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As you mosey on down historic Lincoln Avenue, you might mistake Steamboat Springs for the set of an old Hollywood Western.
After all, John Wayne would look positively at home on these streets, which brim with Stetsons, spurs, and saloons. The surprising part? This is no cowboy kitsch — it's the real deal. Steamboat Springs got its start in the 1870s as a cattle ranching hub and, to this day, it's never lost its Wild West spirit. The weekend summer rodeo? It's been around since 1898, before the town was even established. How about F.M. Light and Sons, the dusty shop selling buffalo-hide cowboy hats and leather boots? It opened in 1905 and is still owned by the same family after more than a century. And there are dozens of working dude ranches dotting the Yampa Valley, a stunning mountain landscape filled with fields of wildflowers, trails for hiking, rivers teeming with trout, waterfalls, and the namesake hot springs.
But come winter, the residents of Steamboat Springs trade in their cowboy boots for ski boots and hit the town's two separate slopes. Howelsen Hill, in the heart of downtown, is the oldest continuously operating ski area in Colorado. Though it may seem small and family-friendly, it's no slouch: Howelsen Hill has produced 79 Winter Olympians since it opened in 1915. The newer and larger Steamboat Ski Resort celebrated its 50th birthday during the 2012-2013 winter season by giving itself a present worthy of such an occasion: a major face-lift that has left the resort looking like new, thanks to a renovated promenade, shiny luxury condominiums, and a slew of restaurants and bars that might look more at home in Aspen. But despite the updates, one thing's for certain: You're never too far away from the town's Wild West side. While other upscale resorts in Colorado have worked to sweep their rough-and-tumble pasts under their luxurious deep-pile rugs, Steamboat Springs has turned its cowboy heritage into a winningly authentic brand.
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The spring thaw means conditions on the slopes are less than ideal for skiers. But it's the perfect season to explore the shops on the historic main street, Lincoln Avenue. Stock up on buffalo-hide Stetsons and leather boots before the start of summer rodeo season with a visit to the Western clothing shop F.M. Light and Sons, opened in 1905 and still owned by the same family over a century later.
From mid-June through mid-August, Friday and Saturday nights are all about channelling the town's rough-and-tumble ranching past at the Steamboat Springs Rodeo. In fact, the rodeo is even older than the town itself. Though Steamboat Springs wasn't incorporated until 1900, historic newspapers show that rodeos have been taking place in these parts since at least 1898. Located on historic Howelsen Hill in the heart of downtown, the rodeo features events like tie-down roping and bull riding, in addition to kid-sized versions of the daredevil stunts, including calf and ram scrambles.
It wouldn't be a Colorado fall without the glimmering gold leaves of the aspen tree gilding most mountainsides in the region. And when it comes to amazing fall foliage, Steamboat Springs is no exception. Leading straight out of downtown from behind the high school, the Spring Creek Trail is an easy 10.5-mile loop for hikers and bikers hoping to catch an up-close view of the changing leaves.
Horseback riding may at first seem like more of a summer-only activity. But a little snow never scared a cowboy, so why should it stop you? On a two-hour guided winter tour with Saddleback Ranch, you'll ride on horseback through snowy aspen trees, over hills and ridges where the ranchers' ancestors built their original homestead over a century ago. Though you should certainly bundle up before your ride, it can still get chilly out there. Luckily, they'll provide you with a warming cup of hot cocoa and fresh-baked cookies after your trip, as a reward for a ride well done.