|
|
Post by highplainsdrifter on May 31, 2021 6:42:49 GMT -8
Good Morning,
I will be visiting a friend in Steamboat Springs this summer. If you have any suggestions for good hiking/backpacking and good free camping near I would be grateful for your help. I do not mind driving 2-3 hours for good trails. Right now my only resource is AllTrails.com. So, any local advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
|
|
|
|
Post by cweston on May 31, 2021 8:23:40 GMT -8
Elliott Ridge in the northern Gore range is as spectacular a ridge day hike as can be found, and also a great launching point to some awesome BPing. I’m guessing it’s about a two hour drive from Steamboat to the trailhead. Good primitive camping near the trailhead.
|
|
zeke
Trail Wise!
Peekaboo slot 2023
Posts: 9,877 
|
Post by zeke on May 31, 2021 9:41:41 GMT -8
Elliott Ridge in the northern Gore range is as spectacular a ridge day hike as can be found How's the water along this trail? |
|
|
|
Post by cweston on May 31, 2021 9:58:11 GMT -8
How's the water along this trail? There isn't any on the ridge top, but there's what appear to be perpetual snowfields all along the eastern slope, with what I would guess is year-round water flowing down to Cataract Creek. For the first four miles or so, one would have to leave the trail for a ways to find it, and it might only be snow, but around five miles, you come to a junction with a somewhat hard-to-follow trail down to Cataract Creek, which leads to running water fairly quickly. Beyond that point, if you continue on the ridge to Meridian Peak, it will be dry. But if you continue off-trail below the snowfields on the eastern cliffs below Meridian Peak, you'd hit water I'm sure. |
|
|
|
Post by burntfoot on May 31, 2021 17:42:14 GMT -8
If you are in Steamboat Springs, I'd recommend either a hike in the Mt. Zirkel Wilderness, or the Flat Tops Wilderness. These are both very close to Steamboat, and very scenic.
|
|
|
|
Post by absarokanaut on Jun 2, 2021 12:17:56 GMT -8
3 hours puts you somewhere between Buena Vista and Salida, 14er land. 4 hours and 10 minutes puts you at Crestone, IMO Colorado's most spectacularly situated town. The Sangres is seriopusly underappreciated. IMO Colorado's greatest glories are south of HWY 50. IF your interest is piqiued I can recommend a few specific hikes from Leadville to Alamosa.
|
|
|
|
Post by burntfoot on Jun 2, 2021 20:31:00 GMT -8
I still highly recommend going into the Flattops Wilderness. Much closer than the other recommendations, and the time you save on driving you can spend walking. Go in from the east side near Yampa. I've accessed the Devil's Causeway back in there, as well as some lakes. And up on the flattops, you have miles of panoramic views. In July, August and September, the Mt. Zirkel Wilderness has several trails, many of which you will have solitude, lakes, waterfalls, peaks to climb, etc.
|
|
