Steamboat Springs Hiking & Backpacking Trips

Hiking opportunities of all intensity abound in and around Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Stop in at the Steamboat Springs Visitor Center to find out which trails are open and within your skill.

With numerous hiking a in the millions of acres of remote public lands surrounding Steamboat, The Flat Tops Wilderness Area is a good place to start. Just south of Steamboat, Flat Top is exceptionally wild and scenic and is a great place to get a feel for Steamboat Springs natural landscape. Routt National Forest expands over 1,127,000-acres of forest and high grasslands that virtually surround Steamboat Springs.

Routt's Mount Zirkel Wilderness boasts a location straddling the Park Range of the Continental Divide northeast of Steamboat and proves another ideal spot for moderate hikes. One of the first wilderness areas created in Colorado, Mount Zirkel houses numerous Alpine Lakes, soaring granite pinnacles, tundra, forests as well as the Elk and Encampment rivers. Check out several branching forks at the trailhead inc including Gold Creek Lake Trail, Three Island Lake Trail and the Gilpin Lake Trail terminating at the Continental Divide. Gilpin Lake Trail's intermediate 12.2 mile roundtrip hike leads to the rewarding sight of a 29 acre deep blue alpine lake which is one of the most popular destinations in the Mount Zirkel wilderness. From the lake, you'll discover unmatched views of the nearby Sawtooth Range. The trail winds through thick forests, wildflower meadows and avalanche paths along Gilpin Creek for the majority of the hike to the lake. More experienced hikers may venture to the rugged 12,180 foot summit of Mount Zirkel in the northern reaches of the wilderness boundary. There are endless options for getting out there and hiking, but some superior stops in and around Steamboat include the following: Coulton Creek Trail provides panoramic views of the Elk River Valley and its abundant wildflower meadows and aspen groves. After the snow clears the trail will remain wet until June, so a mid- to- late summer hike is deal. The Fish Creek Trail is one of the most popular attractions in the Steamboat Springs area mostly for its proximity to town as well as its spectacular falls. Surely a hike in the scenic wilderness is one of the best ways for the outdoor enthusiast to experience Steamboat.