Steamboat Weekend Trip - Cancelled!!

Megan has made some changes (see below).  If you have questions, just send a Contact Us form.

Update: I will need to come home Sunday  so I might do the Yampa coal road on Saturday afternoon. I may head back via 14 the way we’re heading out and hike at state forest state park on the way home. However, people can do whatever they like of course! I’m guessing the colors will be splendid, but the roads may also be very busy due to leaf peepers, and the weather appears to be getting more sketchy so I definitely want to emphasize bringing proper tires.

Subject to some slight changes, but basically: 

This will be a “mountain snowflake tires” drive weekend due to the timing and interstate requirements, but I expect roads and weather will be fair.  Driving plans are tentative but I’ll publish full directions before the drive.  Holiday Inn in Steamboat is pet friendly and currently rates are $150/nt for Oct 8-10. There are plenty of other options, but this is where I’ll be staying.

Sat Oct 8, meet at Longmont Safeway at Hover/17th Ave. We’ll drive to Steamboat via Buckhorn and CO14 with a picnic lunch and hike/stretch stop around Chambers Lake or Joe Wright Reservoir. Will arrive Steamboat in the afternoon, check into hotel and do dinner and possibly hot springs.

Sun, Oct 9, take US40 out to Hayden and drop down into Twentymile Mine Rd / CO27 to Oak Creek. Stop in Oak Creek for bio break and snacks or lunch, depending on timing. Continue south to Toponas to head east on CO134 to Wolford Reservoir. From here spend some time at the swim beach, take a walk or go ahead and drive US40 back to Steamboat for a relaxing afternoon and possibly hot springs.

Mon, Oct 10 Timed Entry at RMNP ends. I’m planning to return to Longmont over Trail Ridge Road, weather permitting; if not, I’ll head back by CO14. The alternate is to take US40 to I-70, or someone from the south side can plan a return route. The plan is to go east on CO14 from Steamboat to Walden, drop down to Granby on CO125, then into Grand Lake for lunch before heading over the pass. I’m sure there will be a stop at the top, then down the east side and home. I’ll stop to hike around 10K elevation, but not sure yet whether that will be on the east or west side (depends on weather and trail closures at the time). Of course anyone not interested in hiking can continue on their way and head home.

This should be a fun weekend of driving, but not so much that we’re tired from being in the car all day… we won’t be hitting every road or seeing every sight, but will definitely will be making sure to take some time for hot springs as the weather is cooling!

Cheers,

Megan