rental Homes andCatered Chalets

E - mail: [email protected]

MovingMountains.com

full service catered packages include

private and exclusive

personal chef preparing breakfast and dinnerairport pickup and private 4wd suburban ski shuttlecomplete vacation planning services

hot tub and dvdfree high speed internetcomplimentary toiletries5-star amenities & services

John AnarellaVicky BarneyKelly BonifacePaige BoucherAaron BrownJon CariveauAlexis Casale

Ben ClarkAryeh CopaRobin CraigenPatrick Delaney Tammie DelaneyJonathan FlintKent Foster

Todd Givnish

Gina GretherPaula GuentherDerek HodsonJanet HrubySarah Kane

Craig KennedyMatt LavingtonGavin MaliaBill MartoranoLane MaloneRob MarinHeather

McLaughlinBarkley RobinsonGina Robison

Bill RootRandy RudasicsJim SchneiderJenette Settle

Jo StankoChris TamucciJulie Taulman

J.R. ThompsonBrock Webster

Cathy WeidemerEssam Welch

Pat WestSteve WilliamsChris Wilson

The following people have been instrumental in the creation of the Bike Guide. Bike Town USA would like to thank them for their vision and hard work.


Welcometo the Steamboat Springs Bike Guide

Steamboat Springs is known as Ski Town USA for our terrain, snowfall and rich history in producing world-

class, Olympic-level, winter sport athletes. We’re also known for our Western hospitality and fact that we’re a real community that just so happens to have a world-class ski resort as well as a ski hill and Nordic

jumps owned and operated by the city. The efforts of the Bike Town USA Initiative

are designed to build a similar legacy for cycling in Steamboat. We believe that Steamboat’s summer season offers the same sort of recreational paradise for

residents and visitors, with cycling a major showcase. Steamboat is unique in that it offers more than 500

miles of singletrack mountain bike trails and that, unlike other Rocky Mountain landscapes, it’s not landlocked by steep valley walls, allowing it also to offer terrifi c road and cross-county cycling opportunities. The town also offers the 7.5-mile, paved Yampa River Core Trail paralleling the Yampa River, offering a wonderful setting for family cruising, picnicking, bike commuting and more, and the Steamboat Ski and Resort Corp is building a world-class bike park on Mount Werner. All of this comes at a perfect pedaling town elevation of 6,695 feet, a full 2,000 feet lower than most other Colorado mountain resort towns.

This Bike Guide will help you fi nd the best place

to ride here based on your interests. You’ll also fi nd resources for renting and buying equipment, safety pointers, an inside look at our biking community and an events calendar highlighting what you can participate in or cheer on as a spectator.

Finally, while you’re here enjoying our world-class bicycling, make sure to enjoy everything else Steamboat offers, from horseback riding, hiking and the weekly pro rodeo to hot air balloon rides, hot springs, fi shing, the Howler alpine slide and our wide variety of shopping and restaurant options.

Above all, thanks for visiting with your bike, and here’s to many miles of happy road and trail riding ahead. Rich LoweChairman, Bike Town USA Initiative Committee


What a year it’s been for Bike Town USA. To have received the Gold rating from the American League of Bicyclists is an accomplishment that truly highlights the progress the community has made during the past 12 months. Credit goes to a long list of individuals, government entities, organizations and businesses. Thank you and congratulations to all involved.

New lift-served terrain• Steamboat Ski Resort has opened preview sections

of three dedicated gravity routes.

More events• The 2012 Cycling Events Calendar includes a jam-

packed lineup of recreational and competitive cycling opportunities, including the new Big Mountain Enduro, Steamboat Stinger mountain bike race, Tour

de Steamboat, nationally sanctioned BMX racing opportunities, new adaptive cycling events and charity rides to support a variety of great causes.

Improved signage• The city of Steamboat Springs will be adding

additional striping and signage to enhance convenience and safety for multi-modal transportation.

• New way-fi nding signage has been installed to guide riders from the ski area and mountain/condos area to key connectors and Howelsen Hill.

• A new pedestrian underpass was constructed near Third Street and Fish Creek Falls Road.

• Construction of the West Lincoln Park Bike and Pedestrian Bridge over the Yampa River near the Deport Art Center on the Yampa River Core Trail.

• The publishing of a new kid-friendly Safe Routes to

School map.• Improved connector of the Core Trail at Mount

Werner Road.

New opportunities• The Parks and Recreation Commission and Howelsen

Emerald Mountain Partnership are working on trail planning for beginner access from the top of the chairlift at Howelsen Hill over to the Yampa River Core Trail at 13th Street near the Depot Art Center.

• The Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club and city of Steamboat Springs are exploring opportunities to collaborate on bike park amenities.

• The completion of the Rotary and Beall trails on the backside of Emerald Mountain, offering new terrain that is accessible, fun and challenging for a wide range of riders.

What’s new in Cycling in Steamboat Springs?

12 STEAMBOAT SPRINGS BIKE GUIDESTEAMBOAT SPRINGS BIKE GUIDESTEAMBOAT SPRINGS BIKE GUIDE


MAY19 Routt County Riders Bike Swap

www.routtcountyriders.org24 Team Flying Wheels BMX Race Series 30 Strawberry Park School Bike Rally30 Town Challenge Mountain Bike Series

www.townchallenge.com

JUNECOLORADO BIKE TO WORK

MONTH1 Soda Creek School Bike Rally6 Steamboat Ski & Bike Kare Women’s

Group - Mountain Bike www.steamboatskiandbike.com

6 SSWSC Road Training Race Series www.sswsc.org

7 Team Flying Wheels BMX Race Series 11 SSWSC Gravity Team www.sswsc.org13 Town Challenge Mountain Bike Race

Series www.townchallenge.com14 Team Flying Wheels BMX Race Series14 SSWSC Gravity Team www.sswsc.org15 Gondola opens for summer season,

Steamboat Ski Area www.steamboat.com18 SSWSC Gravity Team www.sswsc.org20 Steamboat Ski & Bike Kare Women’s



21 SSWSC Gravity Team www.sswsc.org23 Optimist Club Youth Bicycle Rodeo25 to 29 Bike to Work Week

www.routtcountyriders.org25 SSWSC Gravity Team www.sswsc.org26 SSWSC Skills Clinics - Mountain Bike

www.sswsc.orgJune 26 to Aug. 7 SSWSC BMX Group

(Two four-week sessions) www.sswsc.org27 Bike to Work Day

www.routtcountyriders.org 27 Town Challenge Mountain Bike Series

www.townchallenge.com27 SSWSC Youth Mountain Bike Program

www.sswsc.org27 SSWSC Skills Clinics - Road Bike

www.sswsc.org28 Team Flying Wheels BMX Race Series28 SSWSC Gravity Team www.sswsc.org

JULY2 SSWSC Gravity Team www.sswsc.org3 Wheels at the Mountain

www.steamboatmountainvillage.com5 SSWSC Gravity Team www.sswsc.org8 STARS Sunday Stroll Bike Rides

www.steamboatstars.com9 SSWSC Gravity Team www.sswsc.org10 SSWSC Skills Clinics - Mountain Bike

www.sswsc.org10 Wheels at the Mountain

www.steamboatmountainvillage.com11 Town Challenge Mountain Bike Race

Series www.townchallenge.com11 SSWSC Youth Mountain Bike Program


www.sswsc.org12 Team Flying Wheels BMX Race Series12 SSWSC Gravity Team www.sswsc.org16 Team Flying Wheels BMX Race Series16 SSWSC Gravity Team www.sswsc.org17 Wheels at the Mountain

www.steamboatmountainvillage.com18 Steamboat Ski & Bike Kare Women’s


18 SSWSC Youth Mountain Bike Program www.sswsc.org

19 SSWSC Gravity Team www.sswsc.org21 Steamboat Big Mountain Enduro

www.steamboat.com21 Eighth annual Eriksen Tour de

Steamboat Road cycling fundraiser; rides include 110-mile “Gore Gruel,” 40-mile Stagecoach ride and family friendly Core Trail ridewww.rockypeakproductions.com

22 Steamboat Lake Sprint Triathlon www.withoutlimits.com

22 STARS Sunday Stroll Bike Rides www.steamboatstars.com

23 SSWSC Gravity Team www.sswsc.org24 SSWSC Skills Clinics - Mountain Bike



Series www.townchallenge.com25 SSWSC Youth Mountain Bike

Program www.sswsc.org25 SSWSC Skills Clinics - Road Bike

www.sswsc.org26 SSWSC Gravity Team www.sswsc.org28 Ride 4 Yellow Mountain Bike

Fundraiser www.ride4yellow.com 30 SSWSC Gravity Team www.sswsc.org31 Wheels at the Mountain

www.steamboatmountainvillage.com

AUGUST1 Steamboat Ski & Bike Kare Women’s




2 Team Flying Wheels BMX Race Series2 SSWSC Gravity Team www.sswsc.org5 STARS Sunday Stroll Bike Rides

www.steamboatstars.com6 SSWSC Gravity Team www.sswsc.org7 SSWSC Skills Clinics - Mountain Bike



Series www.townchallenge.com8 SSWSC Youth Mountain Bike Program

www.sswsc.org8 SSWSC Skills Clinics-Road Bike

www.sswsc.org9 Team Flying Wheels BMX Race Series

2012Steamboat Cycling Events

Continued on page 14

27 SSWSC Skills Clinics - Road Bike www.sswsc.org

28 Team Flying Wheels BMX Race Series28 Team Flying Wheels BMX Race Series28 Team Flying Wheels BMX Race Series28 SSWSC Gravity Team28 SSWSC Gravity Team

JULY2 SSWSC Gravity Team3 Wheels at the Mountain

www.steamboatmountainvillage.com5 SSWSC Gravity Team8 STARS Sunday Stroll Bike Rides

www.steamboatstars.com9 SSWSC Gravity Team10 SSWSC Skills Clinics - Mountain Bike



www.townchallenge.com11 SSWSC Youth Mountain Bike Program


12 Team Flying Wheels BMX Race Series12 SSWSC Gravity Team www.sswsc.org16 Team Flying Wheels BMX Race Series

www.sswsc.org 2 Team Flying Wheels BMX Race Series2 SSWSC Gravity Team www.sswsc.org

Steamboat Cycling Events


Last year’s USA Pro Cycling Challenge is far from the only bicycling event hanging its helmet in Steamboat. This summer’s cycling season offers plenty of other pedaling events to take part in.

Town Challenge Mountain Bike SeriesRare does an event better solidify the local cycling

scene than Steamboat’s annual Town Challenge Race Series. Held every summer, the seven-race series offers hill-climb and cross-country events with a whopping 24 categories, from pro/open and three different age groups for men’s and women’s expert, sport and novice divisions to kids categories and even singlespeed. Points are awarded for each race (best six of seven), with the results tallied for top bragging rights at a raucous party at season’s end. Riders can register ahead of time online or at the city’s Parks, Open Space and Recreational Services Department offi ce, or on-site on race day. This year’s events will be held May 30, June 13, June 27, July 11, July 25, Aug. 8 and Aug. 22. “It’s become more popular than ever,” says series organizer Gretchen Sehler, whose events draw as many as 200 riders each week. “It’s a super fun time and great way to bring local riders together.”Info: www.townchallenge.com

Tour de SteamboatWhen mountain bike hall of famer Kent Eriksen

fi rst brought the Tour de Steamboat into existence, it was a motley collection of 80 riders pedaling a 50-mile loop to Oak Creek and back. Now, thanks to local sponsorship from Prudential Steamboat Realty, it draws as many as 1,000 riders each year and benefi ts the Sunshine Kids Foundation, which brings children with cancer to Steamboat for a week of fun. Co-organized by Eriksen’s wife, Katie Lindquist, the noncompetitive event offers rides of three distances, including a 40-mile Stagecoach ride, family-friendly Yampa River Core Trail ride and the infamous 110-mile

Gore Gruel, which takes riders from Steamboat over Rabbit Ears and Gore passes and back. “It’s a great event for a great cause,” says Eriksen, who often rides it tandem with Katie. “The Sunshine Kids program adds quality of life to children with cancer by giving with exciting, positive group activities so they can do what kids are supposed to do — have fun and celebrate life.” This year’s eighth annual event will be held July 21. Info: www.rockypeakproductions.com

Ride 4 YellowOn the philanthropic front, few events rival

the Ride 4 Yellow, a 26-mile mountain bike ride put on by the 4 Yellow Foundation to help raise money to fi ght cancer globally and locally. As a Livestrong grassroots event, the Steamboat event provides funding for cancer support locally through the Yampa Valley Community Foundation. In its inaugural year in 2010, the event featured 200 cyclists of all abilities, including cycling legend Lance Armstrong, and raised more than $300,000.The ride is limited to the fi rst 200 cyclists who

pledge to raise at least $250. The group provides riders with the tools necessary to help raise funds, and riders can join as an individual or a team.“It’s a great event that’s really taken off,” says

co-organizer Kerry Shea, adding that it was started by passionate riders who wanted to help make a difference in the fi ght against cancer. “The support has been tremendous.” Now in its third year, the 2012 Ride 4 Yellow will

take place Saturday, July 28, and again send riders on the 26-mile single-track of the Continental Divide Trail. Info: www.ride4yellow.com

Steamboat Stinger If last year’s inaugural Steamboat Stinger was

any indication, riders are in for a healthy dose of punishment Emerald Mountain-style again this year.

Marquee Steamboat9 SSWSC Gravity Team www.sswsc.org 11 Steamboat Stinger Mountain Bike

Race 50-mile mountain bike race; full/half trail marathonswww.honeystinger.com/steamboatstinger www.runningseries.com

13 SSWSC Gravity Team www.sswsc.org

15 Steamboat Ski And Bike Kare Women’s Group - Mountain Bike www.steamboatskiandbike.com




19 Steamboat Olympic Triathlon At Lake Catamount www.withoutlimits.com

19 STARS Sunday Stroll Bike Rides www.steamboatstars.com


22 Town Challenge Mountain Bike Race Series www.townchallenge.com

23 Team Flying Wheels BMX Race Series


25 STARS Biking The Boat Charity Ride www.steamboatstars.com

29 Steamboat Ski & Bike Kare Women’s Group - Mountain Bike www.steamboatskiandbike.com

30 Team Flying Wheels BMX Race Series

31 to Sept. 3 Steamboat Stage Race Presented By Moots Cycles www.bikesteamboat.com

SEPTEMBER21 Steamboat OktoberWest Pedaling

Posse Parade

OCTOBER6 Sixth annual Steamboat Springs

Mustache Ride And Fundraiser for Routt County Humane Society

From page 13

Continued on page 15

Cycling Events


Last year, nearly 300 mountain bikers showed up to race 50 miles up and over Emerald Mountain, not once, but twice, grinding up frontside trails and then down the Ridge trail and back up the Beall trail in a two-loop circuit. Sponsored and organized by local energy food company Honey Stinger, this year’s event on Aug. 11 to 12 again will offer solo and duo divisions and also add half and full marathon trail races as part of the Steamboat Springs Running Series. As many as 400 mountain bike and 400 runner spots are available.“Racing is in our DNA at Honey Stinger so we

decided to promote the great trails we have so close to town by launching the event last year,” says Honey Stinger’s Len Zanni. “After our fi rst successful year, we fi gured a trail race on the same weekend made sense too. It’s going to be a big weekend party.”As far as who to beat, riders better eat plenty of

Honey Stinger waffl es and chews if they hope to unseat last year’s winners Alex Grant and Katie Compton. Info: www.honeystinger.com/steamboatstinger

Steamboat EnduroYeti Cycles and subsidiary Bigfoot Productions

are bringing its Big Mountain Enduro Series to Steamboat on Aug. 17 and 18. “This year marks the arrival of America’s Enduro scene,” says organizer Keith Darner. Aimed at all-mountain riders, the Steamboat portion of the series follows the 26-mile Continental Divide Trail from Rabbit Ears Pass to Steamboat Ski Area and is expected to draw more than 200 riders. Other events in the series include a race over Kennebec Pass in Durango (Sept. 1 and 2) and the Whole Enchilada Enduro in Moab, Utah, on Sept. 29 and 30. Entry fees are $150 and include post race meal/party, socks, T-shirt, sweatshirt and day-of-race shuttle. “They’re all designed to be backcountry experiences and in-line with the events that set the stage for American enduro racing like the Downieville Classic,” Darner says. “The whole premise is enduro racing on raw backcountry trails. Finally, enduro racing is coming about in the U.S. a bit more.” Info: www.yeticycles.com

Steamboat Stage RaceThe idea for the Steamboat Stage Race started

when founder Corey Piscopo moved to town in 2008 and saw an opportunity for a new event on Labor Day weekend. He envisioned a bike event that would draw racers from across Colorado as well as encourage new road racers in Steamboat. Its uniqueness stems from its stage race format,

similar to the Tour de France, which requires racers to compete in all four stages/days of racing. “On top of that, it offers 10 different racing categories for men and women, based on age and ability, with equal prize money for the Pro men and women’s fi elds, which isn’t very common in bike racing,” Piscopo says. Last year’s highlights included the biggest junior fi eld yet and saw longtime pro racer Scott Moniger win the men’s Pro 1/2 race and Kasey Clark with the women’s 1/2/3 race.This year’s fourth annual stage race is slated for

Aug. 31 to Sept. 3. “The fi rst three years have been pretty awesome with pro riders racing alongside local racers,” Piscopo says, adding that this year’s event should draw nearly 400 competitors to the hills and streets of Steamboat.Info: www.bikesteamboat.com

From page 14


Locals’ Favorite Rides

Bill GamberPresident, Honey Stinger“My favorite is a

ride known only by its initials, which takes off behind my house off

Strawberry Park Road. It’s great singletrack in a wilderness setting, ranging from open meadows to forests of aspen and pine, and ends with a climb back to the hot springs, where you can soak right after your ride.”

Rob MitchellPresident, Moots“I like hitting the

Emerald Mountain loop after work. I ride from my house down Fish Creek Falls Road to

Howelsen, then head up the Bluffs Loop and Lupine to the Quarry. After taking in the view of town, I duck left onto Blair Witch and climb Quarry Mountain to the Ridge Road. Then I hit Root Canal to Stairway to Heaven and cut right onto Abbey’s to Hudson’s. Then it’s down MGM to either Eye-to-Eye or the meadow switchbacks to Molly’s, which may be my favorite trail on Emerald. By the time I reach the bottom of Howelsen, my mind is solely focused on what beer I’m going to have when I get home — after the mile climb back up Fish Creek.”

Chad FleischerOlympian, President, Fleischer Sport“My favorite

ride is the Divide Trail starting from Dumont Lake on

top of Rabbit Ears Pass. It’s a late summer ride but worth waiting for because it has all the elements of a fantastic ride — scenery, little traffi c, rolling terrain, limited climbing, singletrack and a few easy technical aspects. You can ride it fast and go for it or take it easy with a lakeside lunch stop along the way.”

Barkley RobinsonRealtor, Former King of the Rockies/ Laramie Enduro Champion“My favorite

mountain bike ride is the Stinger loop on Emerald Mountain (down Ridge Trail and up Beall). It’s a killer 25-mile loop of signature Steamboat singletrack with loads of fast climbing, fl owing descents and expansive views — all right in our backyard. For road riding, it’s the coal mine loop. From town, take Routt County Road 33 to the coal mine and then over the hills to Oak Creek. Finish the loop on C.R. 14 by Stagecoach Reservoir for a scenic 50-miler, or for the climbing ride, turn around and hit all the hills in reverse. Hint: Pack a lunch!”

Mark SatkiewiczPresident, SmartWool, Triathlete “I have three

favorite rides. One is the coal mine through Stagecoach loop. It has fi ve climbs and

I can test myself throughout the year and see my improvement. I also ride Elk River Road to Columbine and Seedhouse for a 78-miler. I go early in the morning and always see animals. I also do an in-town ride through Dakota Ridge and to the schoolhouse and then to the offi ce. It’s 30 miles and close to home. It’s in town with the best of everything: climbing, fl ats and lots of people riding around.”

Caroline LaliveDownhill/Super G Olympian, 1998, 2002“I like anything on

Emerald Mountain. There’s something surreal and simple

about those trails. If I had to pick one, it’s Larry’s, fi nishing with a quick trip across prayer fl ag meadow. It reminds of a giant slalom ski race, with its sweeping, banked turns. The meadow feels like my own private oasis. I often stop and marvel at this hidden spot in the middle of town. It’s one of my favorite places in Steamboat.”

13 Steamboat Leaders Share � eir Secret Cycling Stashes

WWW.STEAMBOATBIKETOWN.COM 17WWW.STEAMBOATBIKETOWN.COMWWW.STEAMBOATBIKETOWN.COMWWW.STEAMBOATBIKETOWN.COMWWW.STEAMBOATBIKETOWN.COMWWW.STEAMBOATBIKETOWN.COMWWW.STEAMBOATBIKETOWN.COM

Corey PiscopoFounder, Steamboat Stage Race“I like the Buff

Pass climb because it’s on dirt and takes you to some pretty incredible

and remote spots. You can ride to it from town and be out in remote wilderness with incredible views pretty quickly. An added bonus is when the gates are closed, restricting cars and leaving the road entirely to bikers until you reach snow. Plus it climbs 3,100 feet in 10.5 miles, so it’s a solid training ride.”

Nelson CarmichaelOlympic Bronze Medalist, Moguls, 1992 “I like the climb

up Mount Werner. It can be arduous,

but the payoff is worth it. I start up Mt. Werner, turning onto Yoo Hoo, then head up Sitz and Valley View and onto Spur Run. From the top of the gondola, it’s down Zig Zag to loop back to the base or, if I’m game for more, it’s up to the summit via Elkhead, Chisholm Trail and Storm Peak Challenge. It’s 3,400 vertical feet to the summit, and possibly that many calories burned. Thankfully, it’s all downhill from there, starting with Pete’s Wicked, Cathy’s Cutoff, Sunshine and back down Zig Zag. It has everything — tough climbs, smooth singletrack, tight corners, fast rollers, jumps, boulders, logs, aspens, pines, open meadows, and great views.

Kelly BonifaceProfessional Mountain Bike Racer“No question —

Emerald Mountain is my favorite place to ride in the whole valley. I can coast

down from my house and be riding fantastic singletrack in just fi ve minutes. With the new trails on the backside, I can ride up there all day and never do the same trail twice. It’s a gem right in our backyard.”

Murray SelleckManager, Ski Haus“My favorite has

to be the Tour de Steamboat ride (Gore Pass Gruel), which includes Rabbit Ears, Gore

and Yellowjacket passes. At 100-plus miles, it has everything a roadie is looking for — long climbs, crazy fast descents, headwinds, crosswinds, an occasional tailwind, and big views. You never know what you’ll get or how your body will react. A favorite ride shouldn’t be one you nail every time; it should also challenge you, which this one does.”

Rishi Grewal3-time 24 Hours World Champion, Former Nat’l Road Champion“Easily my favorite

trail ride is to ride up the ski area and then descend back on Pete’s Wicked trail to Cathy’s Cutoff to Sunshine to Moonlight to Valley View and fi nally Yoo Hoo. It’s a fun ride that will test all your skills and leave you satisfi ed to have made it to the bottom safely.”

Chris JohnsOwner, Wheels Bike Shop“Rock Creek and

Tepee Creek. It’s a bit of a drive but well worth it — especially

when you’re tired of the riding around town and the regular trails are dusty. It’s tranquil and you probably won’t see anyone else. It has gentle climbs, excellent singletrack, lush forests, creek crossings, wildlife and open meadows. I have plenty more hidden treasures, as well. Just bring me a sandwich at the shop and I’ll tell you.”

Kent EriksenOwner, Kent Eriksen Cycles“My favorite ride is right out our back door by Strawberry Park Hot

Springs. We ride Lower Bear to Elk Park Road, cross the creek and keep riding up Upper Bear. Then we hike-a-bike across Summit Park and up Ball Bearing Pass for an incredible overlook into the Zirkels. From there, we retrace our route. It’s all downhill, technical at fi rst, then simple fl owing singletrack right back home. No driving, no cars, purely fun playing in the backyard.”


By Eugene Buchanan

Trail improvements. A world-class bike path. Bike to work and school initiatives. Bike Summit meetings. BMX and pump tracks. Freeride trails. A local race series to end all race series. Two bike manufacturers. An energy food company co-owned by Lance Armstrong. The USA Pro Cycling Challenge.

Add these all together, combined with world-class terrain and a great community that’s passionate about cycling, and it’s easy to see why the Bike Town USA movement is gaining momentum in Steamboat Springs. So much so that the League of American Bicyclists recently bestowed Steamboat with its Gold Level Bicycle Friendly Community designation. In short, cycling is becoming as much a part of the town as its skiing.

“As integral as skiing is to our economy, biking provides an economic driver for the summer and shoulder seasons, making Steamboat a year-round destination,” says Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association CEO Tom Kern. “We have great biking resources for almost every type of rider. Biking is not a trend here, but an integral part of the community.”

Local bike businesses, as well as other businesses throughout town, are benefi ting from this boom. Orange Peel Bicycles owner Brock Webster has

seen business grow every year. So has Steamboat Ski & Bike Kare owner Harry Martin, who adds that 2011 was the store’s best year to date. And he says that nearly 60 percent of his business now is centered around biking. “Last summer, I saw more people come here just to go riding than any other year,” he says. “And they came from the Front Range, Texas and beyond.”

Like skiers, these visitors represent an affl uent demographic, one the town hopes to continue to entice to come to Steamboat. According to the National Sporting Goods Association, 30 percent of all adult bicyclists in the U.S. live in households earning $100,000 or more. Bikers also have a median household income of $59,000, signifi cantly higher then the U.S. average of $48,946. And regular cyclists — those who cycle at least once a week — have a household income of at least $75,000 per year.

All this is why the burgeoning Bike Town USA Initiative is continuing to capitalize on the craze. It has hosted Bike Summit meetings for the past two years, a think-tank to improve the quality of life in Steamboat through bikes, and it’s working on other initiatives, with key partners, to continue promoting bicycling in the ’Boat.

As part of its efforts to grow Steamboat’s monthly sales tax revenue by 5 percent this summer, the Chamber also is banking on bikes by promoting bicycling, including hosting a “familiarization” trip in

July that will have journalists spending two days in Steamboat before embarking on a bike ride to Fort Collins; it hopes the testimonials it receives will entice more bikers to visit here.

Still, like topping Rabbit Ears Pass when riding the Gore Gruel, there’s still a long way to go. “While initiatives like the Bike Town USA campaign and USA Pro Cycling Challenge help, the movement is still in its infancy,” Webster says. “Steamboat’s biking awareness has improved, but it still has a long way to go.”

Nevertheless, with trail improvements, better

Bike Town USA

According to Boulder, Colorado’s Outdoor Foundation, bicycling:

• Is the second most popular outdoor activity in the United States, enjoyed by 60 million adult Americans each year

• Contributes $133 billion annually to the U.S. economy each year

• Supports nearly 1.1 million jobs across the U.S.

• Generates $17.7 billion in annual federal and state tax revenue

• Supports nearly 1.1 million jobs across the U.S.

• Bicycling brings more than $1 billion to the Colorado state economy. Contributes $6.2 billion annually (and 60,000 jobs) to the regional economy in the eight-state Rocky Mountain region

• Is enjoyed by 4 million people — 27 percent of the adult population — in the Mountain States region (www.bikesbelong.org)

Stats

• 47 percent of Americans say they would like more bike facilities in their communities.• On a round-trip commute of 10 miles, bicyclists save $10 daily. • For every 1 mile pedaled rather than driven, nearly 1 pound of CO² is saved.• 80 percent of mountain bikers have taken at least one overnight trip to go mountain biking.• On average, homes located on a bike boulevard are worth $5,757 more than homes not on

one.• The more and longer an employee commutes by bicycle, the lower the rate of absenteeism.• The health benefi t of a kilometer of cycling is valued at $1.

Did you know?


signage, more events, a “free” bikes program by the city, publications like the Bike Guide, and the ski area continuing to invest in the sport, things are on the right track. “Biking is huge here,” says Bill Gamber, founder of Honey Stinger, which recently brought Lance Armstrong in as a partner. “There aren’t too many communities this passionate about riding.”

This passion manifests itself in everything from the city, ski area and Chamber’s marketing efforts to bike manufacturers calling Steamboat home. “Steamboat is all about active mountain town recreation and biking is the summer anchor to this,” says Rob Mitchell, president of local bike manufacturer Moots. “The beauty is that we’re a multi-faceted cycling community — we have the full breadth of riders from recreationalists to pros, kids, seniors and everyone in between.”

What makes Steamboat unique, he adds, is cycling’s accessibility from town. “Our access is exceptional,” he says. “For mountain biking, we have Emerald’s singletrack rising right out of the center of town, with the ability to link up longer

wilderness rides; on the road side, we have tons of loops and out-and-back options straight from town; and we have the beginning of a great expanse of freeride trails on the ski hill. We’re covered in all areas.” That access, combined with a town walking

the walk, or rather, pedaling the bike, is the backbone of Steamboat’s biking momentum. “The community has really embraced riding,”

Mitchell adds. “The Gold Level Bicycle Friendly Community designation we received is testimony to the progress we’re making with our bike infrastructure, community cycling awareness, outside marketing efforts and overall bike culture. We still have a long ways to go, but if any mountain town can serve as the model for bicycle friendliness, there’s no reason we shouldn’t be it. We have all the ingredients.”

• Bicycling-related businesses bring $315 million to Minnesota’s economy annually.• In 2010, mountain bike trails in Raystown Lake, Penn., attracted more than 25,000 visitors,

2.5 times more than predicted, who spent $1.2 million. • Mountain bikers have contributed an estimated $25 million to the Fruita, Colo., economy.• Biking and hiking trails in Teton County, Wyo., create an annual economic benefi t of more

than $18 million. The trail system cost $1.7 million to build.• In a survey of visitors to Portland, Ore., 78 percent said that the city’s bike-friendliness was a

factor in their decision to visit there.• Bicyclists in North Carolina’s Outer Banks bring $60 million annually to the area’s economy,

nine times its facilities’ one-time $6.7 million expenditure.

Facts from other towns

BIKE TOWN SKILLS CLINICS

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL BLAIR AT 970-846-2426 OR VISIT WWW.SSWSC.ORG. TO SIGN-UP CALL SSWSC AT 970-879-0695 X 100 OR STOP BY THE OFFICE AT HOWELSEN HILL.

1 & 3 DAY BIKE SKILLS CLINICS FOR ALL AGES & ABILITIES

Skills Clinics will cover the fundamental skills of mountain biking and/or road biking.

3 DAY MOUNTAIN BIKE SKILLS CLINICSWed-Fri 9am-12pm

Starting July 11-August 10

1 DAY MOUNTAIN BIKE SKILLS CLINICSTuesdays 8:30-11am

June 26, July 10, 24, Aug 7

1 DAY ROAD BIKE SKILLS CLINICSWednesdays 8:30-11am

June 27, July 11, 24, Aug 8

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: EACH FRIDAY PRIOR TO CLINIC’S START


Bike Shop Round-UpSki Haus Ski Haus manager Murray Selleck credits

his store’s bike accolades to one thing: a staff that’s plain passionate about riding. “We’re all enthusiasts,” he says, adding that some of the store’s bike technicians have been there more than four decades, since long before the advent of shocks and disc brakes. Come riding season, the store’s newly

expanded basement turns into a beehive of bike activity, offering rentals (full- and front-suspension mountain bikes, road bikes, cruisers, child bikes, tandems, trailers, tag-a-longs and more), repairs and retail. Selleck adds that new garage doors open up to the outside to create a great open atmosphere, and that the store strives to offer something for everyone, from beginners to seasoned pros. “Our retail line is extensive, with prices in performance for everyone,” he says. Locals tip: Visit it when the Specialized and Rocky Mountain demo vans swing by; just realize that afterward, you’ll probably want to upgrade.

1457 Pine Grove Road, 970-879-0385, www.skihaussteamboat.com

Steamboat Ski & Bike KareSteamboat Ski & Bike Kare opened in 1995

when co-owner Harry Martin moved to Steamboat from Jackson, Wyo., and saw an opening for a ski and bike store focused on service. Now located at 442 Lincoln Ave., it’s cemented that philosophy in stone, voted town’s Best Bike Shop two years in a row. “Our bike mechanics are some of the best in the business,” says shop manager Derek Hudson, adding that some of its employees have up to 40 years of experience. “The business is always changing and these guys know how to fi x anything.”On the retail front, best sellers continue to

include Trek and Giant, with Italian road bike manufacturer Wilier also selling well. With 20

employees in peak riding season, the store offers rentals (high-end demos, hybrid road bikes, front- and full-suspension mountain bikes, child bikes, tag-a-longs, trailers and more), retail and repairs, catering to locals as much as visitors. “Our staff is very passionate about riding — they just love biking,” says Martin, whose store sponsors the Town Challenge Mountain Bike Series, Steamboat Stage Race, Bike to Work Week and more. “We cater to all aspects of riding, from people wanting cruisers for local mustache rides to mountain and road bikers. Steamboat’s just a fantastic bike town.”

442 Lincoln Ave., 970-879-9144, www.steamboatskiandbike.com

Orange PeelFounded in 1999, Orange Peel, located

at 1136 Yampa Ave. in “the cone,” is Steamboat’s only bikes-only bike shop, and it shows. “That’s what differentiates us,” says owner Brock Webster, a former U.S. Elite rider. “We’re the only shop in town that focuses solely on bikes. That’s our singular focus.” Webster adds that his entire peak season staff

of 11 consists of avid riders, whose combined experience totals hundreds of years (employee J.R. Thompson even runs a bike tour company as a side business). The shop offers rentals (high-end demos, cruisers, kids bikes, trailers and more), service and retail, carrying such lines as Moots, Pivot, Ellsworth, Ridley and Orbea — brands Webster maintains are perfect for the “enthusiast” rider in Steamboat. “We’re not a cookie-cutter store,” he says. “We choose our lines carefully. We also stock a greater number of parts than any shop I’ve ever seen. Service is the engine that keeps things rolling around here.”

1136 Yampa Ave., 970-879-2957, www.orangepeelbikes.com

Wheels Bike ShopWheels is a small, independently owned and

operated bike shop located along the Yampa River in downtown Steamboat, specializing in tunes and sales. “We gain our clients not from pricey advertising

but by friendly customer service, word of mouth referrals, and our knowledge of bicycles,” says owner Chris Johns, a former competitive rider. On the retail front, Wheels is Steamboat’s Yeti

Cycles dealership, happily bringing customers into the folds of the “Tribe.” It services bikes of all walks — including mountain, racing road, freeriding, downhill, townie and more — and offers a complete rental (cruisers, mountain and road) and demo line, as well. It also prides itself on giving back to the community, supporting such organizations as the Yampa Valley Sustainability Council and the “Giving Bikes Back” refurbishing and donation program.

841 Yampa St., 970-870-1974, www.wheelssteamboat.com

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Rental LocationsAs well as the bike shops listed, you also can

fi nd rentals at these bike stores:

Christy SportsTrek full- and front-suspension mountain bike

rentals. Child bikes and trailers also available. Helmets are included.

1835 Central Park Plaza, 970-879-1250, www.christysports.com

One Stop Ski ShopMountain, Rechargable Electric Bikes

35 11th St., 970-879-4754,www.onestopskishop.net

Fleischer SportCarrying a full line of hard-tail and full suspension

bikes (including Santa Cruz), as well as cruisers, kids’ bikes, tag-alongs and more for outings on the mountain.

2250 Apres Ski Way, 970-870-0900, www.fl eischersport.com

Ride SportsLocated in the Sheraton Steamboat Resort on

the edge of the base area promenade, carrying all your on-mountain biking adventure needs, including gloves, pads, helmets, tubes, clothing, Camelbaks and more.

2305 Mount Werner Cir., 970-871-5349,www.steamboat.com

Boomerang Sports Exchange/Powder PursuitsBuying and selling the best used sports

equipment in Steamboat, with sales of cruisers and kids’ Glides downtown and new on-mountain rental program (single- and seven-speed Micargis) through Powder Pursuits.

1125 Lincoln Ave., 970-870-3050,www.boomerangsportsco.com

S T E A M B O A T S P R I N G S , C O L O R A D O

Steaks and Seafood

Beautiful Spacious Dining Room, Raw Bar, East and West Coast Oysters, Fabulous Steaks and Seafood,

Live Jazz - Friday Nights, Fireside Dining, Easy Parking, Children’s Menu

Open Nightly 5pm-Close • Happy Hour 5:00-6:00879-3399 • 2165 Pine Grove Road

Southwestern & Mexican Cuisine

Innovative Southwestern and Mexican Cuisine, Great Margaritas, Serving in a Beautiful Atmosphere at the Base of the Ski Area, Children’s Menu, Lots of Parking

Open Nightly 5pm-Close • Happy Hour 4:30-6:00879-5800 • Corner of Aprés Ski Way & Village Dr.

Base of the mountain Just off the mountain On the river, Downtown

After Your Ride, You Decide3 PLACES FOR ALL PALATES

Pacifi c American Grill

Reaching New Heights in Culinary ExperienceSteamboat’s Most Beautiful In-Town Restaurant/ Catering

LocationOverlooking the Yampa River

Open Nightly 5:30-Close • Happy Hour 3:00-5:30879-2229 • 701 Yampa Avenue

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Solidifying Steamboat’s place in the cycling world are two homegrown manufacturers who are based in the Yampa Valley for the same reason everyone else lives here: the quality of life, which includes plenty of cycling.

Kent Eriksen CyclesHelping usher mountain biking not only into

Routt County but also the United States, Kent Eriksen, 57, is no stranger to cycling in Steamboat. After owning and operating

Sore Saddle Cyclery in the 1970s, during which time he also produced the region’s first cycling map, he founded Moots in 1981 and was elected into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame in 1996. After a 25-year run, Eriksen, an endless

tinkerer, left Moots in 2005, continuing his passion for building titanium bikes by founding Kent Eriksen Cycles in downtown Steamboat. Producing as many as 200 frames per year, the company specializes in custom cycles, taking customers’ measurements down

to the millimeter as part of the building process. Making bikes of all styles — road, mountain, cross and touring — his attention to detail won him Best Titanium Bike award at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show for the past three years. “Steamboat is already a special place to

live, and its wealth of biking options make it even more special,” says Eriksen, who often can be found riding a handmade tandem mountain bike with his wife, Katie Lindquist. “I couldn’t imagine living anyplace else.”

Titanium TownSteamboat’s bike manufacturers Moots, Kent Eriksen recognized worldwide

1801 West Lincoln Avenue 879-2403879-2403

1801 West Lincoln Avenue Just off the bike pathMonday - Friday 9 to 6 ∙ Saturday 9 to 5 ∙ Sunday 9 to 4

Helping Gardeners Grow since 1999

Pottery • Vegetables & Herbs • Annuals & Perennials • Trees & Shrubs


MootsFounded in Steamboat in 1981 by Kent Eriksen,

Moots has been hand-building titanium road, mountain and cross bikes locally for more than three decades. Enjoyed by cyclists worldwide, the company’s designers and builders work in an offi ce off Colorado Highway 129, and when not churning out high-quality titanium cycles, can be found testing their wares on local trails.“Our location here is tightly woven into our

company values and brand,” says president Rob Mitchell, whose company recently was selected out of 400 nominees as a Colorado Company to Watch by the State Offi ce of Economic Development. “Being rooted in Steamboat gives us immediate access to some of the state’s best riding right out our door.” Mitchell adds that this also plays a role in the company’s ability to design and build cutting-edge cycles while also offering an attractive lifestyle for its employees. The company also supports numerous

community and industry advocacy movements, from local trail workdays to sponsoring the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club

Cycling Team. With an eye on protecting the environment it builds products for, it also employs a cutting-edge recycling program and solar system to power its manufacturing. “We’re proud of our bikes, the team that builds them, and the culture and character of the town we’ve called home for so long,” Mitchell says. “The values of our brand have always been

positioned around our Steamboat location, and Moots shares many of the same values that make Steamboat so special — including humble, friendly and passionate people. I guess you could say we were raised with strong community parenting.” Moots offers guided factory tours at 10 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

1801 West Lincoln Avenue 879-2403879-2403

1801 West Lincoln Avenue Just off the bike pathMonday - Friday 9 to 6 ∙ Saturday 9 to 5 ∙ Sunday 9 to 4

Helping Gardeners Grow since 1999

Pottery • Vegetables & Herbs • Annuals & Perennials • Trees & Shrubs

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Steamboat SpringsWinter Sports Club cyclingWith a focus on youth competition, SSWSC

Cycling, a division of the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, offers numerous programs aimed at providing athletes of various ages the opportunity to develop their cycling skills and enjoy cycling as a lifelong sport.From gravity riders looking to rip downhills and elite

high school athletes taking competitive cycling to the next level to adults and elementary school chlidren looking to trail or road ride with friends, the program offers something for everyone. “We’ve worked hard to develop a feeder program,

and this year will be the fi rst time we’ll see graduates of our youth program coming up to the competitive Devo team,” director Ben Clark says. “I’m excited to

coach them and encourage more youth participation in competitive cycling.”Among the club’s offerings are BMX and Gravity

programs, a six-event road training race series called Steel Club, three-day mountain bike clinics for adults, a 20-person Devo team for middle schoolers racing mountain and road, and a volunteer-based youths program teaching fundamentals to elementary school-aged athletes. The program’s high school-aged elite team is coached by former pro racers Tammy Jacques-Grewal and Rishi Grewal.“Last year, our elite team was super competitive on

trails and the road,” says Clark, adding that Jeffrey Gay placed second overall in the Mountain States Cup Category 1 15-18 group, with Evan Weinman

and Alec Schaffer placing second and third, respectively, in the Category 2 15–18 group. “And both Weinman and Schaffer will be back with the team this year, as well.”Info: www.steamboatcycling.com, www.sswsc.org

Firing on all Cylinders

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At the end of your ride in One Steamboat Place

Find Us On

Located at the base of the mountain.Open daily this summer.

Happy hour SpecialsAl fresco dining availableFree Valet Parking at One Steamboat Place

970.879.74702250 Apres ski way

www.truf� epigrestaurant.com

Located at the base of the mountain.


Over the Hill Gang

Riding in Steamboat isn’t just for young whipper-snappers. Steamboat’s Over The Hill Gang is a group of enthusiastic, fun-loving cyclists (and skiers) who enjoy socializing and sharing outdoor activities. Biking is the perfect fi t for summer. The group regularly leads trips

throughout the summer, including road bike loops, easy mountain biking trips, dirt road riding and even a Mellow-Plus category for any type of bike. This summer, the group has fi ve OTHG biking trips going out each week. “Whatever kind of pedal-powered biking you do, we have a group that will probably suit your style,” member Terye Rhoden says. Membership is open to anyone 50 years and older, and you don’t have to reside in Steamboat, or even Colorado, to participate. Info: 970-871-7937, www.ssoverthehillgang.org

Young at Heart What would Bike Town USA be without a helping hand from the neighborhood city bus line? For those who need to take their bikes on the bus, all Steamboat Springs buses are equipped with a bike rack that holds two bikes. Instructions for use are on the rack. If the rack is full, please wait for the next bus.

To load your bike:• As the bus approaches, have your bike ready.• Wait until the driver sets the parking brake to approach the rack.• Pull up on the silver handle to release the rack and pivot it to the down position.• Arrows indicate which direction to set the bike in the rack.• Place the bike in the rack and pull up on the spring-loaded retainer bar.• Slide the retainer bar over the front tire.

To remove your bike: • Wait until the driver sets the parking brake.• Slide the retainer bar up and over the front tire.• Remove the bike from rack. • Lift the rack back up until it locks in the stow position.

Carry Your Bikeon the Bus

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In this winter’s Best of the Boat contest sponsored by Steamboat Living magazine, residents voted on the cream of the crop in local cycling circles. The following is a snapshot of winners Kelly Boniface (Best Mountain Biker; second, Best Road Biker) and Barkley Robinson (Best Mountain and Best Road Biker).

Kelly Boniface Kelly Boniface was a runner

when she fi rst moved to Steamboat, but she’s rarely gotten off a bike ever since turning to cycling to help recover from a leg injury.Sponsored by Moots,

Boniface has pedaled her way to the podium of the annual Town Challenge Mountain Bike Series every season since she started, except those she took off while pregnant with her two daughters, Isabelle and Lila. She began attacking

the regional riding scene fi ve years ago, and her ascent through the pro ranks has been just as swift. Last year, she placed 16th in the USA Cycling Cross-Country National Championships and anchored a four-person 24-hour mountain biking national championship squad.

Barkley RobinsonBarkley Robinson’s cycling

resume is enough to make you shiver at the thought of ever riding against him. A Realtor for Prudential Steamboat Realty, he won the Gore Pass Road Race in 2006, the King of the

Rockies cross-country race in 2008 and the Laramie Enduro in 2009. And, oh yeah, he also placed 24th in the 2004 Olympic Road Race Trials. All this comes on top of his regularly placings atop the

podium in the local Town Challenge race series.

Town’s Best RidersBest Mountain Biker, female1. Kelly Boniface2. Amy Charity3. Liana Gregory

Best Mountain Biker, male1. Barkley Robinson2. Nate Bird3. Brad Bingham

Best Road Biker, male1. Barkley Robinson2. Scott Schlapkohl3. Matt Charity

Best Road Biker, female1. Amy Charity2. Kelly Boniface3. Jody Gale

� e Survey’s Best

MAY 30 Howlin’ Howelsen XCJUNE 13 Marabou XCJUNE 27 Epic Emerald XCJULY 11 Sunshine Loop XCJULY 25 Quarry Mountain XCAUGUST 8 Storm Peak Hill ClimbAUGUST 22 Soul of the Emerald XCwww.townchallenge.com | 970.879.4300

2012 Season Schedule


For biking enthusiasts with disabilities, Steamboat is the shining star, thanks largely to a program called STARS. Providing recreational opportunities for people

with disabilities to empower them and enrich their quality of life, Steamboat Adaptive Recreational Sports offers summer programming that includes hand cycling and mountain biking. A chapter of Disabled Sports USA and a U.S. Paralympic Sportclub, it also rents kid and adult hand cycles and three-wheel foot-pedal adaptive bikes. “The Yampa River (Core Trail) is a fabulous

spot for adaptive cycling,” says STARS Executive Director Julie Taulman. “Biking is an inclusive

activity that people can do with friends and family, and our biking programs enable people with disabilities to get out there and get active. It’s great that people here are starting to embrace the concept and recognize the importance of it.” The STARS Summer Adventure Camp, held

from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays from June 19 to Aug. 16, offers biking as well as other activities, as does its Camp Achieve (Aug. 8 to 11) and Rising STARS Camp (July 26 to 28). On July 8 and 22 and Aug. 5 and 19, it also offers its popular Sunday Stroll Bike Rides from 5 to 7 p.m. that family and friends can participate in, with different rides set up each week. Info: 970-871-5371, www.steamboatstars.com

Adaptive CyclingRolling Strong

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Kelly BeckerBroker, The Metzler Team

Colorado Group Realty970-846-2300

[email protected]

The Family that bikes together......

Frank X BeckerArchitect / Design-BuildBecker Architecture970-846-8016frank@beckerarchitecture.comwww.BeckerArchitecture.com

Broker, The Metzler TeamColorado Group Realty


There are two situations where a biker is likely to meet with ranch animals, including cattle and horses: as a herd moving down a road and as a single animal along the trail. While each situation should be handled differently, there are a few rules which apply regardless of the situation. Approach cattle slowly and quietly. Cattle will

move away form you given the opportunity, but when stressed by noises and fast movement they become unpredictable. Don’t get between an individual cow or calf and the herd. Stop and stay still and the animal will go around you to get back

to the herd. Also don’t try to get around it or chase it back to the herd.Oftentimes when you come up behind an animal

it will stay on the trail ahead of you because it provides the easiest passage. Cattle have a fl ight zone, the distance where an animal will move away from potential danger. This increases with their degree of stress (i.e. encountering a biker). Ease your speed; if they get far enough in front they’ll be out of their fl ight zone and look for an escape. Also, instead of staying directly behind the cow, move to one side or the other, which will cause them to

move off the trail (staying behind them just causes them to travel faster). These guidelines can also be used when

encountering horses on a trail.When encountering a herd of cattle, stop, step to

one side and stand still and quiet until it passes. It will likely give you a wide berth. Hurrying the herd’s passing with noises and arm movements only causes the animals to stop or split. If you come up behind a herd, take the cues from the horseback riders at the back — they might lead you through the herd or ask you to wait.

Ca� le/Horses and BikesSafety with Animals

Highway 40 & Pine Grove RdSteamboat Springs Colorado, 80477

Steamboat’s Largest Fleet of Rental Bikes. Mountain, Road, Comfort, Cruisers, Kids & Trailers.

Best Retail Selection featuring Specialized, Rocky Mountain, Cervelo, Fox, Giro, Pearl Izumi, Hincapie and tons more! Open Daily • Full Service Repair Shop

970.879.0385 / 1.800.932.3019

Ski Haus has the bikes, selection, and service to make every ride fun!


Safe Routes to School

Steamboat Springs Safe Routes to School, which regularly sponsors Hike and Bike to School Days, is a community effort aimed at making our town easy and safe for kids to commute by bike or foot. Our mission is to inspire kids who usually ride in a car or bus to walk or ride a bike instead. The program also organizes safety and skills rallies to teach rules of the road and skills for making riding and walking fun and safe. Thanks to a Colorado Department of Transportation map, our new Safe Routes to School map highlights the safest routes from various neighborhoods to our schools. Info: www.saferoutessteamboat.com

Preparing to ride• Choose the route with the fewest streets to cross

even if it’s longer.• Wear brightly colored clothes. Tie your shoes and

secure long laces and loose pants. Don’t wear headphones.

• Wear a properly fi tted helmet (no more than two fi ngers between chin and chin strap).

• Check that tires are fi rm and brakes work.• Ride a bike that fi ts. When straddling the frame, both

feet should be able to be fi rmly planted on the ground. When seated, your hands should reach the handlebars.

• Don’t carry anyone else on your bike.• Don’t carry anything in your hands (use a backpack

or basket). Secure any dangling straps.• If riding in the dark, use headlights, tail lights and

refl ectors and wear bright, refl ective clothing.

Riding safety• Before entering a street, look for other vehicles to

the left, right, in front and behind.• Pay attention to your surroundings. Watch for

other vehicles and hazards, such as potholes and parked cars.

• Watch for vehicles turning into or exiting driveways.

• Watch for parked vehicles that may be ready to back up, pull forward or open a door.

• Ride in a straight line with two hands on the handlebars unless signaling.

• Before changing lanes or turning, always check in front and behind for traffi c.

• If riding on a sidewalk or path, ride slowly and be prepared to stop quickly. Pedestrians have the right-of-way.

• Dismount if crossing at a stop light crosswalk.

Safe Walking/Riding Tips

404 Oak Street • Steamboat Springs, CO • 970-879-1756DEBBIE ARAGON STATE FARM INSURANCE

We are excited to support biking in Steamboat!


Two groups in Colorado are making a difference in biking in Steamboat and beyond. Headquartered in Boulder, Colo., the

International Mountain Bicycling Association (www.imba.com) encourages low-impact riding, volunteer trailwork participation, user group cooperation, grassroots advocacy and trail management across the globe. While its worldwide network includes 35,000 members, 750 bicycle clubs, 160 corporate partners and 600 retailers in 30 countries, its roots are fi rmly in Colorado. “With 27 IMBA-affi liated chapters and clubs active in Colorado, chances are good that one or more of most riders’ favorite mountain bike trails benefi ts from our volunteer stewardship

efforts,” says IMBA communications director Mark Eller. “In Steamboat, we’re contributing to the Bike Town USA initiative by assisting with plans for better trail connectivity and new riding options.”Another group championing the cycling cause

is Bicycle Colorado (www.bicyclecolo.org), which promotes bicycling, safety and terrain while providing a voice for Colorado cyclists. Among its programs are Share the Road and Safe Routes to School, and it also recently launched a Bike the Byways program, encouraging tourism at towns along 25 designated Scenic Byway routes. It’s also spearheading the state’s involvement in the National Bike Challenge from May 1 through

Aug. 31, encouraging riders to log their miles to show the state’s dedication to cycling. Other accomplishments include gaining new shoulders on roads, changing the law to allow bicyclists to ride side-by-side (when safe) and signal right turns with the right hand, securing $8.9 million for developing safe bicycle routes to schools, and ending the ban on racing events in northern Colorado. “We need to work together to protect the

rights of bicyclists,” says director Dan Grunig. “Our efforts are primarily focused at the state and regional level since that’s where so many of the policy decisions that affect bicyclists are made.”

Making a Difference IMBA, Bicycle Colorado Promote Cycling Cause

Knowing how to make a water crossing or properly downshift is important, but there are other facets of being a good, well-rounded and responsible rider.

Many trails have been closed to riders because of the actions of a rare few.

Short-cutting switchbacks, taking off-trail routes and failing to yield to other users all harm both the environment and riders’ chances to continue to gain access to trails.

Ride right by following the International Mountain Bicycling Association’s rules of the trail:• Ride only on open trails• Do not use trails when wet• Leave No Trace (ride or carry

through, rather than around, obstacles like mud puddles)

• Avoid locking your brakes and skidding down steeps

• Always control your bicycle• Always yield to uphill traffic• Never scare animals (wild or

domestic)

Riding RightRespecting Riders and the Trails

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• Before every ride check tire pressure and tire surface for cuts and embedded debris.

• Keep chain clean and lubricated. Lubricate chain with dry lube; or every other week or 400 miles with wet chain lube.

• Check chain regularly for excessive side to side play and replace if necessary.

• Wash bike regularly (once a week or every 200 miles) in hot water and dish soap, oil drive train, and wipe off excess oil.

• Inspect shifting and braking cables and housing twice a year and replace if necessary.

• Be prepared for inclement weather by carrying extra clothing and food.

• Carry proper repair gear, including pump, spare tube, patch kit and chain tool.

• Check cleats on shoes for wear and replace if worn and make sure bolts on cleats are tightened.

There are rules of the road to follow for safe road riding. Always practice the following:• Always wear a helmet• Don’t use headphones or cell phones

while biking • Show respect for everything on the road:

drivers, other bikers, pedestrians, parked cars

• Use correct hand signals to show your movements

• Don’t stop in the travel lane (only stop on shoulders or off the road)

• Riding at night without a headlight is illegal. Wear bright or refl ective clothing

• Obey all traffi c laws, signs and signals, and never ride against traffi c

• Ride in the right lane, except when

passing another vehicle, preparing for a left turn or avoiding hazards (ride on paved shoulders and bike lanes when possible)

• Ride no more than two abreast, returning to single-fi le if impeding the fl ow of traffi c (always ride single-fi le on curving or narrow roads)

• Never assume motorists see you or that you have the right-of-way

• Share the road with other users, practicing safety, awareness and respect

• When stopping, always remain visible in both directions to other users, particularly on curves and hills (don’t stop in a blind spot)

• Expect the unexpected

Road Safety Bike TipsShare the Road Maintenance

Phot

o by

Dou

g Da

vis

Integrity • Performance • Results

Erik & Kathy SteinbergBroker Associates

970 846 8418 | 970 846 2933 cell970 875 2417 | 970 875 2435 of� ce

[email protected]

Call Erik or Kathy Steinberg

Chairmans Circle Gold Winner

610 Marketplace Plaza, Suite 100 | Steamboat Springs www.sresortrealestate.com


Table of contentsUSING THE GUIDE ........... 36

TOWN/MOUNTAIN

Historic Bike Tour ............... 37Emerald Mountain ............... 40Beall/Ridge Trails ................ 44Rotary Trail ........................ 45Ski Area ........................... 46Skyline Trail ....................... 51BMX/Pump Tracks ............. 52Spring Creek Trail ................ 53Hot Springs Area ............... 54Lower Bear ........................ 56

NORTH ROUTT

Nipple Peak ....................... 57Big Red Park ...................... 58Grizzly-Helena ................... 59Seedhouse ......................... 60

SOUTH ROUTT/RABBIT EARS

Harrison Creek ................... 62The Divide Trail .................. 63Lynx Pass .......................... 65

ROAD/MIXED RIDES ....... 66

FAMILY RIDES ................ 71

HAYDEN ......................... 73

SANDWICH SPECIALISTS

(970) 879-3617 • 635 Lincoln Ave • Old Town Squaremenu online at www.backcountryprovisions.com

(970) 879-3617 • 635 Lincoln Ave • Old Town Square

Serving Colorado cyclists since 1999

Proud to sponsor the Town Challenge

Bike Series, Bike to School Program

& SSWSC!

Routt County Riders

Routt County Riders began in the early 1990s as a group of mountain bikers interested in building and maintaining trails in our area. In the early 2000s, it began to represent road cyclists’ interests and later began to support programs and scholarships for youth cycling, community cycling initiatives and mountain and road cycling events.Today, RCR is a volunteer-based, membership-

driven, nonprofi t supported by a nine-member board of directors, an executive director and various committees supporting its mission. It also continues to represent more variations of biking, including freeriding and adaptive cycling. RCR also offers input to numerous governmental agencies to help promote and enhance cycling

and trails, from the Colorado Department of Transportation to U.S. Forest Service, BLM and the city of Steamboat Springs.Representing the local cycling community, RCR

is actively involved in the following areas (visit www.routtcountyriders.org for more information):• Development and maintenance of sustainable

mountain bike trails• Grant writing for trail projects• Annual Steamboat Springs Bike Festival & Bike

Swap• Bike To Work Week• Bicycle Friendly Community Initiative• Livestrong Ride 4 Yellow• Bike Town USA Initiative

• Junior cyclist development• Cycling advocacy• Safe Routes to School • Multi-modal advisory group• Share the Road campaigns• Group rides

Championing the Cause


Ride GuideBike Town USA ®

Table of contents

Phot

o by

Dou

g Da

vis

USING THE GUIDE ........... 36

TOWN/MOUNTAIN

Historic Bike Tour ............... 37Emerald Mountain ............... 40Beall/Ridge Trails ................ 44Rotary Trail ........................ 45Ski Area ........................... 46Skyline Trail ....................... 51BMX/Pump Tracks ............. 52Spring Creek Trail ................ 53Hot Springs Area ............... 54Lower Bear ........................ 56

NORTH ROUTT

Nipple Peak ....................... 57Big Red Park ...................... 58Grizzly-Helena ................... 59Seedhouse ......................... 60

SOUTH ROUTT/RABBIT EARS

Harrison Creek ................... 62The Divide Trail .................. 63Lynx Pass .......................... 65

ROAD/MIXED RIDES ....... 66

FAMILY RIDES ................ 71

HAYDEN ......................... 73

SANDWICH SPECIALISTS

(970) 879-3617 • 635 Lincoln Ave • Old Town Squaremenu online at www.backcountryprovisions.com

(970) 879-3617 • 635 Lincoln Ave • Old Town Square

Serving Colorado cyclists since 1999

Proud to sponsor the Town Challenge

Bike Series, Bike to School Program

& SSWSC!


This Guide includes just a sampling of more than

75 routes and 500 miles of single-track riding

around Steamboat Springs

DistanceThe length of the highlighted trail.

ElevationThe lowest and highest points of the

highlighted ride.

RatingBased on the Trail Diffi culty Rating System

published by the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA). This system focuses on the trail’s technical challenge, not the physical exertion required to enjoy it. Rating a trail is challenging; these ratings provide a general idea of the diffi culty of each region. Our trails are rated relative to each other and not necessarily relative to trails in other towns.

All backcountry trails may have natural and manmade obstacles such as rocks, logs, stream crossings, ledges, and bridges. Easy trails have a fi rm and stable surface. More diffi cult trails have some variability in the riding surface and usually include steep terrain changes. Diffi cult trails have a widely variable surface with signifi cant rough terrain and many obstacles and include long, steep climbs. Consult local bike shops if you are unsure of your riding abilities.

SeasonGeneral idea of when the ride is free of snow

and dry enough to ride without harming trails.

Using this guideFinding the Information You Need


Want a great way to explore some of Steamboat’s colorful, Western history? Take the town’s historic bike tour, which rolls you by 18 properties representing the town’s fascinating past.

Bike Tour Destinations1. Initiated in 1914, Howelsen Hill is the oldest ski area

in continuing use west of the Mississippi. The Hill is home to the Winter Carnival and has been the site for numerous national and world record-breaking ski jumps. (285 Howelsen Parkway)

2. The Yampa Valley Electric Association was formed in 1940 as part of FDR’s nationwide program of rural electrifi cation. The 1956 YVEA Building was designed by famed architect Eugene Sternberg as the headquarters for its growing customers. The building boasts the prairie-style roof and distinctive stone façade. (32 10th Street)

3. Designated on the Local Register, Lithia Spring’s milky waters contain a high content of lithium, a mineral used to treat the mood swings of manic depression. The spring’s stone entrance columns were built by H.W. Gossard, who planned to bottle and sell the waters as “Miraquelle” in the 1930s. (700 Lithia Spring Road)

4. The Italianate Steamboat Springs Depot was a necessity for the coming of the passenger service railroad. Built in 1909 by architect Frank Edbrooke, the Depot was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Across the street lies the town’s namesake Steamboat Spring, once a bubbling geyser quieted forever by the construction of the railroad. Folklore has it that fur trappers heard what they thought was a Steamboat on the river, only to fi nd this spring. (1000 13th Street)

5. Steamboat Springs’ founder, James Crawford, frequented the Iron Spring for its mineral waters and built his cabin close to the spring. His granddaughter, Lulita Crawford Pritchett, described growing up on Iron Spring lemonade which the family made by mixing half a lemon with a tablespoon of sugar and then adding Iron Spring water to create a carbonated fi zz. (1300 Lincoln Avenue)

6. Now home of The Laundry restaurant, the

Steamboat Laundry Building constructed in 1910 was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. The building needed two additions for the growth of the washing service that served northwestern Colorado until the 1960s. (127 11th Street)

7. Designed by architect Eugene Sternberg, the Hillcrest Apartments were constructed in 1958 and embrace several elements of the Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired Usonian style as evidenced by the building’s integration with the landscape. The distinctive roof lines also are seen in the YVEA Building, the Butterfl y Building in Little Toots Park, and other residences designed by Sternberg. (302 11th Street)

8. In 1900, the Carver family built the Carver Power Plant next to their house to provide electricity to the local population. The system’s steam was used to heat nearby schools and residences. (124 10th Street)

9. Bishop Spalding started St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at the turn of the century. The church building was constructed and consecrated in 1913. The native sandstone used in the construction came from the Steamboat Town and Quarry Company on Emerald Mountain. (846 Oak Street)

10. The Queen Anne-style building that houses the Tread of Pioneers Museum was built in 1908 by Ernest Campbell. The Museum features a ski gallery, a Ute Indian exhibit, and an original passenger stage coach from the late 1800s. (800 Oak Street)

11. The Routt County National Bank building was erected in 1919 and built by stone mason Carl Howelsen, a Norwegian immigrant renowned for his infl uence in bringing skiing to Steamboat. The upper fl oor was designed as a meeting place for the Masonic Lodge. (802 Lincoln Avenue)

12. The Christian Science Church was built in 1934, after the Christian Science Society had been meeting in Steamboat for nearly three decades. Mrs. James Crawford, pioneer mother of the community, was one of its charter members. (639 Oak Street)

13. A striking visual element in residential Steamboat Springs, the Seventh Street District, from Pine

Street to Laurel Street, is eligible for designation, characterized by Craftsman and Bungalow type houses.

14. Constructed in 1910, the Craig House exemplifi es the heritage and development of Routt County and is associated with James Lafayette Norvell, considered the county’s fi rst entrepreneur as a developer and cattle buyer. Norvell is also credited with developing parts of Hayden and Craig. The house is an excellent local example of the Bungalow style of architecture. (204 Hill Street)

15. The Routt County Courthouse represents the development of Routt County, its government, and the establishment of Steamboat as the permanent county seat. A simplifi ed Classical Revival building with Beaux Arts infl uences constructed in 1922-1923, it was designed by master architect Robert Kenneth Fuller. (522 Lincoln Avenue)

16. Nominated and listed on the State Register of Historic Properties and the Local Register, the Rabbit Ears Motel Sign has been greeting visitors along Highway 40 since 1953. It remains an enduring and established visual feature of the community. (201 Lincoln Avenue)

17. The 130-acre Legacy Ranch District serves as a gateway to the city and reminds citizens and visitors of the signifi cant role that high country farming and ranching played in the development of Colorado. The intact, operable ranch and continues to serve in this capacity. (35435 Hwy 40)

18. The Mesa School was built in 1916 by Art Gumprecht, serving grades one through eight until rural school district consolidation was completed in 1959. The schoolhouse was restored by Historic Routt County in 2000 and gifted to the City for use as a community meeting center. (33985 Hwy 40)

- Many thanks to the City of Steamboat Springs Planning Department and the Steamboat Springs Historic Preservation Commission for providing the information for this section.

Pedal Into the PastHistoric Steamboat Bike Tour

See Map on page 38


SundanceCt

Yampa River

Fish

Cre

ek

Yampa River

Walton Creek

Soda Creek

Spri

ng C

reek

Butcherknife Creek

Yampa River

CITY LIMITS

CITY LIMITS

CITY LIMITS

CITY LIMITS

CITY LIMITS

CITY

LIM

ITS

CITY LIMITS

CITY LIMITS

Uncochief Cr

Yahmonite St

Thornberg St

Village Ln

Buckskin

Dr Merritt S

t

The Boulev

ard

12th

St

Bob Adams

Dr Crawford Ave

Douglas St Pawintah St

Prin

ceto

nPa

rk D

r

Aspen St

Pine St

Oak St

Lincoln Ave

Yampa St11

th S

t

10th

St

9th

St

8th

St

7th

St

6th

St

5th

St

4th

St

3rd

St

Logan Ave

Missouri A

ve

Spruce StGrand St

Larim

er S

t

Hill St

James

St

Park

Ave

Nob St

Arapahoe

Ln

N. L

arim

er

Broa

d St Woods D

rDeer

foot Ave

N. Park

2nd

Stre

etMaple St

East Maple S

tDabney

Ln

Conifer

Cr

McK

inley

St Spring

Creek D

r

Amethyst Dr

Concordia

Ln

Alpine Ct

Cherry

Dr

Willo

w Ct

Old Fish

Creek F

alls

Rd

Fish Cree

k Falls

Rd

Mauna Kea

Ln

AppleDr

Locust

CtWille

tt

Ct

Caribou Run

Blackberr

y Ln

Kelhi Ct

Tam

ara

ck Dr

Buena Vista

Ct

Wyatt Ln

Wyatt D

r

W. Hills

ide Ct

Storm

Peak Ct

Storm Mountain

CtHillside Drive

Hilltop Ln

Hilltop Ln

Ridge ViewDr

Blue SageCt

Blue Sage

Cr

Meadow Brook C

rCheyenne Ct

N. Steamboat

Blvd

Hunters Dr

Bear

Creek D

r

Brom

e Dr

Hunt

ers

Ct

Timothy

Dr

Meadow Ln

Meadow

Ln

Meadow

Ct

Bear Dr

Apres Ski Way

Park Ct

Red Hawk

Ct

Village Dr

Tree Haus Dr

William Rd

Mt.

Wer

ner R

d

River Rd

83 Steven Kid

Sara Ln

Stuffie

Ct

Indian

Trails

OldStock

Rd

Dream Island Plaza

Walton Cree

k Rd

Cascade

Dr

Apres Ski W

ay

Columbine Dr

Eagleridge Dr

Village Drive

Medicine S

prin

gs R

d

Alpenglow Way

Ski Trail Ln

Mt.Werner Cr

Mt. Werner Rd

Pine Grove Rd

Trafalg

ar Dr.

Pamela Ln

Rockies

Way

Burg

ess

Cree

k Rd

Ski Tim

e Squ

are Dr

Chris

tieDr

Corn

ice R

oad

High Point Dr Anglers

Ct

SpringHill Rd

Fox Ln

Anglers Drive

Memphis

Belle Ct

Central Park

Dr

Pine Grove Rd

Resort Dr

MontviewLn

Highland

Way

Cornice Ct.

Fetcher Park DrM

id-Valley Dr

Rollingstone

Dr

Stea

mbo

at B

lvd

Delta

Queen CtRobert

E.

Lee Rd

Club

hous

e Dr

Redwoods Dr

Mark Tw

ain Ln

River Queen Ln

Ranch Rd

Natchez Way

OverlookDr

Stor

m Meadows D

r

Liftline W

ay

Ridge Rd

Temple Knoll

Laurel Ln

Anthony's

Cr

Val D'ise

re Cr

Homestead

Ct

Skyview Ln

Chinook Ln

Weiss D

r

Shadow

Run

Mountain

Village C

ir

Saratoga A

ve

Fairvie

w

Dr

Blackmer Dr

Routt St

Manitou

Ave

Gilpin St

Pitkin St

Evans S

Critt

er C

t

Lithia Springs Rd

13th St

Curve CtShield Dr

CemeteryRd

Elk River RdDownhill Dr

Honeysuckl

e Ln

Iris L

nRi

vers

ide D

r

Copper Ridge Dr

Jacob

CrAcre Ln

Radiator R

d

DownhillPlaza

West Acre

s Dr

Lagoon Ct

So. Copper Passage

So. Copper Frontage

Divine Way

Duckels CtAirport Cr

Kamar Plaza

Elk River Plaza

Snow Bowl

Plaza

Riversid

e

Plaza

U.S. Highway 4

0

LoggersLn

Howelsen Parkway

Fish Cree

k Falls

Rd

Agate St

Spar St

Pearl St

Valderdant Cr

Valderdant Ct

Blue SpruceCt

HighlandsCr

Anglers Dr

Angle

rs R

d

Alexander Way

Huckleberry

Ln

DeerClover Ln

Santa Fe

Trail Black BearLn

Alpine Dr

Steamboat B

lvd

Golf Course Rd

Fish

Cree

k Ln

Kinnikinnick

Trails Edge

Pom

a Ln

AthensPlaza

Stone Lane

U.S. Highway 40

Ingles Ln

County Rd 44

River Rd

ForestView Dr

Golf View Way

Heaven

ly View

Clearw

ater T

rail

Whitewate

r Lan

eAspen Wood Lane

Glacier Ridge

Parkview Dr LongviewCr

Retreat PlaceCreel Ln

County Shop Rd

Abbey RdWest

End Ave

Oxford Way

Penny Ln

Savoy Place

Copper RidgeCr

Blake LnConestoga

Cr

Robin Ct

Covey Cir

Sequ

oia

Ct

CedarCt

Hemlock

Ct

Hiawatha Ct

Dougherty

Ln

Park Pl

SodaRidgeWay

GraystoneDrive

Myra Vista Ct

LupineDr

Littl

e Moo

nTr

ail

Valley

View

Inca Rd

Trail Ridge Rd

Aspen Ridge Rd

Granite Rd

Willow Creek Rd

Quarry Ridge Rd

Countryside Rd

Agate Creek Rd

C.R. 14

Aspen Ridge Rd

Aspen Woo

d

Drive

County Rd 36

Agate CreekPreserve

Dakota Ridge

RunningBear

WhistlerMeadows

SkiRanches

SkiTrails

Mountain ViewEstates

Fish Creek Meadows

WilletHeights

Willet Ridge The Sanctuary

Fairview

Trafalgar

Strawberry Park

Howelsen Ice Arena

Rodeo grounds

Movie theater

Botanic park

Museum

Steamboat Lake

OId Town Hot Springs

Strawberry Park Hot Springs

Library

Howelsen Hill

Alpine Slide

Yampa Valley Regional Airport

1

2

3

4 56

78

910

111213

14

1516

# Historic bike tour destinations

Yampa River Core Trail CITY LIMITS

CITY LIMITS

CITY LIMITSYampa River Core Trail

Uncochief CrUncochief Cr

Thornberg St

Thornberg St

Thornberg St

Steamboat Lake

Yampa Valley Regional Airport

Carto

ons b

y M

ack

Mas

chm

eier

39

SundanceCt

Yampa River

Fish

Cre

ek

Yampa River

Walton Creek

Soda Creek

Spri

ng C

reek

Butcherknife Creek

Yampa River

CITY LIMITS

CITY LIMITS

CITY LIMITS

CITY LIMITS

CITY LIMITS

CITY

LIM

ITS

CITY LIMITS

CITY LIMITS

Uncochief Cr

Yahmonite St

Thornberg St

Village Ln

Buckskin

Dr Merritt S

t

The Boulev

ard

12th

St

Bob Adams

Dr Crawford Ave

Douglas St Pawintah St

Prin

ceto

nPa

rk D

r

Aspen St

Pine St

Oak St

Lincoln Ave

Yampa St

11th

St

10th

St

9th

St

8th

St

7th

St

6th

St

5th

St

4th

St

3rd

St

Logan Ave

Missouri A

ve

Spruce StGrand St

Larim

er S

t

Hill St

James

St

Park

Ave

Nob St

Arapahoe

Ln

N. L

arim

er

Broa

d St Woods D

rDeer

foot Ave

N. Park

2nd

Stre

etMaple St

East Maple S

tDabney

Ln

Conifer

Cr

McK

inley

St Spring

Creek D

r

Amethyst Dr

Concordia

Ln

Alpine Ct

Cherry

Dr

Willo

w Ct

Old Fish

Creek F

alls

Rd

Fish Cree

k Falls

Rd

Mauna Kea

Ln

AppleDr

Locust

CtWille

tt

Ct

Caribou Run

Blackberr

y Ln

Kelhi Ct

Tam

ara

ck Dr

Buena Vista

Ct

Wyatt Ln

Wyatt D

r

W. Hills

ide Ct

Storm

Peak Ct

Storm Mountain

CtHillside Drive

Hilltop Ln

Hilltop Ln

Ridge ViewDr

Blue SageCt

Blue Sage

Cr

Meadow Brook C

rCheyenne Ct

N. Steamboat

Blvd

Hunters Dr

Bear

Creek D

r

Brom

e Dr

Hunt

ers

Ct

Timothy

Dr

Meadow Ln

Meadow

Ln

Meadow

Ct

Bear Dr

Apres Ski Way

Park Ct

Red Hawk

Ct

Village Dr

Tree Haus Dr

William Rd

Mt.

Wer

ner R

d

River Rd

83 Steven Kid

Sara Ln

Stuffie

Ct

Indian

Trails

OldStock

Rd

Dream Island Plaza

Walton Cree

k Rd

Cascade

Dr

Apres Ski W

ay

Columbine Dr

Eagleridge Dr

Village Drive

Medicine S

prin

gs R

d

Alpenglow Way

Ski Trail Ln

Mt.Werner Cr

Mt. Werner Rd

Pine Grove Rd

Trafalg

ar Dr.

Pamela Ln

Rockies

Way

Burg

ess

Cree

k Rd

Ski Tim

e Squ

are Dr

Chris

tieDr

Corn

ice R

oad

High Point Dr Anglers

Ct

SpringHill Rd

Fox Ln

Anglers Drive

Memphis

Belle Ct

Central Park

Dr

Pine Grove Rd

Resort Dr

MontviewLn

Highland

Way

Cornice Ct.

Fetcher Park DrM

id-Valley Dr

Rollingstone

Dr

Stea

mbo

at B

lvd

Delta

Queen CtRobert

E.

Lee Rd

Club

hous

e Dr

Redwoods Dr

Mark Tw

ain Ln

River Queen Ln

Ranch Rd

Natchez Way

OverlookDr

Stor

m Meadows D

r

Liftline W

ay

Ridge Rd

Temple Knoll

Laurel Ln

Anthony's

Cr

Val D'ise

re Cr

Homestead

Ct

Skyview Ln

Chinook Ln

Weiss D

r

Shadow

Run

Mountain

Village C

ir

Saratoga A

ve

Fairvie

w

Dr

Blackmer Dr

Routt St

Manitou

Ave

Gilpin St

Pitkin St

Evans S

Critt

er C

t

Lithia Springs Rd

13th St

Curve CtShield Dr

CemeteryRd

Elk River RdDownhill Dr

Honeysuckl

e Ln

Iris L

nRi

vers

ide D

r

Copper Ridge Dr

Jacob

CrAcre Ln

Radiator R

d

DownhillPlaza

West Acre

s Dr

Lagoon Ct

So. Copper Passage

So. Copper Frontage

Divine Way

Duckels CtAirport Cr

Kamar Plaza

Elk River Plaza

Snow Bowl

Plaza

Riversid

e

Plaza

U.S. Highway 4

0

LoggersLn

Howelsen Parkway

Fish Cree

k Falls

Rd

Agate St

Spar St

Pearl St

Valderdant Cr

Valderdant Ct

Blue SpruceCt

HighlandsCr

Anglers Dr

Angle

rs R

d

Alexander Way

Huckleberry

Ln

DeerClover Ln

Santa Fe

Trail Black BearLn

Alpine Dr

Steamboat B

lvd

Golf Course Rd

Fish

Cree

k Ln

Kinnikinnick

Trails Edge

Pom

a Ln

AthensPlaza

Stone Lane

U.S. Highway 40

Ingles Ln

County Rd 44

River Rd

ForestView Dr

Golf View Way

Heaven

ly View

Clearw

ater T

rail

Whitewate

r Lan

eAspen Wood Lane

Glacier Ridge

Parkview Dr LongviewCr

Retreat PlaceCreel Ln

County Shop Rd

Abbey RdWest

End Ave

Oxford Way

Penny Ln

Savoy Place

Copper RidgeCr

Blake LnConestoga

Cr

Robin Ct

Covey Cir

Sequ

oia

Ct

CedarCt

Hemlock

Ct

Hiawatha Ct

Dougherty

Ln

Park Pl

SodaRidgeWay

GraystoneDrive

Myra Vista Ct

LupineDr

Littl

e Moo

nTr

ail

Valley

View

Inca Rd

Trail Ridge Rd

Aspen Ridge Rd

Granite Rd

Willow Creek Rd

Quarry Ridge Rd

Countryside Rd

Agate Creek Rd

C.R. 14

Aspen Ridge Rd

Aspen Woo

d

Drive

County Rd 36

Agate CreekPreserve

Dakota Ridge

RunningBear

WhistlerMeadows

SkiRanches

SkiTrails

Mountain ViewEstates

Fish Creek Meadows

WilletHeights

Willet Ridge The Sanctuary

Fairview

Trafalgar

Strawberry Park

Howelsen Ice Arena

Botanic park

Visitors center

Maze & mini-golf

Haymaker Golf Course

Catamount Golf Course

Fish Creek Falls

Rollingstone Golf Course

Movie theater

Steamboat Ski Area

Strings Music Festival Park

17 18

Tennis CenterCITY LIMITS

CITY LIMITS

CITY LIMITS

Carto

ons b

y M

ack

Mas

chm

eier


About Emerald: Across the valley from Mount Werner lies the town’s mountain biking jewel, Emerald Mountain. Accessible from the heart of downtown via the Yampa Core Trail, Emerald fi ts the needs of a wide range of rider abilities with more than 4,000 acres of public land and miles of connected singletrack. While the trail network may appear daunting

to new riders, don’t worry. Several core trails, including Lupine, Blackmere, Mile Run and Larry’s, serve as central and easily navigable arteries up Emerald. From these trails you can experiment by veering off onto a number of side loops en route to the Quarry overlook. Offshoot loops like Blair Witch, Quarry Mountain, MGM, Root Canal and Eye-to-Eye offer miles of tacky, singletrack that wend through wildfl ower-fi lled meadows and groves of aspen, shrub oak and pine. For

longer rides, you can also tie in a loop on the Ridge and Beall trails off the backside of Emerald. Season: Late May through OctoberTrail rating: More diffi cult (fair amount of

climbing)Total mileage: Depends on your route. Lupine,

Blair Witch, Quarry Mountain, Root Canal, Stairway to Heaven and MGM clocks in at 9.8 miles. Know before you go: Just remember that

what goes up gets to come down. The trails can get crowded during lunch and after work, so ride with respect for other users, including those on horseback and hikers. A bell can come in handy. Bottom line? It’s a mountain biking Mecca. Trailheads and Parking: Three main trailheads

serve the numerous riding options on Emerald

Mountain. Each can be linked to miles of additional trails, which all generally connect back to the core trails listed. The Emerald Mountain trail system has ample parking at the stables, at Howelsen Lodge and at Blackmere Drive. Parking gets tight during Triple Crown baseball and softball events, which occur throughout the summer, so do like the locals do and ride from your accommodations as a nice warm up. Lupine Trailhead: For a local favorite try the

twisty Lupine trail, which is accessed, along with Bluff Loops, via the trailhead next to the stables and restrooms behind the Rodeo grounds. Mile Run Trailhead: A second option is Mile

Run. A ski run during the winter season, this wide trail provides a moderate grade to access the higher riding options. The trailhead sign is located by the winter tubing building between

Howelsen/Emerald Mountain Park


the white pavilion and northernmost baseball fi eld at the base of Howelsen Hill. Veer right along the base of the Nordic ski jumps. The trail winds northwest and then cuts behind Howelsen Hill.Blackmer Trailhead: Blackmer, which doubles

as an emergency access road, provides the most forgiving riding option to the Quarry overlook (but you’ll still learn to count the three major switchbacks). Head down the bike path or Lincoln Avenue and take a left at 13th Street at the Bud Werner Memorial Library. Follow 13th over the bridge and take your fi rst left on Gilpin Street (or look for a short-cut singletrack heading up to your left). Then take a left onto Saratoga Avenue and a fi nal quick right onto Routt Street, which ends at a parking area and the trailhead. Note: For details see Trails illustrated map #118

Steamboat Springs/Rabbit Ears, which includes 38 total miles on Howelsen/Emerald. And don’t forget to check out the City Skills Park and BMX course at the base of Howelsen Hill, built and maintained by the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club. Ph

oto

from

Stea

mboa

t Pilo

t & T

oday

136 Lincoln Avenue - Downtown

970-879-1828 • www.oldtownhotsprings.org

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Beall TrailTotal mileage: 6.63 milesKnow before you go: One of the newest editions

on Emerald Mountain, the Beall trail recognizes the efforts of Ben Beall, the 13-year chairman of the Emerald Mountain Partnership who was instrumental in negotiating the land exchange between the State Land Board and the BLM in 2007. The negotiations yielded the largest land swap in Colorado history, adding 4,193 acres of public land called the Special Recreation Area on Emerald Mountain. Parking/Trailheads: You can access the Beall Trail

from two places — the top of Emerald Mountain or via Routt County Road 45, known as Cow Creek Road, off Road County Road 33 (Twentymile Road). From downtown, ride up your favorite Emerald Mountain trail and connect with the Quarry Mountain Trail. The Quarry Mountain Trail leads to the two-track road along the top ridge of Emerald Mountain. Follow the road west to the BLM sign and the start of the Ridge Trail. The Beall Trail begins just to the left of the Ridge Trail.

Description: On the decent from the top of Emerald you will traverse the mountain riding a gentle grade on non-technical singletrack. There are several ups and downs along the way and some trickier sections, but you need not be an expert mountain biker to enjoy this trail. The Beall Trail offers views of Rabbit Ears Pass, the Flat Tops Wilderness Area and surrounding ranch land. You’ll meander through open meadows, pine forests, aspen groves and the beautiful gamble oak forest that is so prevalent on Emerald Mountain.

Ridge TrailTotal mileage: 5 milesKnow before you go: The Ridge Trail is another

recent addition to the amazing network of trails on Emerald Mountain. Located on the backside of Emerald, it offers stunning views and smooth, tacky riding, and the options to link together longer rides, via either the Rotary Trail towards the bottom, or a return up the Beall trail or back on County Road 33. Parking: Parking is available at Howelsen Lodge, or

on Cow Creek (County Road 45)

Description: The trail can accessed from the front side of Emerald at the base of Howeslen Hill, as an out and back, or as a loop in either direction via Cow Creek off Road County Road 33 “Twenty Mile Road”. To get to the trailhead at Cow Creek head out

Routt County Road 33 “Twenty Mile Road” and turn left on Cow Creek (County Road 45). You’ll fi nd the trailhead about a mile down on your left. From the Emerald/downtown side you have the

option of riding up a number of trails to the summit of Emerald Mountain. At the top follow the two-track along the ridge. To access the trailhead continue down and to the left just before the closure gate. Note: Both the Ridge and Beall trails can be linked

together from their respective trailheads on Cow Creek Road for a 13-mile loop, 11.5 of which are on great singletrack. For the easiest climbing, head up Beall and down Ridge. You can also add in the Rotary Trail for an additional loop.

Beall/Ridge Trails

Emerald Backside

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Season: Early May - Early November (one of the fi rst trails to open each season due to its low elevation and western aspect) Know before you go: Built by the local Rotary

Club, this loop includes wide and smooth trails

that wind through trees and down ridge lines with large berms and dirt rollers that can be pumped or doubled. This loop is designed to be exciting for the expert rider when ridden fast, yet easy for family riding.

Parking: From the library, head west on 13th Street for approximately 7 miles (Twentymile Road/County Road 33). Turn left on Cow Creek Road (County Road 45) and go one mile. Two parking areas are available on the left. Rating: Easy (Rotary)/More Diffi cult (Ridge)Description: The Rotary Trail is accessed by riding

up .65 mile and 125 vertical feet of the Ridge Trail. The Rotary trail turns left off of the Ridge Trail and continues to climb 1.5 miles and 210 vertical feet to the summit. With 400 vertical feet of drop, the next 1.5 miles are the roller coaster. From there, it’s a mile back to the trailhead on gradual up and down smooth trail that gains 65 vertical feet back to the trailhead.

Rotary TrailVaried Five-Mile Loop

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While Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation known for its world class terrain and champagne powder in the winter, it’s also making waves on the bike front, putting its summer cycling options on the map as much as its skiing. It’s come a long way since its fi rst trails were installed nearly three decades ago; its biking options have grown to encompass a variety of trails for all ability levels spread across the resort. It’s also in the fi nal stages of an updated Summer Master Plan that lays the foundation for new downhill trails marking the fi rst steps in its dedicated freeride bike park (please pick up a current trail map at the resort). Following are a few highlights of note:

Bicycle-Friendly Business Platinum Designation The resort has pedaled its way to earning

the Platinum Designation in Bicycle Friendly Business program from Routt County Riders for its contributions to the local cycling community. Steamboat was recognized for its vast mountain bike trail network; engagement in the Bike Town USA Initiative; involvement in community-wide programs; hosting and sponsoring numerous bike events and programs; participating in thousands of hours of employee volunteerism; participating in bike initiatives such as Bike To Work; and donating

to local organizations.“Emphasizing biking as a lifestyle and recreational

outlet helps our community live a healthy, active lifestyle, lessens our impact on the environment, and puts us on the map as a biking destination,” says Jim Schneider, vice president of skier services.

New Steamboat Bike ParkA new era in mountain biking debuted to rave

reviews last fall when the mountain offered a sneak preview of the Steamboat Bike Park and three new downhill mountain bike trails. The preview began with two downhill green trails, E-Z Rider

What’s Newat the Ski Area

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to local organizations.“Emphasizing biking as a lifestyle and recreational

outlet helps our community live a healthy, active lifestyle, lessens our impact on the environment, and puts us on the map as a biking destination,” says Jim Schneider, vice president of skier services.

New Steamboat Bike ParkA new era in mountain biking debuted to rave

reviews last fall when the mountain offered a sneak preview of the Steamboat Bike Park and three new downhill mountain bike trails. The preview began with two downhill green trails, E-Z Rider

What’s Newand Wrangler Gulch, and the expert black jump trail, Buckin’ Bronc. These gravity trails showcase the work of mountain bike trail developer Gravity Logic, along with the Steamboat trail crew, who spent endless hours building and preparing the trails for their premiere. Buckin’ Bronc, the expert jump trail, contains

step down rollers, a wooden berm/wall ride, large dirt berm, a 10-foot wooden ladder step down/step up, rollers and nine table-top dirt jumps in rapid succession. The green trails feature dirt berms, banked turns and wooden slat and ladder bridgesThe Steamboat Bike Park offi cially opens this

summer and work is currently underway to complete the new intermediate downhill trail, Rustler’s Ridge. In addition, Zig Zag will temporarily be converted to a downhill only trail, while Why Not Road will be utilized for uphill cross country bike access for this summerThe park’s trails will open as conditions allow

(riders must stay off closed trails) and Steamboat’s bike patrol will be available only when the mountain bike trails are open. The park falls under the resort’s SlopeWise Code and carries the same

principles as in the winter. The gondola opens for downhill riding on June 15 (weekend only) and June 23 seven days a week.

Promenade, Burgess Creek and StageThe natural sounds of Burgess Creek return to

the mountain village when the creek starts fl owing again through the heart of the Steamboat Ski Area, bringing to life the new Promenade this summer. The fi nal elements of this fi ve-year, nearly $20 million urban renewal project come to fruition as a free-fl owing Burgess Creek and the public promenade, which encircles the base of the ski mountain and connects summertime guests to Steamboat’s core mountain locations. The creek will fl ow through natural features including stone bridges at water level, small waterfalls and stone seating areas. Resort offi cials will be able to manage fl ow levels for safe wading by diverting runoff.Also new is a permanent, multi-level outdoor

concert/performing arts stage in Gondola Square that will host concerts and other events through the summer and fall. The best outdoor seating area

is at the Terrace and Umbrella Bar, just off the Bear

River Bar & Grill.

Mountain Village EventsSeveral new events have been added to this

year’s summer line-up, taking full advantage of the

resort’s new base area complex. The Big Mountain

Enduro (July 21) is expected to host 200 riders,

across a 26-mile course along the Divide Trail.

Entering its third year, Ride4Yellow (July 28)

covers roughly 26 miles of pristine single-track across

the Continental Divide and fi nishes at the base of

the Steamboat Ski Area. There are plenty of other

events as well, from OktoberWest in September to

the Mad Mudder Run, concerts and more.

NoteBefore riding at the Steamboat Bike Park,

please review the information on the summer trail

map and obey all posted signs and warnings.

Info: www.steamboat.com

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Quality Old Town Service at Low Prices.5th & Lincoln Ave | 970.879.9144 | www.steamboatskiandbike.com


Season: Early June-OctoberKnow before you go: This is a short loop, which

dries out quickly in the spring. This area is also populated by moose, so please pay attention to posted signs.

Parking: This trail starts at the Water Treatment Plant. Take the Mt. Werner exit from Hwy 40 just south of downtown, heading east toward the ski area. Turn left at Steamboat Boulevard and follow it past the golf course into the Sanctuary

neighborhood. The Water Treatment Plant will be on your right, just after you cross Fish Creek. There is a good parking lot with a map of the trail posted there.Rating: EasyDescription: The trail goes along the new

fence line behind the parking lot and joins up to the singletrack on the left. Then it switchbacks for a bit until you enter the aspen trees. You do a small circular trail through the aspens and onto the ridgeline heading back toward Steamboat Boulevard. Continue to a couple more switchbacks down the hill and onto Steamboat Boulevard. Ride the road a couple minutes and you’re back at the Water Treatment Plant.

Skyline TrailQuick Ride through the Aspens

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While Steamboat has a wealth of trails luring mountain bikers to town, it also has a couple of more urban-esque options providing bank-fi lled fun for the whole family.

The BMX TrackBMX has found a home in the ‘Boat.

Steamboat Springs has a newly redesigned BMX track that is free and bike-friendly for all ages and all types of riders, adding yet another dimension to local riding options. Located near the base of Howelsen Hill

across the river from downtown, the 950-foot, professionally designed track offi cially opened

in fall 2010, providing a top-tier facility for the BMX-light Rocky Mountain region.“It’s a technical, professional course,” says Brian

Deem, who was instrumental, along with Gina Grether and Eric Bress, in getting the course built. “It’s a varied course that requires more than just one skill to ride well. It teaches the kids how to jump, but it’s also a very competitive track.”The result of Steamboat’s small BMX club,

Team Flying Wheels, aligning with the nonprofi t National Bicycle League, the course was fi ve years in the making and came about via donations from SSX Excavating, Wagner Rents, Prestige Property Detailing, private donors and

more. It turns back on itself for four straight shots, each littered with carefully considered rollers, mounds and berms designed to challenge experts and beginners alike — from seasoned BMXers and freeriders to toddlers on Striders. Organizers have also added starting gates, lights and a public address system for the local 10-race BMX summer series racing circuit, open to kids and adults. “This could even generate a state or a national BMX race,” says Grether. “It has that potential.” Info: Team Flying Wheels, 970-871-9500.

The Pump TrackLocal and visiting riders now have something

else to get pumped up about in Steamboat. The Pump Track, located in Ski Time Square

just north of the base of the Steamboat Ski Area, is the latest addition to the town’s quick and easy riding options, taking riders on a bank-fi lled, pedal-less course at the base of Mount Werner. “We worked really hard for two years to get

a pump track in Steamboat, and it’s a fantastic addition,” says project ringleader Cory Prager, who coaches the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club Gravity Team. “It rides really well.”A pump track is designed to allow riders to

cruise the entire course without pedaling, relying on “pumping” up and down the slopes to take advantage of gravity and momentum. Opened in July 2010, the project is a partnership between the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club’s Gravity Team, the City of Steamboat Springs and the Atira Group, which allowed the track to be built on its property. The Pump Track is a great skill-building tool, and is open and free to riders of all ages and ability. Info: SSWSC Gravity Team, (970) 819-0843

Steamboat’s BMX, pump tracks huge successesTwo trails for toddlers, teens and more

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Season: Mid May – Mid OctoberKnow before you go: This trail

weaves back and forth over the Spring Creek and through aspen forests with

about a dozen bridge crossings. It can be done as an up and back down, or a loop if Buffalo Pass Road (Routt County Road 38) is ridden.

Spring Creek Trail

Parking: From downtown Steamboat Springs travel north on 3rd Street and turn right at stop sign onto Pine Street which will turn into East Maple Street. Pass the Steamboat Springs High School on the right and follow road to the end where it intersects with Amethyst Drive. At this stop sign the parking lot for the trail is directly across the street. This is RCR 34. If driving, park car here.Rating: More Difficult Description: Begin pedaling up the dirt road. Keep

in mind that this is a road that cars do travel on. Stay over to the right. The road will turn to a double track in about .5 miles. Follow this double track up above Spring Creek Park (featuring two reservoir ponds and gazebo.) The first bridge crossing will be in about ½ mile. Stay on this double track for another mile until the trailhead sign is reached. At the sign, climb up a short steep hill to the left and take the immediate right. This is the beginning of the singletrack and the official beginning of the Spring Creek Trail. There is a gate that closes the trail from November 15th until April 15th for elk habitat preservation.From here on, there are no other trails off the wide

singletrack. The trail will cross back and forth over the creek until reaching the summit at Dry Lake, approximately 5 miles later. The terrain is mostly hard packed dirt but does have sections of rocks, roots and ruts. It is a continuous climb with many short steep pitches. The trail is not very technical in nature, but the climbs require physical fitness. There is a total elevation gain of 1,200 ft.Upon reaching the top, turn around and enjoy the

beautiful ride back down. Be careful, this trail is one of the most popular in Steamboat, so encounters with other riders, hikers, dog walkers and equestrians are inevitable.

Popular Trail Close to Town


No B ikes in Wi lderness Area

Season: Early May through OctoberKnow before you go: With southern

exposure and quickly draining granitic soils, the hot springs area trails dry out early and offer the longest riding season of all the trails in town. Mad Creek is popular with hikers and

their dogs. Please ride carefully and remember to yield the trail to hikers. Also be aware of horse use in this area during the early riding and hunting seasons. Please yield the trail to horses. The Red Dirt Trail has some north facing slopes and does not melt out as early as the rest of

the trail system. Do not ride into the Mt Zirkel Wilderness area, or you could be ticketed.Parking: Ample parking is available about 5

miles up CR 129 at the Mad Creek trailhead, and another hald mile beyond at the Red Dirt trailhead (you can also ride CR 129 directly to

Hot Springs Area


the trail system. Do not ride into the Mt Zirkel Wilderness area, or you could be ticketed.Parking: Ample parking is available about 5

miles up CR 129 at the Mad Creek trailhead, and another hald mile beyond at the Red Dirt trailhead (you can also ride CR 129 directly to

Hot Springs Area each trailhead). The other option is to ride the Strawberry Park Hot Springs Road, CR 36, to the Hot Springs trail. Ride this trail down to CR 129 and then turn right and go 0.25 miles to the trailhead.Trail Ratings: More Diffi cult (Mad Creek)/

Very Diffi cult (Red Dirt)

Mad Creek/Red Dirt LoopThis loop climbs from the Mad Creek parking

area up to the historic barn. Look for the Swamp Park Trailhead sign on your left. Climb through aspen and lodgepole forests before descending the steep and technical Red Dirt trail. A short spin along the road returns riders to the trailhead.These trails all link up essentially at the top

of the Mad Creek trail, and offer a little something for everyone. From here, riders can follow the meandering trail by the historic barn and bordering a gorgeous alpine meadow to the Mount Zirkel Wilderness boundary, over to the Red Dirt Trail (see above), or across Mad Creek onto double track and loop back to either the Hot Springs Trail or the Mad Creek trailhead parking lot. No matter your route, you’ll likely see birds of prey, deer or elk, fox and other wildlife. You’ll also encounter

other trail users, so ride under control. The long locals’ ride starts in town, rides out Strawberry Park Road to the Strawberry Park Hot Springs, down the Hot Springs Trail, up Mad Creek, down Red Dirt, then back up Hot Springs (for a post-ride soak) and fi nally back into town.

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Season: Early June-OctoberKnow before you go: This trail is a beauty, and

one of the fi rst in the Steamboat area to dry out each spring due to its southern exposure. It can also be linked-in with several other trails in the area, including Hot Springs, for a great half road/half trail loop from town. As an out and back from Lower Bear Trailhead to the summit overlook expect roughly 4 miles of pedaling with an elevation rise of 1,353 feet.Parking: The trail starts on the right about a half mile

before you reach Strawberry Park Hot Springs on County Road 36 (Hot Springs Road). Park at the pull-out for the Lower Bear Trail on the right and look for the single-track trail heading north from its far end. Rating: IntermediateDescription: Break out your energy bar. This Forest

Service trail starts out with a bang, without much warm-up. Beginning at an elevation of roughly 7,600 feet the trail heads north at fi rst, before turning east

and climbing the scrub oak-fi lled hillside with a series of switchbacks. After 1.6 miles, or 20 minutes to half an hour you’ll reach the old Two-track trail, which is even steeper. Turn left and climb another .4 miles (2 miles from trailhead) to the overlook at the top of a saddle, where you can enjoy a commanding vista of the Yampa Valley and Mount Werner. From there, the trail rolls northeast before contouring across a rocky outcrop and descending to its junction with 4WD Elk Park Road at mile 2.9. Turn left and continue on to such clandestine classics as MRP (which takes you into Mad Creek) or the even more remote Summit Park trail, or stay on it to its end at a big meadow called Elk Park. Turn right on the road and you can descend all the way back to Strawberry Park Road at mile 4.8, where a right turn and short road climb takes you back to your car. You can also head back the way you came on Lower Bear, whose smooth, buff trail is pure butter to descend.

Lower Bear

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Everyone is sure to leave happy!Open Over 20 years

Home of the world-famous cinnamon roll

• 970-879-2483 •Open 7am-3pm Monday to Sunday

Saturday & Sunday serving breakfast till noonLocated on Lincoln Avenue between 6th & 7th street

Winona’s

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Lower BearSeason: Late June – early OctoberKnow before you go: This approximately 20-mile,

technical, north Routt loop is a favorite bike ride, but is also shared by four-wheelers, ATVs and motorcycles. It’s best ridden counter-clockwise loop. The ride is gorgeous during the fall colors. Parking: From Steamboat Springs, turn north at 7-11,

and follow Elk River Road (County Road 129) past Columbine to U.S. Forest Road 47, on the left just past the Summit Creek Guard Station. Park off Forest Road 47.Rating: Very Diffi cultDescription: Follow USFS Road 47 clockwise,

west. It turns into Trail #1147. This trail winds through aspen groves and spruce, down to Lopez Creek and then connects with Trail #1156. Turn left, staying on Trail #1156 back over the divide and down Willow Creek.

This area can be wet early summer. Stay on trail #1156 across USFS Road 487 to USFS Road 488. Turn right on USFS road 488 and travel to the junction with County Road 129. You can stay on the trail back to 129, but at this point some smoother riding is welcome. Turn left on County Road 129 and return to the starting point.

Other trails can be accessed from the Nipple Peak

loop. See map and consult local bike shops for more

information.

Nipple Peak/Lopez Creek Loop

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Everyone is sure to leave happy!Open Over 20 years

Home of the world-famous cinnamon roll

• 970-879-2483 •Open 7am-3pm Monday to Sunday

Saturday & Sunday serving breakfast till noonLocated on Lincoln Avenue between 6th & 7th street

Winona’s

• 970-879-2483 •


Season: July 1 to mid-October (offi cially closes December 1)Know before you go: This area has challenging hilly,

rocky sections and steep grades. Loose rock portions may require dismounting. Be aware of jeep, motorcycle, and ATV traffi c at all times, as you will be sharing the trail. Be prepared to deal with fallen trees, especially in the early summer before winter timber fall has been cleared.Parking: Take CR 129 past Steamboat Lake and

Hahns Peak Lake. Just past Columbine, turn right on FR 550. Proceed north 4 miles and turn right on FR 500. After 2 miles, turn right onto FR 402, which becomes rough and wet with deep holes (4WD recommended). The Farewell Mountain trailhead (#1203) is 1 mile up the road.Trail Ratings: Very Diffi cultDescription: Take Farwell Mountain Trail #1203

southeast about 5 miles to NFSR 409, then follow the road about 3 miles to Wyoming Trail #1101. Take

Trail #1101 north about 13 miles to Manzanares Trail #1204. Follow the trail west about 5 miles back to the trailhead #1203. This route is through pine forests and alpine meadows. The intersection of the Wyoming

and Manzanares trails offers views at the top of the Continental Divide. Don’t enter the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area, which only allows travel by foot and horseback.

Big Red Park Manzanares Loop


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Season: Late June – Mid OctoberKnow before you go: This ride is

only for the adventurous and is very challenging, but the reward is an intimate overview of the Park Range, with many creek crossings and views of the drainages feeding North Park from the Divide. The trail is open to OHVs, so singletrack and two-track sections require being alert of other users. Some sections require portage and orientation skills. High water and vast beaver ponds suggest better riding in mid- to late summer. The trail is as rewarding as it is challenging. Parking: There are three main access

points to this trail: • Southern terminus (Grizzly Trailhead):

Access FR 60 either by climbing Buffalo Pass Road to Summit Lake and continuing to the east side, or from Colorado State Highway 14 by taking Jackson County Road 24 west to the National Forest boundary. Turn north on FR 615 and go past Teal and Tiago lakes to the trailhead at road’s end.

• Trail midpoint (Lone Pine Trailhead): This trailhead allows access to the trail north or south at approximately 15 miles from each terminus. From Colorado State Highway 14 at Walden, go west on Jackson County Road 12W for approximately 18 miles, turn south on Jackson County Road 16 to the Forest Boundary. Riders south

will find the Lone Pine South trailhead approximately 1 mile west of the boundary. Riders north can either use the Brown Creek Road (FR 650, a rough 4WD road that parallels the boundary and connects with the trail after about 3 miles) or the trail itself,

accessed 1.5 miles farther west at the Lone Pine North trailhead.

• Northern terminus (Helena Trailhead): From Colorado State Highway 125 at Cowdrey, go west on Jackson County Road 6W 18 miles to the community of Pearl. Turn west on FR 600, following FR 600 again by turning south toward Big Creek Lakes, then turn south across the Big Creek Lakes outlet to take FR 660 south to the Helena trailhead.

Trail Rating: Very DifficultDescription: The entire trail may be

ridden using car shuttles between the Grizzly trailhead and the Helena trailhead south of Big Creek Lakes. Shorter out and back rides or alternate access are also available from the Rainbow Lakes, Pitchpine and Red Canyon trailheads, all accessible by turnoffs from Jackson County Road 12W west of Walden. Jackson County Roads 5 and 7 run north-south and provide connections between the interior trailheads for all-gravel shuttle routes. Be prepared for loose trail, abrupt ups and downs, and creek crossings in many areas. From the southern trailhead, pay attention after about .72 miles, at the intersection with the Agua Fria trail. This trail leads up a difficult but rewarding climb to a beautiful lake, but you will need to stay right (east) to remain on the Grizzly-Helena trail.

Grizzly-Helena

and Manzanares trails offers views at the top of the Continental Divide. Don’t enter the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area, which only allows travel by foot and horseback.

Big Red Park Manzanares Loop

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Seedhouse Area Trails

Season: Late June to September

Know before you go: All the trails in this area are shared with equestrians, hikers and motorcyclists, so ride with respect. Also, hunters use this area in the fall, so wear bright colors. The Forest Service is continuing to close areas for tree clearing - read

all closure information and contact the Forest Service Hotline for information.

Also, please report any new downfall.

Parking: The Seedhouse area offers ample parking in three different locations: The Hinman Lake trailhead, the North Entrance to the South Fork trailhead, and

the South Entrance to the South Fork trailhead.

Trail Ratings: Very Diffi cult

Description: South Fork/Scott’s Run. This approximately 20-mile moderately technical loop offers a great aerobic workout and spectacular

views of the South Fork of the Elk River, the Zirkels and the 2002 Hinman burn area (notice the regeneration). The suggested ride is counter-clockwise and prepare for creek crossings.

The Seedhouse area network of trails offers riders of all abilities the opportunity to ride pristine trails and see a wide variety of wildlife, beautiful fl owers and the rugged Zirkel range. The trails, located approximately 30 miles north of Steamboat Springs, traverse aspen and lodgepole forests, and pass by meandering creeks and streams and glimmering lakes. In the summer, they allow riders to escape the heat of Steamboat and ride through shady stands of aspens and lodgepole forests connecting to brilliant meadows of columbines. The singletracks are narrow and smooth with few technical interruptions, making for fast and furious fun in the saddle.

Pristine Trails in North Rou�


Seedhouse Area Trails

views of the South Fork of the Elk River, the Zirkels and the 2002 Hinman burn area (notice the regeneration). The suggested ride is counter-clockwise and prepare for creek crossings.

The Seedhouse area network of trails offers riders of all abilities the opportunity to ride pristine trails and see a wide variety of wildlife, beautiful fl owers and the rugged Zirkel range. The trails, located approximately 30 miles north of Steamboat Springs, traverse aspen and lodgepole forests, and pass by meandering creeks and streams and glimmering lakes. In the summer, they allow riders to escape the heat of Steamboat and ride through shady stands of aspens and lodgepole forests connecting to brilliant meadows of columbines. The singletracks are narrow and smooth with few technical interruptions, making for fast and furious fun in the saddle.

Pristine Trails in North Rou�


Season: Mid July to Early SeptemberKnow before you go: Bring rain gear, food and water (the starting

elevation is about 9,000 feet, so stay hydrated). The Forest Service is continuing to close areas for tree clearing — read all closure information and contact the Forest Service Hotline for information. The following roads may be closed with no access — Rabbit Ears Pass area: Road 311-Dumont Lake to Base Camp – CDNST, Road 251- Harrison Creek Loop.Parking: Take Hwy 40 west from Steamboat Springs to the

intersection of Dumont/FR 251. Park on the right at the entrance of FR 251. There is a sign for Harrison Creek.Rating: Very Diffi cultDescription: Start the ride from the intersection south on FR 251

at approximately 3 miles. Veer left on to FR 303, and left again onto FR 303.1C; the path is easy to follow. Veer left onto Routt Divide Trail 1108 at trailhead sign. The trail starts with short descents combined with short, tricky and sometimes rocky climbs. Go through the meadow, even if the trail disappears in the grass (it picks up on the other side). Next comes the mandatory hike a bike. It’s steep, rocky and tough, but is mostly downhill. The singletrack will end on Buffalo Park Road, and go left. Now you’re in for a 10-mile moderate dirt road climb back to Hwy 40. From here, it’s half a mile to your car.

Harrison Creek/Routt Divide Trail #1108

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Season: Early July to Mid-October Know before you go: This rolling, scenic trail is

a classic Steamboat epic. It is also the route for the Ride4Yellow event. This trail is referred to by three different names (Wyoming Trail, Divide Trail and Trail 1101). Don’t be confused — they all lead to the same great place. You will need two cars or a driver, who will not be riding. Your car will be left at Dumont Lake, and the ride will end back in Steamboat. Also, check with local bike shops for trail conditions. Be aware of early season snow and/or fallen trees. Parking: From Steamboat, take Hwy 40 east

for 20 miles over Rabbit Ears Pass. Turn left toward Dumont Lake. Pass the campground entrances then turn left toward Base Camp (there is a large boulder in the middle of the road with a plaque on it). Park your car 300 yards up Base Camp Road on the right hand side.Trail Rating: More Diffi cultTrail Description: Look for the start of the trail

on the opposite side of Base Camp Road. You will quickly come out onto the campground road. Continue straight on the campground road until

you take slight right onto Trail #1101 (Wyoming/Continental Divide Trail). Initially the trail follows an old roadbed along an irrigation ditch. Head left after crossing a small creek and begin your fi rst steep climb. The trail will roll along, cross another creek, and 4 miles from the start, you will come out on Base Camp Road. Turn left on Base Camp Road and climb for about ½ mile to Base Camp Trailhead. (Option: you can ride or drive Base Camp Road to this point to avoid 4 miles of singletrack).At the Base Camp Trailhead, begin a fun, twisty

descent over many water bars. After the descent, you’ll cross a creek and a climb up to Fishhook Lake (a good spot for a snack). After riding along the east side of the lake, look for a left turn to continue on #1101 (don’t go to Lost Lake). More rolling terrain with a few rocky sections will take you past Lake Elmo and to an obvious four-way intersection, which is another great spot for a snack or to regroup. Turn left onto Fish Creek Falls Trail #1102, which

rolls downhill toward Long Lake. Stay right as you fi rst approach the lake and then continue onto Fish

Creek Falls Trail # 1102 (don’t go to Fish Creek Reservoir). Another. 0.8 fairly fl at miles later, turn left and begin climbing Mountain View Trail #1032. The trail climbs a few loose switchbacks then rolls through the forest, then climbs again. At the top, you’re rewarded with gorgeous views across Rabbit Ears Pass and a nice spot for a break. A couple more miles of rolling terrain take you to Steamboat Ski Resort. Head left on the resort’s dirt road to connect with Pete’s Wicked Trail to begin the descent.The best route down is Pete’s Wicked Trail, right

on Cathy’s Cut off, right onto Sunshine trail, and left on the dirt road. When the road comes to and intersection, look for the Elkhead singletrack straight ahead. Take a right on the road at end of Elkhead, then a quick left to keep gondola building on your right. Descend Huffman’s to a right turn onto a dirt road, and another right turn onto Valley View and fi nally straight on Sitz to Yoo-hoo. The ride ends at bottom of Steamboat Ski Area.

Other trail options in the area1. Dumont Lake to Summit Lake on # 1101.

Descend Buffalo Pass Road to Dry Lake. Spring Creek Trail down into town.

2. Dumont Lake to Fish Creek Falls Trail. Same directions as Mountainview, but stay on #1102 Fish Creek Falls for arguably the most technical descent in the Steamboat area.

3. Base Camp Road towards Base Camp, turn left on #1101 and ride back to your vehicle on the singletrack. Easier 8-mile loop, no shuttle required.

4. Climb Steamboat Ski Area and use Mountainview to access Divide Trail to Summit Lake and descend Buffalo Pass Road to Spring Creek, or Mountainview to Fish Creek Falls trail.

The Divide TrailContinental Divide Trail/Mountain View TrailDumont Lake to Steamboat Ski Area

Season: Mid July to Early SeptemberKnow before you go: Bring rain gear, food and water (the starting

elevation is about 9,000 feet, so stay hydrated). The Forest Service is continuing to close areas for tree clearing — read all closure information and contact the Forest Service Hotline for information. The following roads may be closed with no access — Rabbit Ears Pass area: Road 311-Dumont Lake to Base Camp – CDNST, Road 251- Harrison Creek Loop.Parking: Take Hwy 40 west from Steamboat Springs to the

intersection of Dumont/FR 251. Park on the right at the entrance of FR 251. There is a sign for Harrison Creek.Rating: Very Diffi cultDescription: Start the ride from the intersection south on FR 251

at approximately 3 miles. Veer left on to FR 303, and left again onto FR 303.1C; the path is easy to follow. Veer left onto Routt Divide Trail 1108 at trailhead sign. The trail starts with short descents combined with short, tricky and sometimes rocky climbs. Go through the meadow, even if the trail disappears in the grass (it picks up on the other side). Next comes the mandatory hike a bike. It’s steep, rocky and tough, but is mostly downhill. The singletrack will end on Buffalo Park Road, and go left. Now you’re in for a 10-mile moderate dirt road climb back to Hwy 40. From here, it’s half a mile to your car.

Harrison Creek/Routt Divide Trail #1108

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No B ikes in Wi lderness Area Season: June-October

Know before you go: This is a gorgeous ride stays in great shape throughout the summer. After an hour drive each way, you’ll be rewarded with winding singletrack along Rock Creek.Parking:: Take Hwy 40 east from Steamboat.

Follow State Highway 131 south for 39 miles to State Highway 134. Follow 134, 8.2 miles to Forest Road #270 (Lynx Pass). Follow 270 3 miles and turn right onto Forest Road #263

Lynx Pass


Season: June-OctoberKnow before you go: This is a gorgeous ride

stays in great shape throughout the summer. After an hour drive each way, you’ll be rewarded with winding singletrack along Rock Creek.Parking:: Take Hwy 40 east from Steamboat.

Follow State Highway 131 south for 39 miles to State Highway 134. Follow 134, 8.2 miles to Forest Road #270 (Lynx Pass). Follow 270 3 miles and turn right onto Forest Road #263

for ¼ mile. (If you pass the bathrooms, you’ve gone too far.) Park on the side of the road at the sharp switchback to the right.Rating: More Diffi cultTrail Description: Leave the road at the

outside corner of a sharp switchback in the road. Cross the creek and begin climbing Tepee Creek trail. Turn left onto Forest Service Road 263. Continue a moderate climb for about 4 miles. Take a right onto Rock Creek Trail. This starts as an old dirt road for about ½ mile;

past a closed gate the trail turns into single-track. The trail descends steeply at fi rst, then follows and crosses Rock Creek a few times. After following the creek, you’ll begin a short climb before descending an old two track. At the bottom of the descent, look for sharp right onto Tepee Creek Trail #1173. Climb along the Tepee Creek drainage back to the Forest Service Road 263. Continue straight across the road to stay on Tepee Creek trail. Hang on tight for the fast descent back to the trailhead.

Lynx Pass Rock Creek/Tepee Creek


Twentymile Road

A local’s favorite with rolling hills, plus a few hardy climbs, nice pavement and relatively low vehicle traffi c especially on weekends.Twentymile Out and Back: From downtown

Steamboat Springs, turn off Lincoln Ave. at the library onto 13th Street. This will turn into Routt County Road (RCR) 33 (Twentymile Road). There is about 5 miles of open range, so pay close attention for cattle on the quick valley descents. It’s 40 miles out-and-back if you make it all the way to the coal mine at the junction of RCR 33 and RCR 27. Twentymile Loop: For a longer loop variation of the

ride (53.53 miles) continue on CR 27, with several fast drops into the small town of Oak Creek. The return follows CR 14 past Stagecoach State Park and reservoir. There is about 1 mile of well-maintained dirt road on CR 14 after the short interlude on Highway 131 toward Steamboat Springs.

Emerald Loop

A Routt County cobblestone classic.Head out of town on 13th Street/RCR 33

(Twentymile Road) up and over the fi rst major climb and take a left onto RCR 43, where the gravel begins. Continue around the back side of Emerald Mountain, bearing right onto RCR 41. After the steep descent down to the Hilton Gulch schoolhouse, take a left back onto the pavement and continue down, merging with RCR 35, then left on RCR 14 (River Road) which will bring you back to town. Ride the loop in reverse for a challenging climb up Hilton Gulch. This is a 30-mile loop with about 6 miles of well-maintained gravel roads.

Stagecoach/Oak Creek Loop

A 40-mile classic Steamboat loop.From Steamboat Springs head south on RCR 14

(River Road). At the junction of RCR 35, veer left across the railroad tracks onto RCR 14E and continue to the intersection with CO Hwy 131. Go right on 131 for a brief stretch, then turn left back onto RCR 14 heading to Stagecoach. Ride over Yellow Jacket Pass (this stretch has narrow shoulders and some rough pavement), past Stagecoach Reservoir and intersect again with CO Hwy 131. Turn right on CO Hwy 131 and head into Oak Creek. From Oak Creek, stay on CO 131, roll through the canyon and come back toward town, then turn left back onto RCR 14E to ride back in on River Road.

Elk River Road/Seedhouse Road Out and Back

Gorgeous riding through small towns and historic ranches along the Elk River.Head north from Steamboat Springs on RCR 129 for

a scenic, rolling ride through the Elk River Valley. Turn around at Clark for a 40-mile round trip. For a longer ride, turn right onto RCR 64 (Seedhouse Road) just past Clark and head out to the end of the pavement at the Hinman Park turnaround for a 50-mile round trip. The Seedhouse Road section has narrow shoulders and some rough pavement. For an even longer ride, from Clark continue on RCR

129 over Willow Creek Pass, past Hahn’s Peak Village and Steamboat Lake and climb up to Columbine

where you can turn around (making it a 60-mile round trip from Steamboat Springs). Shoulder width varies signifi cantly along the length of Elk River Road (RCR 129).

Gore Gruel

Steamboat’s signature 110-mile “century” ride. Head south from town on US Hwy 40 climbing

over Rabbit Ears Pass, followed by some fast descending and rollers to Wolford Mountain Reservoir just before Kremmling. Turn right onto CO Hwy 134 for a scenic ride over Gore Pass. Descending from Gore Pass, turn right at the intersection with CO Hwy 131 through Toponas and head north. Just past Phippsburg take the right onto RCR 14, pass by Stagecoach Reservoir and tackle the few fi nal short climbs. It’s best to start this ride early in the morning to avoid traffi c on US 40 and to turn the corner at Toponas before the afternoon winds or storms pick up. Take an extra bottle, too. It’s about 70 miles before your fi rst chance for a snack in Toponas.* Elevation profi les sourced from mapmyride.com

Airport Plus “Gravel Grinder” Equal parts pavement/dirt on this fun mixed ride

around the Sleeping Giant.Head north on Elk River Road and past the

Steamboat Airport to County Road 44 where you veer left onto the dirt. Continue out over the Elk River toward the Sleeping Giant and the farms that dot the countryside. Ride County Road 44 until it hits Hwy 40 and then turn left for a pavement section that will take you east toward Steamboat. After the quick spin on the fl at pavement turn right onto county road 33. Over the railroad tracks and onto the dirt/gravel, then continue on 33 until you intersect Twentymile Road. Take a left onto Twentymile and make the easy spin on pavement back to town. This ride is a perfect 20 miles, with an estimated time of just over an hour.Elevation profi les from www.mapmyride.com

Road/Mixed Rides disclaimer


where you can turn around (making it a 60-mile round trip from Steamboat Springs). Shoulder width varies signifi cantly along the length of Elk River Road (RCR 129).

Gore Gruel

Steamboat’s signature 110-mile “century” ride. Head south from town on US Hwy 40 climbing

over Rabbit Ears Pass, followed by some fast descending and rollers to Wolford Mountain Reservoir just before Kremmling. Turn right onto CO Hwy 134 for a scenic ride over Gore Pass. Descending from Gore Pass, turn right at the intersection with CO Hwy 131 through Toponas and head north. Just past Phippsburg take the right onto RCR 14, pass by Stagecoach Reservoir and tackle the few fi nal short climbs. It’s best to start this ride early in the morning to avoid traffi c on US 40 and to turn the corner at Toponas before the afternoon winds or storms pick up. Take an extra bottle, too. It’s about 70 miles before your fi rst chance for a snack in Toponas.* Elevation profi les sourced from mapmyride.com

Airport Plus “Gravel Grinder” Equal parts pavement/dirt on this fun mixed ride

around the Sleeping Giant.Head north on Elk River Road and past the

Steamboat Airport to County Road 44 where you veer left onto the dirt. Continue out over the Elk River toward the Sleeping Giant and the farms that dot the countryside. Ride County Road 44 until it hits Hwy 40 and then turn left for a pavement section that will take you east toward Steamboat. After the quick spin on the fl at pavement turn right onto county road 33. Over the railroad tracks and onto the dirt/gravel, then continue on 33 until you intersect Twentymile Road. Take a left onto Twentymile and make the easy spin on pavement back to town. This ride is a perfect 20 miles, with an estimated time of just over an hour.Elevation profi les from www.mapmyride.com

Road/Mixed Rides disclaimerRoutt County and the City

of Steamboat Springs take no responsibility for users’ safety and in no way warrant the safety of the roadways. The inclusion of specifi c route descriptions in this guide does not signify a higher level of road or infrastructure maintenance and is not meant to recommend or condone a particular roadway for cycling. You are responsible for your own safety. All users should educate themselves on the rules of the road, and cycling safety, before using any of the routes shown. Your skill, fi tness level, and comfort in diverse traffi c situations, will determine the streets most suitable for your cycling needs. Be aware that automobile speeds and traffi c volumes may vary depending upon the street and/or time of day.


Vision

Steamboat Springs is the ultimate destination for cycling experiences.

This vision of our future for cycling in our Steamboat Springs community suggests we can provide opportunities for the best cycling experiences in the world. Steamboat Springs has a unique opportunity to:• Enhance our community• Improve safety• Leverage the adjacent market to skiing• Create a unique brand to capture the world’s attention• Maximize existing assets• Increase sales tax revenue• Create new job opportunities

• Promote economic vitality

Partners

We believe that by working in partnership with all related stakeholders, the Initiative serves as a catalyst to shape an exciting future for cycling in Steamboat Springs.

• City of Steamboat Springs• Routt County government• Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association• U.S. Forest Service• Colorado Division of Wildlife• Bureau of Land Management• Steamboat Ski and Resort Corporation• Routt County Riders• Industry experts• Steamboat Springs Economic Development Council• Community members

Steamboat SpringsBike Town USA Promoting safety, community enhancement and economic benefi ts through cycling

Founding partners

Bike Town USA ®


Bike Town USA

Founding partners

Resources

BICYCLE COLORADO

www.bicyclecolo.orgThe mission of Bicycle Colorado is to encourage and promote bicycling, increase safety, improve conditions, and provide a voice for cyclists in Colorado.

BIKES BELONG

www.bikesbelong.orgBikes Belong’s mission is to put more people on bicycles more often. They focus on federal policy and funding, national leadership, community grants, and bicycling promotion.

ALLIANCE FOR BIKING AND WALKING

www.peoplepoweredmovement.orgThe Alliance is the North American coalition of grassroots bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organizations.

INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN BICYCLING ASSOCIATION

www.imba.comIMBA’s mission is to create, enhance, and preserve great trail experiences for mountain bikers worldwide.

Support the visionFor more information and to make a gift online, go to

www.steamboatbiketown.com

All money raised will be used to fund the resources and staff needed to achieve these goals.

Funds raised will be leveraged with grants from various government, foundation and advocacy funding sources.


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Not all rides in Steamboat have to be lung- and quadricep-busting burlfests. The region also offers legions of rides that take it easy on your legs. Following are a few favorites.

Cycling State ParksStagecoach State ParkEight miles of trails and adventures await at

Stagecoach State Park. Two trails skirt the lake in a scenic, well-maintained, easy-to-ride dirt track. On the north side is the two-mile Lakeside Trail and on the south shore is the six-mile Elk Run Trail from the inlet to the dam. Join the two for an eight-mile ride, or complete the loop by riding on County Road 18 before taking a refreshing plunge into the lake. Stagecoach Lake offers camping, showers and bathroom facilities. From Steamboat Springs travel four miles south on U.S. 40, then fi ve miles south on Colo. 131 to County Road 14. Drive seven miles south on 14 to the park entrance. Steamboat Lake State ParkLike its neighbor to the south, Steamboat Lake

State Park offers easy, scenic biking for the whole family, with views of the Zirkel Wilderness Area and other surrounding peaks. Ride the Willow Creek trail from the Dutch Hill Marina for 3.8 miles to the Sage Flats Day Use area. You can also try the Poverty Bar Trail, which highlights the area’s rich gold mining history while connecting to Routt National Forest. Access this 1.1-mile trail from the visitor’s center. The park also offers camping, beaches boat rentals and more. From Steamboat, head west of town on U.S. 40 and take a right at the 7-11 on Cty. Rd. 129. Drive 25 miles north to the park entrance. Pearl Lake State ParkPearl Lake offers beautifully shaded trails and a great

access point to Coulton Creek Trail. This easy ride is less than a mile towards the dam, paralleling the lake the whole way. Continue on for a more diffi cult route through the Routt County National Forest. To reach Pearl Lake drive west on U.S. 40 to Cty. Rd 129. Drive north until just before the Steamboat Lake

turnoff and look for the park entrance signs.Colorado State Parks BetaStagecoach, Steamboat Lake and Pearl Lake state

parks require a day use park pass for $7/day or a valid Colorado State Park season pass. Convenient parking, picnic and restrooms are available at all three parks. Info: 800-678-2267, www.parks.state.co.us.

Other Family Friendly RidesYampa Valley Core Trail A block off Lincoln Avenue lies Steamboat’s true

summer Main Street — the Yampa River Core Trail — a seven-mile, multi-use pathway that parallels the Yampa River from Walton Creek Road on the east to the James Brown Soul Center of the Universe Bridge on the west. Hit it on foot, bike or skateboard for a fun-fi lled excursion for the whole family. It’s also the best ride for cruiser bikes in town. Abundant parking is available at Rotary Park at 13th Street and the Yampa River. Hint: ring your bell when passing pedestrians.Rotary TrailThis summer, the local Rotary Club chapter is making

fi nal improvements to the new Rotary Trail on the backside of Emerald Mountain. Featuring easy climbs, smooth banks and a wide and smooth, user-friendly trail, the four-mile loop is accessed by riding .65 mile and 125 vertical feet of the Ridge Trail. From there, it climbs 1.5 miles and 210 vertical feet to the summit before another 1.5 miles of roller-coaster fun followed by a mile ride back to the trail head. To get there, cross the river at the library and head west on 13th Street (also 20 Mile Road/Cty. Rd. 33) for approximately seven miles. Turn left on Cow Creek Road (Cty. Rd. 45) and go one mile. Two parking areas are available on the left.Spring CreekThis gem of a downtown ride follows a dirt road

for a half mile up to two ponds perfect for fi shing, before continuing on as a creekside two-track for another two miles. From there, you can continue

up the single-track of Spring Creek trail proper for as long as your troopers’ legs last, or return the way you can, with a leisurely stop at the ponds. To get there, take Fish Creek Falls Road up the hill and take a left on Amethyst Drive. The parking area is a dirt road to your right across from the high school. To bike there, take the new bike underpass leading north from the upper parking lot of the Old Town Hotsprings — it’ll take you right there.

Bike RentalsOrange Peel Bike Shop970-879-2957Cruisers, Road, Mountain, High End DemosSki Haus970-879-0385Cruisers, Road, Mountain, Comfort Bikes, Downhill

BikesSteamboat Bike Kare970-879-9144Cruisers, Road, Mountain, Kids Bikes and Trailers,

Comfort Bikes, TandomsOne Stop Ski Shop970-879-4754Mountain, Rechargable Electric BikesChristy Sports879-1250MountainFleischer Sport970-870-0900High End Demos, Mountain, Cruisers, Kids Bikes

and Trailers, Junior Bikes, RoadWheels970-846-7433Mountain, CruiserHigh End Demos too.Ride Sports871-5252Mountain

Easy Trail RidesFor the Whole Family


STEAMBOAT SPRINGS

2012RUN FASTRUN OFTEN

RUN STEAMBOAT

W E ♥ T O R U N A N D R I D E R O U T T

F O R M O R E I N F O W W W . R U N N I N G S E R I E S . C O M

Sun June 3 Steamboat MarathonSun July 1 Mountain MadnessWed July 4 Steamboat SprintSat July 14 Howelsen Hill 8 MilerSat July 21 Spring Creek MemorialSat Aug 4 Mt. Werner ClassicSun Aug 12 Steamboat StingerSun Aug 19 Continental Divide Sun Sept 2 10K @ 10KSept 14-15 Run Rabbit RunSat Sept 22 Emerald Mtn

R A C E S C H E D U L E


Hayden Breeze Basin Mountain Bike Ride

Know before you go: This is fairly easy 15- to 18-mile ride on dirt/gravel county roads, most of which receive minimal maintenance. This loop can often be ridden as early as mid-April and into late November (when it’s popular with hunters). Please respect private property. This route is best ridden counter-clockwise and can be slippery and impassable when wet. For further information, stop into Yampa Valley Feeds at the old grain elevator in downtown Hayden.Parking: Park at Dry Creek Park just past the Routt

County Fairgrounds.Description: From the parking lot at Dry Creek Park, proceed straight through the intersection onto County Road 65 past Hayden Elementary School for approximately 7 miles. Turn left onto County Road 61 for approximately 1 mile and then turn left again staying on County Road 61 heading East for 5.5–6 miles. Turn left at the “T” intersection onto

County Road 59 for approximately 2 miles. Turn left onto County Road 53 (paved) and head north back toward Hayden. Dry Creek Park will be on your right in approximately 1.5 miles.

Hayden Middle Cog Mountain Bike Ride

Know before you go: This is a beautiful but challenging 20- to 25-mile ride on gravel/dirt county roads. This loop can often be ridden as early as mid-April, although you may run into snow drifts on County Road 74. During mild falls, this loop can be ridden into late November, but is popular with hunters. While the route is entirely on county roads, it is remote and cell phone service is limited. Please be respectful of the private property. This route is best ridden clockwise, putting the steepest climb at the very beginning. Once you leave County Road 80, the roads receive minimal maintenance (if wet, they can be slippery and impassable). For further information,

stop into Yampa Valley Feeds at the old grain elevator in downtown Hayden.Parking: Park in town just east of Yampa Valley

Feeds along the railroad tracks on East Lincoln Ave. (one block north of U.S. 40). There is a small turnout on County Road 80 at the base of County Road 74.Description: From East Lincoln Ave., head west

and turn right onto Walnut Street (County Road 80). Cross the railroad tracks and then cross the river. Turn right at the “T” intersection continuing on County Road 80 – the pavement ends. Turn left at fi rst turn onto County Road 74 (Middle Cog Road). The road climbs steeply to the top of the Cog for about 2 miles and then gradually descends for another 3 miles. Turn right at the “T” intersection keeping on County Road 74 for approximately 5 miles. Turn right onto County Road 80A for approximately 3.5 miles. Turn right onto County Road 80 and begin descent back toward Hayden and the Yampa River for about 4.5 miles. Bear right continuing on County Road 80 for 3 miles back to Hayden.

Two Popular Hayden Rides


As told to Doug Davis

Steamboat Springs resident Tammy Jacques-Grewal earned a spot on the U.S. Road Cycling Team in 1990, holding a dual position on the U.S. Mountain Bike Team for three years. Racing full time on the Mountain Bike World Cup beginning in 1994, garnering 15 top three podium spots, she was named to Olympic teams in 1996 and 2000 before having to retire because of health concerns.

Now, settled in Steamboat with husband and former pro racer Rishi Grewal and their two children, Dmitri and Sophia, she has a new outlook and is focused on

inspiring young athletes as a Nordic and cycling coach with the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club. She also is an ambassador with the National Pancreatic Foundation, where she gives hope to others battling pancreatic disorders.

In 2008, I was down to just eating apple sauce and drinking San Pellegrino. I was becoming really emaciated. A CT scan revealed huge stones in my pancreatic duct. It was chronic pancreatitis, probably caused from trauma.

It was great to fi nally have a diagnosis, something to validate my reason for retiring. Many people were second guessing me, saying there was really nothing

wrong, that I was just quitting and retiring without class. That was hard to accept.

The cycling community in Steamboat is fantastic. It’s fun to see how passionate people are about it. It’s also cool living in a small community that has two titanium bike manufacturers.

I learned a lot having access to the world’s best coaches. Coaching is my way to give back to others. It’s rewarding working with youths. They’re like little sponges. You see the smiles on their faces when they achieve something, like climbing up Spring Creek.

My goal for cycling is to be top three in Leadville. But to win it would be a stretch because I’m not training

In Her Own WordsTammy Jacques-Grewal


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as a professional. I’m a professional mother and CPA.

My most important win was a second place fi nish at the World Cup fi nals in ’95. It was huge for me. It was in Rome, and I love everything Italian. That was my favorite podium.

I was on the tour for 10 years, but now racing is pure fun. There’s no pressure. I race for pure love of the sport, and being out there with incredible people from Steamboat.

I’m a morning person and I love to cook.

My role as ambassador for the National Pancreas Foundation is to share my story and plight, the hard times and the good times. It’s important to heighten awareness of pancreatic disorders. There really wasn’t much information out there when I was trying to fi gure out what was wrong with me.

My children say they don’t want to be bike racers, so we aren’t going to push it. We know how hard it is to make it as a pro. We just want to foster a love of riding as a family.

Steamboat has incredible riding. Steamboat reminds me a lot of where I grew up in New England, with its rolling terrain and mountains. You don’t have to travel far to do fun incredible things: skiing, cycling, and tubing the river, hiking. Everything we want is here.

A perfect Saturday is to get up early and ride to the top of Storm Peak or up Mad Creek and then come home and make waffl es and take the kids to the pool.

In my pack, I carry water, an energy drink, Honey Stinger waffl es and gels, and a banana. That’s my staple.

Never take anything for granted. I took a lot for granted as a bike racer. I was treated like a princess. Life was easy, money, sponsorship. Everything was perfect, expect for my health.

The biggest lesson I learned from retiring from a sport that I loved and my ordeal with chronic pancreatitis, is to live each day with passion and conviction, to commit to the moment and to look forward with a present mind.

2012 Steamboat Spring Bike Guide

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