Steamboat Springs Mountain Bike Vacation

The Divide Ride

The Divide Ride

You’ll want/need to shuttle this one but, trust us, it’s totally worth it. Bring water, first aid, all-weather gear and snacks! The nearly 25-mile-long Divide Trail follows the Continental Divide to the top of the ski resort where 3,000 vertical feet of singletrack await. Bonus: if you’ve got the juice, hit the Rustler’s Ridge downhill trail from the top of Thunderhead to the bottom, where cold beer awaits. Then all you have to do is decide who has to shuttle back up to get the car.

Start early and carpool up 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 (keep an eye out for the 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.

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).  Head left after crossing a small creek and begin your first 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 and climb for ½ mile to Base Camp Trailhead.

From here, begin a fun descent over many water bars, cross a creek and a climb up to Fishhook Lake (a good spot for a snack and some photos). After riding along the east side of the lake, look for a left turn to continue on #1101 (don’t go to Lost Lake). Enjoy more rolling terrain with a few rocky sections, pass Lake Elmo and at an obvious four-way intersection, a turn left onto Fish Creek Falls Trail #1102.

This rolls downhill toward Long Lake but stay right as you first approach the lake and then continue onto Fish Creek Falls Trail #1102 (don’t go to Fish Creek Reservoir).

Turn left to begin climbing Mountain View Trail #1032. At the top, you’re rewarded with gorgeous views across Rabbit Ears Pass and a nice spot for another break and photo op. From here, it’s just a few miles of contouring trail that brings you to Steamboat Ski Resort.

Head left on the resort’s dirt road to connect with Cathy’s Cutoff. The big descent awaits!  Transition to easy flowing singletrack through the aspens and over a few rocks on Cathy’s. Stay right at the intersection to continue the ride on Sunshine.

You’ll pedal briefly uphill gently and then descend through more beautiful aspens to link up with Chisholm Trail. Stay left here and descend very quickly to the Thunderhead gondola. Have a snack and catch your breath here – there’s still more exciting descending ahead.  

Steamboat Bike Park offers some amazing manicured downhill trail to finish off an otherwise rugged day of riding. No matter how you decent, you’re literally riding down a ski hill, so it’s all good. But, if you want something to test your skills, take Rustler’s Ridge for proper intermediate downhill terrain, like tabletops and rollers. If you want something fun that will provide you with berms but no tabletops, take Tenderfoot.

Either way, congratulations, you just did a proper Steamboat epic.

Mad Creek Trailhead to Strawberry Park to Hot Springs

You can park about 5 miles up CR 129 at the Mad Creek trailhead or you can opt to ride CR 129 directly to the trailhead.

From the Mad Creek parking area, take the little singletrack that parallels 129 back towards town less than ¼ mile and turn left at the driveway marked 4432. If you rode your bike up 129, just after you see the sign for Mad Creek Trailhead, you’ll turn right in to a driveway marked 44320 County Road 129. Either way, you’ll then take a left at the Y in the drive. Less than ½ on that dirt road, you’ll see a small sign that says Hot Springs Trail No. 1169, take that right and continue on that flowing, smooth single track for 2.5 miles. Just before the entrance to Strawberry Park Hot Springs, you’ll find the only technical section, and it is highly technical for about 12 feet, after that, you’re about 150 yards from the pay station/entrance of Strawberry Park Hot Springs.

Bring cash or a check and your swimsuit. There are changing rooms and places you can stash your rig while you soak. Its not long or difficult but it is wildly beautiful and the end result is pure, spring water magic.

When leaving, you can take the same singletrack right back down to your car or, if you rode up, you can take the Strawberry Hot Springs Road back to town. Either way, you’re in for beautiful scenery and a mellow cruise back to town.

Spring Creek Trail

This classic from downtown is a local favorite. The trail weaves back and forth over Spring Creek and through aspen forests with 15  bridge crossings. It can be done as an out and back from the trailhead on Amethyst Drive or as a loop connecting Buffalo Pass Road (Routt County Road 38).

As an out and back, begin pedaling up the dirt road which will turn to a double track shortly; soon after that, follow the double track up above Spring Creek Park, which has two ponds and gazebo and is a great spot for family members to wait if you’re getting a quick ride in.

Stay on this double track for another mile, at the trailhead 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.

The trail will cross back and forth over the creek 15 times, on 15 beautiful bridges that are numbered, until reaching the summit at Dry Lake, approximately 5 miles. The terrain is mostly hard packed with a few rocky and rooted sections with one climb that forces most riders off their bikes. We call that “the wall”.  Otherwise, the gradual, continuous climbing trail is not very technical in nature, but does gain 1,200 feet.  Enjoy the views on the climb because you’ll fly down the decent so fast, you won’t see the rock formations, the moose that frequent the area and do be careful for other users.  For good reason, this trail is one of the most popular in Steamboat, so encounters with other riders, hikers, dog walkers and equestrians are inevitable.