When people think of visiting Steamboat Springs, Colorado, it's often for one thing—skiing. And there's no doubt that the skiing in this western mountain town is top-notch. But it turns out Steamboat Springs is not just a winter destination. There are plenty of things to do in Steamboat Springs throughout the year, from hiking to hot springs to, yes, winter activities like snowmobiling and even dogsledding.
Here are 23 top things to do with kids in Steamboat Springs, CO besides skiing, including family-friendly Steamboat Springs restaurants and hotels. Visit our Western US Family Travel Guide for even more adventures out west, from gorgeous national parks like the Grand Canyon to fun cities such as Colorado Springs .
There are many kid-friendly hikes and walks in Steamboat Springs. Photo by Dicklyon, CC BY-SA 4.0
Top Things To Do in Steamboat Springs with Kids All Year Long
1. Hiking
Colorado is hiking country, so a walk in the woods is a must. Even in winter, a hike to Fish Creek Falls is perfect for the whole family— it's about a quarter-mile hike down a gravel path leading to a great view of the lower falls. A more moderate hike will take you to picturesque views of the Upper Fish Creek Falls as well as Routt National Forest’s Long Lake .
Another option for thrill-seekers is the Uranium Mine Trail , also in Routt National Forest. It’s a moderate hike, made just a tad more than moderate by the lack of tree cover for the first half of the trail (bring sunscreen). Adventuresome families will love the mystique of clambering over old metal tracks to peer down into an abandoned uranium mine. While the entrance has been gated for safety, explorers can still use flashlights to illuminate rusted tracks, aged caution signs, and perhaps a bat or two.
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Get out of the cold and into steamy natural hot springs. Photo by the author
2. Strawberry Park Hot Springs
There is nothing quite like sitting in comfortably steamy natural hot springs while staring out at snow-capped surroundings. For convenience, Old Town Hot Springs is right in town, family-friendly, and easy to find. But for a truly magical and unforgettable experience, take a day trip to Strawberry Park Hot Springs. Book a shuttle, as no Uber or Lyft passengers are allowed entry, and the shuttle reservation acts as your pool reservation.
Once there, relish in an unforgettable two-hour soak in beautiful, unspoiled nature as you alternate between five stone masonry pools, with the uppermost pool reaching up to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. The bravest among you can take a cold plunge into the most frigid pool, fed by the mountain creek and therefore really, really cold. Be advised: Minors are not allowed in after dark, as clothing becomes optional after sundown.
3. Horseback Riding at Saddleback Ranch
Any cowpokes in the family? They’ll love gazing at the Sleeping Giant, Mt. Werner, and more on a horseback adventure that follows in the hoof-steps of the homesteaders who established the ranch nearly a century ago. After winter rides, you’ll enjoy warming comforts like hot chocolate or freshly baked cookies. The minimum age for riders is 8, and any child under 13 must wear a helmet (ski helmets work just fine). Note that there is no tandem riding allowed. Rides are offered every day except Sunday.
4. Off the Beaten Path Bookstore
The sign out front promises “Books, Coffee, Friends”—and this independent bookstore delivers! It’s a reader’s dream with rows and rows of books, including plenty of titles about Western life and all the activities your family has been enjoying, so you can take the fun home with you. The warm, welcoming, family-run store offers a large selection of children’s books, toys, puzzles, games, art supplies, and gifts. There's also a great café serving locally roasted Seedhouse Coffee and scrumptious pastries.
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Bison roam the fields at Lucky 8 Ranch. Photo courtesy of the ranch
5. Bison Spotting at Lucky 8 Ranch
At this family-owned ranch in Oak Creek (just a 30-minute drive from Steamboat Springs), you’ll have the unique chance to tour a home where buffalo roam, either by ATV or snowmobile (depending on the season). Lucky 8 Ranch offers The Colorado Bison Experience, an opportunity to observe and zip by the majestic animals as they graze in the shadow of the Rockies. The ranch raises over 500 bison a year, which your family can view across 20 miles of varied terrain.
Lucky 8 offers hot drinks, light snacks, and helmets, goggles, boots, and custom-designed face masks. Advance reservations are encouraged.
6. Snow Bowl Steamboat
Though this bowling alley has been a community institution since 1977, it was reimagined in 2019 as a state-of-of-the-art bowling and event center, featuring arcade games, great live music, a large and delicious menu, and best of all, Dog Bowl! In partnership with Routt County Humane Society, Snow Bowl offers an 8,000-square-foot turfed outdoor area for dogs and their two-legged friends. On Sundays, Snow Bowl really goes to the dogs with kiddie pools, chew toys, adoption events, and more.
As for the human bowling, prices are set per lane and per hour, so you can bring up to six people and bowl for as long as you please. The lanes are closed Mondays.
7. Steamboat Creates
Get into Steamboat's local creative art scene at Steamboat Creates by taking an art class or joining First Friday Artwalk, a monthly exhibition held, logically, on the first Friday of the month. There's also a Winter Carnival with snow sculptures.
8. Steamboat Art Museum
Explore original artwork dedicated to the culture and heritage of the West at the Steamboat Art Museum. The Cole Verploeg Youth Gallery displays educational materials, images, art projects, and interactive exhibits for kids.
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The Bud Werner Memorial Library offers interactive programming for kids. Photo courtesy of the library
9. Bud Werner Memorial Library
A centerpiece of the Steamboat community, this library offers activities for kids of all ages, monthly film festivals, crafts, and even a pre-bedtime evening of storytelling for young children and their plushies.
10. Tread of Pioneers Museum
Set in a 1901 Victorian home, this museum features engaging and interactive exhibits dedicated to western heritage, Native American history, mining, outlaws, and a large firearm collection. Be sure to check out the Pioneer Kids Hands-on Discovery Exhibit, which replicates a typical Steamboat Springs child's bedroom around 1900. In it, kids can try on pioneer clothing, play with historic toys, explore a drawer full of odd Victorian tools, and more.
11. Chuck Lewis State Wildlife Area
You don’t have to drive far from town to find beautiful multi-use trails open throughout the year at Chuck Lewis State Wildlife Area. With plenty of opportunities to see local flora and fauna—or make some great snowballs in winter—this is a beautiful place to take a walk or a scenic drive. There are plenty of horses and cows along the road to the park to satisfy even the feistiest little farmer, and it’s a simple way to refresh and reenergize—for free!
12. Steamboat Square at Steamboat Resort
If the family’s skiing, you’re going to end up at Steamboat Resort. Fortunately, this consortium of hotels, restaurants, shops, and activity venues offers plenty of non-skiing options in its lively main square at the base of the mountain. Take a scenic gondola ride to marvel at Mt. Werner, the Yampa Valley, and the majestic Rockies. In the winter, go ice skating at Skeeter’s Ice Rink—it’s free if you bring your own skates.
Hungry? You can eat at one of the many restaurants at the top of the mountain, or head back downhill to teach kids the importance of the après-ski lifestyle at Timber & Torch Grill or The Range Food & Drink Hall, offering pizza, ramen, street-style tacos, salads, sandwiches, and more.
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It's not all about skiing at Howelson Hill.
Top Things To Do in Steamboat Springs with Kids in Winter (Besides Skiing)
13. Winter Fun at Howelsen Hill
Sure, it’s technically another ski area, but Howelsen Hill also offers a 20-foot sledding area for the kids and an Olympic-sized ice arena offering public skate, drop-in hockey, and bumper cars on ice. While reservations are not needed for most activities, you’ll definitely need one to take a spin on the bumper cars. But at less than $15 for 20 minutes, it pays for itself by the second bump. And if the family does want to go skiing, check out Ski Free Sundays.
14. Dogsledding with Grizzle-T Dog & Sled Works
Family-owned and operated by Iditarod musher Kris Hoffman and his wife, Grizzle-T offers the unbelievable chance for you to drive a dogsled over a 12.5-mile backcountry trail on a private ranch. While kids under 80 pounds cannot drive, they’ll love sitting in the sled to spot bald eagles, elk, or moose and take in gorgeous views of the Flat Tops, Mt. Zirkle, the Sleeping Giant, and more.
This is about a three-hour experience and it's not cheap, but it’s worth every penny—and not just for the ride itself, but also for the concert of excited barks and howls before the trek and the substantial cuddle time with the dogs after the ride. Plus, you'll enjoy cider, snacks, and even some schnaps. Advance reservations are highly recommended. This experience is available December through April.
15. Snowmobiling at Saddleback Ranch
Saddleback Ranch offers snowmobile adventures on its 8,000 acres of trails and open meadows. December through March, you can hop on two-passenger snowmobiles that are easy to operate, offer a surprisingly smooth ride, and use a clean fuel that produces a “no-smell” exhaust (so you won’t smell of gas when enjoying hot chocolate and cookies at ride’s end). Choose a two- or three-hour tour, either in the morning or at sunset (absolutely beautiful)! Drivers must be at least 16, and reservations are a must.
Family-Friendly Restaurants in Steamboat Springs
16. Winona's
Locals and tourists alike flock to this downtown spot known for its cinnamon rolls the size of salad plates, fantastically filling brunch options ranging from eggs to burgers, and not-to-be-missed chili cheese grits (for those who like a little kick-start to the day).
17. Hypnotic Chicken
Please do not miss Hypnotic Chicken, a local favorite that offers varying levels of spicy tenders, wings, and sandwiches, plus ciders and local brews to cool fiery mouths.
18. 8th Street Steakhouse
Head to this laid-back, kid-friendly steakhouse for all-you-can-eat salad and cook-your-own steak.
19. Slopeside
If your kids are craving pizza, take them to Slopeside at the base of the mountain for the best slices in town at reasonable prices. Note: Slopeside is only open in the winter.
20. Lyon’s Corner Drug & Soda Fountain
This genuine, Americana-fueled family drugstore has been around for over 100 years, so kids and kids-at-heart will either feel nostalgia or feel like they’re in a movie as they pass the old-school jukebox to belly up to the counter and sample delicious concoctions from the old-time soda fountain. In addition to shakes and drinks, Lyon’s offers delicious sandwiches and $3 ice-cream cones for kids, as well as plenty of gift and souvenir options. It’s open until 6pm, so ruin dinner early.
Top Steamboat Springs Hotels for Families
21. Steamboat Grand
Located just steps from the slopes, the Steamboat Grand offers cozy hotel rooms, spacious condos, and penthouses. Kids will love the 85,000-gallon, year-round heated pool, and parents will love relaxing at the day spa.
22. Sheraton Steamboat Resort Villas
This mountain resort has a prime location in the heart of the Steamboat Base Area next to the Christie Peak Express. It offers both traditional guest rooms and villas, many of which have full kitchens and washer/dryers. From ski-in, ski-out access during the winter to summertime golf, hiking, and biking, the area's best attractions are at your doorstep. The Sheraton also has a heated outdoor pool, a spa, and a fitness center.
23. WorldMark Steamboat Springs
Just minutes away from Steamboat Resort and Routt National Forest, WorldMark offers spacious one-, two-, or three-bedroom suites that sleep up to eight, so families have plenty of room to spread out. Every suite has a full kitchen, a washer/dryer, a fireplace, and a balcony or deck. The outdoor pool and hot tub are a fun bonus if you can pull the kids away from all the nearby activities.
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