photography by Kristen Lummis
By Kristen Lummis, braveskimom.com
You could know Steamboat Springs as Ski Town, USA in winter, but come summer time this vibrant northwest Colorado local community switches gears and gets to be Bike Town, USA. Already awash in alternatives, with the Yampa River Core Trail, mountain biking on Howelsen Hill and Steamboat Resort, as effectively as a swiftly increasing downhill scene (and these are just the near-in, middle-of-town options), Steamboat residents want much more. In November 2013, they passed a referendum dedicating more than $ five million in lodging tax money for trail improvement and growth above the next 10 years.
We have been recently in Steamboat for a enjoyable weekend of biking, along with horseback riding, rodeo and, of course, sizzling springs soaking.
The Yampa River Core Trail
You really don’t need to have to be tough-core to trip in Steamboat. Families of all ages enjoy the paved, 7-mile multi-use Core Trail adjacent to the sparkling Yampa River. Ideal for upright cruising, we rented bikes from the Ski Haus and rode all afternoon, stopping in at the Yampa River Botanic Park, seeking for fishing holes, watching rafters and, of course, going to the several all-natural springs that give the town it’s title.
The Core Trail will get you to historic Howelsen Hill, Colorado’s oldest ski region, and training ground for numerous Olympians. In summer, Howelsen is busy with the Howler Alpine Slide, horseback riding, free of charge concerts, rodeo and common mountain bike trails. Identified as the Emerald Mountain Trails Method, here you will locate 3 trailheads and in excess of four,000 acres of public land. Even though the trails are multi-use with hikers and horses, there is lots of space to spread out and appreciate the steep climbs, smooth singletrack and quick descents. It’s the place locals go for a rapid work out and is mentioned to get hectic during lunch and after work.
On a late Friday afternoon in June, we quite much had the place to ourselves.
The Steamboat Bike Park
Just a few miles away, lovely Mount Werner towers over the town, dominating Steamboat’s see to the east. Home of Steamboat Resort, Mount Werner is also house to new Steamboat Bike Park.
The park opened last fall, in partnership with Gravity Logic, the trail advancement business behind Winter Park’s Trestle Bike Park. With gondola accessibility from Thunderhead, the downhill trails run the gamut, from gentle, smooth greens with effortless banked curves, to ripping sophisticated trails complete of features, like berms, wall rides, step-down rollers, drops and table tops.
Nevertheless the mountain’s most popular trail is Rustler Ridge, a tough intermediate run with excellent banking, enjoyable features and a lot of grime. At in excess of four miles, it’s prolonged trip that locals and site visitors alike adore to lap. Downhill bikes, helmets and entire body armor are offered to lease at the Steamboat Bike Shop, and we completely recommend getting the correct gear and taking a lesson. Downhill biking and cross-country mountain biking are completely different sports activities, and you’ll have a lot more entertaining if you’re on the appropriate bike and you know what you’re performing.
Do not want to downhill? Mount Werner is also covered with an extensive multi-use trail system with two-way mountain biking, hiking and horseback riding.
Bike State, USA?
Ask anybody who’s tried downhill biking, and if they ski or trip, they’ll tell you the identical factor: it is a good deal like skiing. Okay, so dirt replaces snow, and physique armor replaces insulated clothes, but the flow is similar, with bodyweight shifts and trail anticipation.
Not surprisingly, Colorado is a center of the downhill biking scene. If you can not get to Steamboat this summertime, you can nevertheless take a downhill lesson and attempt this growing sport at several Colorado resorts including Winter Park, Granby Ranch, Snowmass, and Telluride. Every of these resorts, and most of Colorado’s other ski resorts, also offer you extensive cross-country mountain biking.
Enjoy!
The post Bike Town, USA: Steamboat Springs On Two Wheels appeared first on Club Colorado Ski Blog .