While Steamboat might be best known for being a winter wonderland, one of the best-kept Steamboat secrets (besides our powder stashes), is fall.
With back-to-school in full swing and no significant holiday breaks until November, fall is typically quieter than our other seasons (a big part of its appeal!). And with several fall festivals, scenic hikes, and spectacular foliage, there’s no shortage of ways to keep you and your family entertained.
5 of the best things to do (and festivals to attend) in Steamboat this fall
Labor Day Weekend
Is it the kick-off to fall or the end-of-summer celebration? Well, It’s a little bit of both and a whole lot of fun. The days are still sunny, and the warm weather activities haven’t, yet, hibernated for winter.
Pack your bathing suit so you can float down the river, make a last effort to try stand-up paddleboarding or take a boat ride around Steamboat Lake (Just Add Water). Or rent a bike for some 2-wheeled adventures (Biking Blog). Go for a serene hike, do yoga in the Botanic Gardens or hit the Land Up roller coaster and mini-golf for some wild rides on the ski mountain.
Don't miss the downtown Farmer’s Market on Saturday morning with Colorado produce, live music and local artisans. Cruise the Core Trail and then top off your day at one of the many outdoor dining spots along the Yampa River.
Labor Day Outdoor Summer Concert
September 4, 2022 The Devin Allman Project
Head on over to Howelsen Amphitheatre for an evening of tunes. Our famed free summer concert series ends its summer line-up with this trifecta of musicians. With a 90-meter ski jump as its backdrop, food trucks, craft beer, and kids play area, Howelsen free summer concerts are a local family favorite.
Yampa Valley Crane Festival
September 1-4, 2022
In its 11th year, the Yampa Valley Crane Festival celebrates the sandhill crane that migrates to our area every summer. These self-proclaimed craniacs offer a variety of ways for visitors to get a glimpse of the sandhill cranes from sunrise to sunset bird walks and bird-watching boat rides around the lake. For the artistic bird watcher, there are also sketching contests and raptor photography classes.
OktoberWest
September 9-10, 2022
Just two weeks later, Steamboat offers up its nod to the season of beer and breweries with our OktoberWest fest. In its 13th year, this fall favorite doesn’t disappoint. Colorado craft breweries pair well with a beef cook-off culinary event and live music. Don’t miss the Friday night craft beer stroll at local restaurants or the VIP ceramic stein giveaway.
Steamboat Restaurant Week
October 7-15, 2022
Put on by Mainstreet Steamboat; downtown restaurants offer up tasting menus to toast the season and tempt your tastebuds. Grab your family, friends, a fork, and feast away!
Steamboat Food & Wine Festival
September 29-October 2, 2022
If you had to pick the best thing to do in Steamboat this fall, the new Steamboat Food & Wine Festival would be our top choice. From the ABC's of Bourbon and Rosé all day to the 4-course chef dinners, we’re getting hungry just thinking about it. The grand tasting tent is in the Torian Plum area at the base of the mountain, with perfect pairing events such as film screenings, sommelier talks and knife forgings sprinkled throughout town.
Moving Mountains pro tip:
This culinary celebration will soon be the most coveted ticket in town. We highly recommend buying your festival pass right now, before they are gone. As an official lodging sponsor, you can clink glasses with Moving Mountains at the 120-seat Yampa Street community table during Sunday’s bacon and bubbles brunch. À Votre Santé!
What else is there to do in Steamboat in the fall?
The list is endless, and we haven’t even gotten to the fall foliage. Trust us, you can enjoy Steamboat’s explosion of yellow from the back of your mountain, road or gravel bike [link to biking blog], from a serene hike, or from behind the car window on one of our many quiet country roads. You can stroll along the Yampa river with your pumpkin-spiced latte, take a horseback ride through the backcountry, book your own custom craft brewery tour or fly fish amongst the aspen. No matter where you are, you’ll be awash in “Colorful Colorado”.
Don’t delay, if you’ve never experienced Steamboat in the fall, it’s time to turn over a new leaf and plan your fall getaway, today.
