Making the Most of Mud Season in 2024
As the snow melts in Steamboat Springs, towards the middle of April, the mountain trails and roads become muddy, creating a unique experience for visitors. Also known as ‘shoulder season’, these quiet months are the perfect opportunity for you and your kids to experience Steamboat’s remarkable natural landscapes in an entirely new way.
Families seeking an exciting outdoor adventure can enjoy endless opportunities for hiking, biking, and exploring the town before the bustling summer season. Local restaurants change up their menus, offering affordable mud season specials which are perfect for families. For families looking to embrace the quiet of the season, without getting their boots muddy, Steamboat has an abundance of indoor play spaces for children to enjoy. During these muddy months, Steamboat Springs welcomes vacationers to enjoy a range of exciting local events, proving that there’s always something new to experience in the ‘Boat!
Here at The Astrid, we want to ensure that your family can make the most of Steamboat Springs in every season – including mud season! It’s time to put your skis in their locker, and embark on these muddy adventures with your kids.
Bud Light Rocks The ‘Boat: 2024 Free Concert Series
Families across Colorado are excited for the 2024 Bud Light Rocks the Boat free concerts series, which will see a range of lively musicians performing unforgettable shows completely for free! Not only can your family enjoy music, but also the broad range of amenities available at Steamboat Square.
The line up includes:
- April 6, 3:30 p.m. – 5 p.m. The Goonies. This 4-piece rock band will thrill your family with rousing guitar solos and time-traveling tales.
- April 13, 3:30 p.m. – 5 p.m. The Lil Smokies. This talented band have earned themselves a reputation as one of the most electrifying acts in modern American roots music.
- April 13, 3:30 p.m. – 5 p.m. The Wailers. This remarkable group invite your family to enjoy an exciting display of 70s reggae, Bob Marley cuts, and timeless original sounds.
Strawberry Park Hot Springs
As one of the most iconic luxury outdoor experiences in Colorado, this enchanting natural hot spring epitomizes relaxation. You and your kids can enjoy the toasty warm waters of these enchanting natural springs, 365 days of the year.
Mud season is the perfect time to bask in the beauty of Steamboat’s natural beauty, as you and your children can swim, splash, or simply float, surrounded by trees and clear skies.
Visitors who are driving will be required to use snow tires/chains until May 1st in order to navigate the slippery terrain. If you’d like to forget the stress of bringing your own vehicle, two fantastic shuttle services are available to transport your family from downtown Steamboat directly to the hot springs. Contact Hot Springs Shuttle or Sweet Pea Tours for more information.
Hiking at Fish Creek Falls
Mud season offers you and your young companions the perfect opportunity to explore Steamboat’s mountain trails on foot. Forget your skis or snowshoes, because the path to Fish Creek Falls goes all the way to the picturesque top and is completely clear of snow.
At the end of this ¼-mile walk, your kids are sure to be enamored with the awe-inspiring view of the lower falls crashing into the rocks below. As the snow melts, the rushing water is particularly magnificent, approaching speeds not seen at any other time of year.
Steamboat Splashdown Pond Skim
Celebrate mud season in true Steamboat style with this exhilarating family event. The Steamboat Splashdown Pond Skim on April 14th marks the triumphant end of ski season. You and your kids are invited to watch competitors dash down the mountain, aiming to skim across a purpose-built pond in hilarious costumes, bidding farewell to winter.
This event is free to attend, and is a unique spectacle to behold. We guarantee your kids won’t stop talking about it for months!
Biking Along the Yampa River
As Ski Town USA® transforms into Bike Town USA®, mud season is the perfect time to hire a mountain bike and enjoy a leisurely ride with your family. The Yampa River Core Trail is a 7.5-mile paved trail that runs through the heart of Steamboat Springs and along the Yampa River.
This trail is ideal for families as it’s easy to navigate, with gentle terrain, and stunning views in all directions. You could even take a stop at the Yampa River Botanic Park to explore six-acres of family-friendly gardens on the cusp of blossoming for spring.
Kayaking on the Yampa River
Mud season is a particularly unique time of year for outdoor adventures in Steamboat. In the morning you can ski snowy mountain peaks and in the afternoon you can hop into a kayak and explore the Yampa River.
The Mountain Sports Kayak School is open for all-age river kayaking trips and group classes. Beginners are welcomed to adventure in a Whitewater Kayak for the very first time, for an exhilarating river excursion alongside friends and family.
Indoor Climbing at Steamboat Climbing Collective
If the mud and rain is getting a little too much, get the whole family together for an exhilarating day out, sheltered from the weather. Steamboat Climbing Collective welcomes adults and kids as young as two years old to enjoy an indoor climbing experience like no other!
This colorful indoor climbing center features bouldering walls at varying heights and steepness, 22ft top rope walls with five ropes and two autobelays, a kilter board on an adjustable frame, a campus board, and a kids climbing area with a slide.
Climbing with your youngest companions is the perfect indoor vacation activity, as together you will learn a new skill, conquer your fears, and make truly unforgettable memories.
Fun in Every Season in Steamboat Springs
Here in Steamboat the locals have a saying, “Come for the winters, stay for the summers.” At The Astrid, we believe the allure of Steamboat Springs goes one step further. Come for the winters, stay for the summers, then return again and again for exhilarating adventures in every season.
As ski season ends in mid-April, you and your family can make the most of Steamboat’s quiet ‘shoulder season’ by enjoying a vibrant array of events and outdoor activities. Every month in this charming mountain town is full of endless fun for vacationers of all ages.
Here at The Astrid, we’re passionate about helping you to embrace the outdoor and indoor wonders this town has to offer, so that you can create precious memories with your family season after season. We’re creating an idyllic retreat where families and guests can enjoy exceptional service, abundant opportunities for adventure, and the extraordinary beauty of the Rocky Mountains in every season. Repeat vacations to Steamboat Springs will be a hassle-free experience, thanks to your very own home-away-from-home situated at the foot of Mount Werner.
We’re breaking ground on this pioneering new project in Summer 2024, and we invite you to join us in this exciting journey. To join our community, simply provide us with your name and email address. By doing so, you’ll be invited to join our exclusive mailing list. As part of this list you’ll gain access to insider information, behind-the-scenes content, and a highly personalized email experience reserved only for members of The Astrid community.
