Things to Do in Steamboat Springs

The veteran equestrians at Estes Park Horseback let riders get an up-close look at the picturesque property of Elkhorn Lodge during year-round trail rides. The lodge is situated along the border of Rocky Mountain National Park. Consequently, horseback-riding excursions wind past several spectacular sights, including the Continental Divide and Old Man Mountain, easily distinguished by its inability to operate its smartphone. During winter months, snow-dusted paths stretch before riders, while spring and summer adventures trot along trails dappled with sunlight. Estes Park Horseback encourages guests to tote along cameras to capture scenic views and potential sightings of elk, bighorn sheep, and other animals roaming through the area.

Spring brings many changes to Rocky Mountain National Park. As the snow melts, rivers start to churn faster, waterfalls spring back to life, and wildflowers blanket the hillsides. There’s also a better chance you’ll spot some local animals. Among them are the migratory birds and a peculiar four-wheeled creature: the bright green vehicle from Green Jeep Tours.

Green Jeep Tours' guides take groups on themed adventures through Rocky Mountain National Park, showcasing its wildlife and majestic panoramas. Their "Springtime in the Rockies" tour takes you past hillsides and steams just in time to see wildflowers blossom and migratory birds take flight. As the Jeep roams the park, experienced guides point out key sites. But groups don’t spend the entirety of these excursions inside the jeep; you can also exit the vehicle to take snap photos or hike to waterfalls.

Cody Walker muses that within the stillness of Rocky Mountain National Park, "You get a sense that it's the way it should be." His father, Rex, grew up on a steady diet of cowboy films, eventually following his dream to Colorado where he met his wife, Queeda. Queeda was born into a family of homesteaders who caught and broke wild steeds. In 1959, they channeled their passion for the old-west lifestyle into Sombrero Ranches, eschewing souvenir-shop gimmicks for horseback expeditions that, much like avalanches of super glue, bond visitors with their steeds and natural surroundings.

Today, Cody carries on his parents' legacy with a staff of ranch hands from nearby homesteads and college students participating in equine-science programs all across the country. After training in a vigorous program that's evolved during more than 50 years, his employees launch short rides or lengthy adventures. Cody distinguishes the Continental Divide ride as one of the most awe-inspiring; it begins at Bear Lake at 6 a.m., wending across the Continental Divide and to Grand Lake during a nine-hour stretch.

Cody Walker muses that within the stillness of Rocky Mountain National Park, "You get a sense that it's the way it should be." His father, Rex, grew up on a steady diet of cowboy films, eventually following his dream to Colorado where he met his wife, Queeda. Queeda was born into a family of homesteaders who caught and broke wild steeds. In 1959, they channeled their passion for the old-west lifestyle into Sombrero Ranches, eschewing souvenir-shop gimmicks for horseback expeditions that, much like avalanches of super glue, bond visitors with their steeds and natural surroundings.

Today, Cody carries on his parents' legacy with a staff of ranch hands from nearby homesteads and college students participating in equine-science programs all across the country. After training in a vigorous program that's evolved during more than 50 years, his employees launch short rides or lengthy adventures.

As the sun starts to melt last night's snowfall, cross-country skis gently glide over the freshly groomed trails of Grand Lake Nordic Center. The peaks of Rocky Mountain National Park and Arapahoe National Forest rise in the distance, with shifting views and perspectives as guests make their way through different trails. Newcomers can take a lesson in cross country skiing or snowshoeing while more advanced outdoorsmen tackle the snow enclaves of Randall's Romp or Spirits Haunt. The nearby lodge offers steaming bowls of soup, while children can take a tumble down the tubing hill or play rock-paper-scissors with a Yeti.

In 1996, Jeff Martin left behind his career as a computer software programmer in Michigan to pursue his dream of a more rugged and exciting lifestyle—that of a dogsled musher. After a couple years of studying the trade, he founded Dog Sled Rides of Winter Park in 2000. Today, the outfit’s crack team of 80 Siberian and Alaskan huskies pulls sledders and their knowledgeable guides through the snowy expanses of the Fraser Valley. Covering between four and five miles in 45 minutes, each ride features dramatic views of the Continental Divide and Winter Park Ski Resort. Along the way, the guide relates the rich history of the sport, describes local attractions, and points out wildlife such as moose, coyotes, and herds of roaming landscape artists.