We talk a lot about the amazing road and singletrack riding in this area. But quite honestly, I still get a real pleasure from simply cruising our local bike path, the Yampa River Core Trail.
The Core Trail is a 7.5 mile paved trail that extends from the mountain village area all the way west of downtown Steamboat Springs. There are many places to stop and explore along the way and I recently marked mileage on a few of them. If you want to resource you can take with you on your mobile device, check out the trail map here.
Starting from the 9th Street Bridge, near Wheels Bike Shop and Backdoor Sports, if you choose to head west (or “downriver” along the Yampa River) you’ll pass some very cool spots including multiple river access points and the historic Art Depot. Continuing in this direction to the end you’ll eventually come to the Bear River Bike Park. Even if you’re not into flying high and catching big air, this is a cool spot to simply stop and spectate these daredevils in action.
But back to our starting point at the 9th Street Bridge, heading east (or “upriver”) pedal 0.7 miles and over the bridge. On your left you’ll find Dr. Rich Weiss Park (a.k.a. the “Hippy Hot Springs”). This river treasure is where overflow warm water from the nearby Old Town Hot Springs flows into the Yampa, making this a perfect retreat to soak your feet or take a swim. Stopping here you’ll often find families and river rats of all ages enjoying this peaceful water feature or soaking up the sun in the park’s lawn.
At mile 1.1 don’t be surprised to see signs for ice cream. Believe it or not, the car wash on your left at Trafalger Drive has a full-service soft-serve ice cream bar inside complete with various flavor choices, toppings and more. Don’t miss this somewhat hidden gem to enjoy the simple pleasures of life on a hot summer day.
Rolling along to mile 1.7 of your journey you’ll come to the Yampa River Botanic Park. This 6-acre park sits on land donated to the City of Steamboat Springs. The Park is free and open to the public from dawn to dusk, May through October. Free entry encourages people to visit often, freely explore the space and nurture the feeling of community togetherness while in the park. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays throughout the summer you can enjoy Yoga in the Park, which is an incredible way to boost your energy level and set your mind and body at ease.
At mile 2 you come to Fetcher Pond, a peaceful retreat to stop and reflect. Amenities around the pond include public fishing for rainbow trout, multiple benches, picnic tables, restrooms and drinking fountain. During the summer you’ll most likely see folks practicing their stand-up paddleboard skills and dogs enjoying a nice swim.
Continuing your bike exploration to mile 2.8 you come to Rotary River Park. This community asset includes picnic tables and many areas of entry into the Yampa River. There’s also a hand-built boardwalk built throughout the peninsula marsh land and the Rotary Peace Pavilion. The Peace Pavilion at Rotary River Park serves as a celebrated landmark along the Yampa Valley Core Trail. This is a place where individuals and groups can gather freely to rest, reflect, rejoice, and rejuvenate. This structure provides many uses for many people and stands as a focal point for peace in our community and the world that surrounds us.
Continue on for just under a mile from here and you’ll come to the end of the path. At this point you can continue your journey through the neighborhood to the Steamboat Resort base area or turn around and head back. No matter how you slice it, if your feet are pedaling, it’s all good.
