Steamboat Colorado

After a great active 9 days camping between Estes Park and Loveland that included 4 days hiking and driving in RMNP,visiting the beautiful Horsetooth Reservoir and exploring the Loveland area,we finally hooked up the 5W and headed to Steamboat Lake S.P.

The 200 Mile trip was mostly on the scenic HWY 14 with the Rabbit Ears Pass at the elevation of 9426’, the road was so beautiful and it took us 5 hours with some stops so the “driver” could also appreciate the views.

The Steamboat Lake S.P is located 22M North of Steamboat , the sites are large with good space between them,each site has a fire ring,table and electrical hook-ups (50&30 Amps), water has to be filled before heading to the site and there is a central dump station, no showers ,only restrooms- and fantastic views.

The S.P charge 22$ a day but also 7$ day use per day…unusual and strange.

On the next day we drove down to the beautiful Steamboat town,it has it all :Ski Resort,river running through the town,waterfall,botanic gardens,hot pools (natural and commercial),theater and great main drag with shops,pubs and restaurants, it sure is a four season family place .

So we grabbed our swimming gear,hiking boots,camera and headed to town.

 

After strolling the the main street and visiting the information center we headed to the Falls (287’),it is  very popular and at times the parking (5$) at the trail head is full, as we were turning back planning to come later a car pulled out and we got the spot.

The trail to the viewing point is only 1 Mile R/T and paved all the way making it excisable to wheelchairs while the trail to the bottom of the falls is not.

The view point.

The bottom.

These to trails were rewarding and is just 5 minutes from town.

The relatively small Botanic gardens (no entrance fees) are located next to the information center with a huge parking place also serves ones that want to use the river for tubing .

We found a picnic place in a park next to the river and had our healthy branch surrounded by cool fresh air,Colorado that we experienced till now has 4 seasons weather in one day…once we used a heater in the trailer and sometimes the air conditioner…makes it interesting.

Strawberry Hot Springs at the end of CR36 was waiting for us,a beautiful natural pools with no facilities except a changing room was waiting for us, 15$ each and all this was there.

Click to enlarge.

  

I managed to take pictures as swimsuits are optional only after dark , the place is opened till midnight and there is a place to trailer self contained for 10$ a night.

A short visit to a Mexican restaurant down town ended this another fantastic day ,the 22 miles back “home” were at dusk with beautiful colors as the sun got low and we even managed to get to the C.G at 9PM exactly before dark.

No phone reception,no TV –Great time for a good book before hitting the sack.