The picturesque Yampa River winds through Steamboat Springs, which earned its name from the surging sound made by natural hot springs roiling just under the surface. Hot springs are a big draw to this little mountain town, but a secondary one to skiing. Known as Ski Town USA, Steamboat Springs has produced more Olympians than any city in the country, while the pros and civilians alike come here for the incredible skiing on champagne-powder snow at the area’s marquee resort. In the winter Steamboat Springs teems with visitors swooshing, snow-shoeing, and fat tire biking across soft, plentiful snow. In the summer the river takes center stage for tubing, rafting, and kayaking expeditions. After a day on the slopes or riding the Yampa current, you can wander the charming downtown, dotted with historic buildings, a bustling arts and craft scene, and local breweries and small-batch distillers.

Fly into Yampa Valley Regional Airport (HDN), located less than 30 minutes from Steamboat Springs. Shuttles, taxis, rideshares, and rental cars are all available to get you the rest of the way to your destination. If you plan to explore the wilderness outside Steamboat Springs, opt for a rental car, but if you’re going to spend most of your time in town, a car is not required. The city’s Free Bus System has several lines with services tailored to the season, such as winter routes that will carry you to the mountain ski areas.

Winter is high season for booking one of the vacation rentals in Steamboat Springs, when the landscape is blanketed in powdery snow, and visitors flock to the mountains and restorative hot springs. For more than 100 years, the town has celebrated Winter Carnival every February with snow sculpting, sporting events, and fireworks. In spring the snowpacks thaw and fill the river and the weather remains brisk, making it an ideal time to partake of scenic drives. Thanks to the mountain climate, summers in Steamboat Springs tend to be cooler — and they also bring occasional thunderstorms. In June the town celebrates water sports with the Yampa River Festival, and in July the Hot Air Balloon Rodeo sees colorful vessels aloft over the town. In fall the migratory sandhill cranes make stops in the Yampa Valley, which is alight with spectacular fall foliage. The weather can change quickly here no matter what time of year, so always pack for wet weather.

Old Town Hot Springs

Located right in town, this facility features eight pools fed without pumps by naturally heated water that courses at about 220 gallons per minute out of the ground. The main hot pool features water fountains, two bridges, and a climbing wall. A smaller hot spring boasts another unique feature: a circuitous water slide.

Tread of Pioneers Museum

Housed in a circa-1901 Queen Anne-style Victorian home, this museum chronicling the history of Steamboat Springs and the Yampa Valley includes displays devoted to Indigenous culture, recreations of settler homesteads — including a Victorian kitchen, dining room, and parlor — and exhibits devoted to the town’s Olympic milestones.

Fish Creek Falls

Fewer than five miles outside of town you’ll find a spectacular 280-foot waterfall that plunges into Fish Creek Canyon. There’s an easy quarter-mile hike to get there, and you can choose your vantage point — there’s an overlook above the falls, as well as a bridge at the base of the falls.