Camping in Steamboat Springs, Colorado

I love surprising my husband with a week(end) trip for his birthday every year. He loves camping and we don’t get out camping as often as he would like, so if I can pull off a surprise camping weekend for my hubby, you know it’s going to happen!

It has been years since I’ve been out to Steamboat. Growing up, I had a few soccer tournaments in Steamboat but Steve had never been.

It was a perfect combo - somewhere he’s never been PLUS a camping weekend. Here is everything we did, including where we camped and the restaurants/breweries we checked out

THe Campsite

Meadows Campground in Routt National Forest

Reservations can be made here on recreation.gov.

I personally like campsites where you can book in advance - less stress of driving around hoping there are first come/first available sites - and ones that have designated toilets.

This site was perfect for us with it being reservable and roughly 30 minutes into Steamboat.

in town recommendations

Storm Peak Brewery

One of my favorite things to do is go to a brewery on a hot summer day. And with it being Steve’s birthday, you know we found one. It was actually really perfect too as the brewery was also celebrating their birthday with a limited release Birthday Cake beer that we couldn’t get enough of. We will be visiting this brewery every time we are in Steamboat going forward!

Steamboat Meat & Seafood Co.

Located close to the river and near some great local shops, this butcher shop is great for fresh made sandwiches, prime cuts of meat, and name the type of seafood you want. We stopped in here to grab sub sandwiches that we took with us to Storm Peak Brewery.

the hike to do

If you are looking for a super scenic hike, look no further than Fish Creek Falls! This hike can be sort (less than 1 mile) or up to 5 miles if you want to hike to the top of the falls.

Read my full hike review for this hike here!

Hike Review: Fish Creek Falls, Steamboat Springs, CO

We recently took a long weekend camping trip to Steamboat Springs, Colorado to celebrate my husband’s birthday. He has lived in Colorado his entire life but had never been to Steamboat so it was awesome to celebrate him while exploring somewhere he had never been before.

While we were camping, we decided to check out Fish Creek Falls - a well known hike and waterfall in Steamboat. There are small posted signs everywhere in town as to where the Falls are located vs where you you are standing and what direction you need to travel to get to them. Seeing all these signs made us feel like we had to check them out. And they did not disappoint!

Parking

There is a $5 fee to enter the parking lot. We were told if we had an America the Beautiful pass that the parking fee would be waved.

There are limited parking spots so on busy weekends they could fill up rather quickly.

Vault toilets were also in the parking lot, which is nice to see!

The hike

Awesome thing about this hike - there is a short hike and a long hike. Each of which are fantastic depending on what your overall desire and conditioning are.

The Short Hike - Fish Creek Falls

This hike is roughly a half-mile (0.5 mile) round trip. You start the hike going downhill and lose a lot of elevation very quickly. This is key to note as that means that your way out is going to be a pretty steep uphill hike.

You’ll know it when you get to the end of the short hike - you’ll have the most stunning view of the Falls.

The Long Hike - Long Lake

We didn’t make it all the way on the long hike. To be honest, we didn’t come prepared to go more than a few miles - I was in denim shorts and didn’t bring my hiker bag, just a small sling back that had more things in it for our doggo than it did for me. Definitely not enough water to make it on the longer hike.

But the section we did of it was beautiful and a steep grind.

You start out on the Short Hike and then proceed past the bridge and up you go, up the side of the mountain.

Apparently when you get to the top, you have an eye level view of the Falls that is supposed to be stunning. We will definitely be doing this the next time we are in Steamboat!

Extra fun to be had

We hit the trail to the Falls on one of the hottest days of the year, so it should not have come to as big of a surprise as it did to find a ton of families at the river with their kids in swimming suits playing in the water.

The water was nice and cool - perfect for a scorching hot day in the mountains! We let Max, or doggo, play in the water for a while when we were on our way back to our car. He loved it!

Final thoughts

This hike is fantastic. I loved the option to do just the shorter hike to the viewing point as we didn’t come totally prepared for a longer hike. I also love that we could have continued on if we had come prepared to do so.

The fact that playing in the water was such a common thing made me smile and I know Max had the best time romping around in it.

It is an absolute must-do when you are in the Steamboat area.

Additional Resources:

Trail Review: Maxwell Falls

A Complete Hiking Pack List

Hike Review: Lily Pad Lake, Summit County, CO

Lily Pad Lake Trail is a fairly easy out and back trail nested at the top of Wildernest in Summit County that gives you great views of Lake Dillon and the mountain towns surrounding the lake.

Parking

There are limited designated parking spots. If you park in a non-designated parking spot, you will probably end up getting a parking ticket as the area is frequently patrolled by the Summit County Sheriff.

The Trail

The first time I did this trail, we snowshoed to the lake and back and it was amazing. But, I must say, going in summer is a totally different experience and one that I highly recommend as you learn very quickly why it is called Lily Pad Lake. In winter, the lake is frozen over and buried under feet of snow. In summer, it’s just gorgeous.

The hike itself can be done in about an hour and a half, but I would absolutely budget in some time to just chill at the lake. It was so calm and peaceful.

As you hike, you’re going to come across a mini lake that we thought was the Lily Pad Lake because it was absolutely covered in Lily Pads. But if you continue on, you’ll end up at the larger lake - the true Lily Pad Lake.

Smaller lake that is covered in Lily Pads! Continue on the trail to get to the actual Lily Pad lake.

Why We Loved This Hike

It’s short - only about 3 1/2 miles round trip. It’s beautiful. And dogs are allowed, on leash. We love taking Max out with us when we go hiking, but certain places do not allow dogs, so it’s an added benefit that he was able to join us.

Final Review

4 out of 5! I wish there were a few more parking spots at the trail head and that it was a tad bit longer. But it is a very solid and fun hike that ends with stunning mountain views at the lakes edge.

Weekend Guide: Colorado National Monument

Last summer we were lucky enough to snag a camp site for a weekend at Colorado National Monument! Neither one of us had been there before so we were really excited to get out and explore the Monument. We’ve put together an itinerary and some tips for you so you can have the best experience!

First things first, we learned the (very) hard way to not tent camp here in the summer months. We learned very quickly that it is too hot all day and all night to make this trip overly enjoyable. Unless you love sleeping in 90 degrees, that is, or have a camper that can run AC. Unlike a lot of areas in summer, this place did not cool down at night. We were miserably hot all weekend. So, tip #1: go in the fall or spring months.

If you love to hike, you could easily spend the weekend here. If you only want to do one hike and do the drive from one entrance over to the other, one night will be plenty.

Tip #2: If you want to camp in the park and want a glorious view from your camping spot, pick a spot on B Loop, along the outer edge. warning - if you are afraid of heights and/or have kids/pets that are known to wander, this might not be the best spot for you as there is a very steep drop off on the back of the camp sites (see photos below). But if you don’t have those concerns, the views are stunning! Also note that there are plenty of camping spots in the Grand Junction area that are free and/or cheaper than camping in the park. When we went, reservations were required. There were no first come/first serve sites available.

If you are not a camper, never fear! The monument is a very short drive from Grand Junction which has a lot of hotel and Airbnb options.

Tip #3: you are in the desert so bring plenty of water and a lot of sunscreen! There is very little shade in this park so make sure you are coming prepared for a lot of direct sun. A hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, long sleeves/pants (if it’s not summer), etc. are all great things to have readily available.

If you decide to go in summer, come prepared for 100 degree days. Bring a lot of extra water, some salty snacks, and even some electrolytes.

Tip #4: no wood fires were allowed which was a bummer for us as we love a good campfire while camping. Charcoal grills were provided at each campsite however so you could easily make your meals. Come prepared knowing you won’t be able to have a fire.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrive at campsite and set up camp and chill out.

Day 2: Plan to drive the entire park road then enjoy an afternoon beer and snack at a local brewery.

• We stopped at every pull off for the viewing spots and I highly recommend that you do. The views are unreal! It took us about 3 hours to do, and we loved every minute of it.

• At this point you’re probably hungry and thirsty. Head into Grand Junction to Edgewater Brewery for a cold craft beer and a snack. It’s about 15 minutes from Colorado National Monument.

• Head back into the park to your campsite. Cook up dinner and enjoy the evening doing what you love most at campsites.

Day 3: Pack up camp and head to your next destination.

All in, we loved Colorado National Monument and would absolutely go back, ideally in the late spring or fall. Our rankings:

• Views: 5/5 - absolutely stunning.

• Campsite: 4/5 - no fire allowed which is a bummer, but it had actual running water bathrooms, large sites, and stunning views

• Proximity: 5/5 - we love camping while exploring somewhere new as it’s way cheaper than renting an airbnb.

This was the back edge of our campsite!

One of the many pull offs for views!

Weekend Guide: Breckenridge, CO Summer Edition

If you are heading to Colorado at all this summer a weekend spent in Breckenridge needs to be on your to-do list. It has quickly become one of my favorite mountain towns with so many cute shops and great restaurants. Plus, it never hurts to have stunning mountain views as you walk down Main Street.

Here are my recommendations for a weekend in Breck!

Where to Stay

I personally love a good Airbnb and there are a ton of really great condos for all group sizes that you can find on Airbnb. Most of them will be in a condo complex that will have access to a hot tub and/or swimming pool so if that is a big deal for you, you’ll be set.

If you are more of the resort stay type person, you cannot go wrong with the Grand Colorado on Peak 8 or the Marriott that is at the base of Peak 9. If you stay at the Grand Colorado, you’ll either need to be prepared for a longer walk to Main Street, need to ride the free Gondola up/down, or make use of their free shuttle. A perk to staying at the Marriott is you are a half block away from Main Street - no shuttle necessary.

Must do activities

Hiking

If you are going to the mountains for a long weekend, you need to get in at least one epic hike, right? One of the best perks of staying in Breck is how close you are to the base of one of Colorado’s famous 14ers - Quandary Peak. Sitting at 14,265 feet above sea level, the peak can be seen just south of Breckenridge. Start early - the parking lot fills up FAST and you absolutely need to be down and off mountain before the crazy afternoon thunderstorms roll through.

Not up for a 14er? No problem. There are so many great hikes in the area. Check out McCullough Gulch Trail for some stunning views.

Adventure

If you are up for some base-of-the-mountain fun, check out Epic Discovery. You can zoom down the mountain on an Alpine Coaster, go mountain biking, play mini golf, and so much more. There is absolutely fun for the whole family there - kids included!

Visit the Gold Dredge and discover part of Breckenridge’s history. You can find out more about it here. You can drive to a tiny parking lot, and do a very short (0.1 mile short) hike down to where the Dredge was left.

Sports

Rent a mountain bike or a cruiser and either hit the mountain biking trails on the mountain, or bike all around town. You can take the path from Breckenridge all the way to Frisco and back!

Shopping

Even if you don’t love to shop, a stroll down Main Street is absolutely worth it. There are all sorts of shops to browse from your classic T-shirt shops to local art galleries to kids toy stores. You can also find some great boutique clothing stores and every outdoors gear store there is.

What to Eat & Drink

I love good food and drinks. I have a rule that no matter where we go, we must eat and drink local - no chain restaurants for this gal!

Fancy dinner and cocktails: Breckenridge Distillery, reservations highly recommended and they sell out fast, so definitely plan ahead on this one. You can also swing by for happy hour and have a much better chance at getting seated if you don’t have reservations.

Pizza: Downstairs at Eric’s. A fan favorite and the wait is worth it. If you want pizza to-go to eat at your airbnb, they do call ahead orders or you can order at their bar window when you arrive.

BBQ: Whiskey Star Smokehouse. Grab a whiskey cocktail and hang outside by their firepits, or grab some amazing bbq from their restaurant. They do open seating so just grab the first table you see!

Dessert: If you go to Breckenridge, your trip is not complete until you stop at Mountain Top Cookie Shop for a large cookie. Whether it’s your after dinner dessert or a mid-day treat, this cookie shop is drool worthy.

McCullough Gulch Trail

Base of Peak 9, Breckenridge

Hike Review: Cheesman Canyon, Sedalia, CO

Cheesman Canyon is one of those hikes that has been on our list but not a high priority to do, thinking it wouldn’t be anything overly amazing. Well, we finally can cross this one off and, wow were we wrong! This hike has so much about it that we loved. In fact, the only thing we would say is a downfall is that there is very little shade. But, we did pick one of the hottest weekends of the summer to do this hike, so really that is our own fault, as this hike would be absolutely perfect on a warm but not blazing hot day.

Keep reading for our full review as to why we loved it!

1. The hike is along a river!

   Yes, you literally hike along the river for the majority of the hike! There are a ton of fishermen around and a lot of access points from the upper trail to the water. So if you get too hot, you can work your way down to the water to cool off.

2. Good ups and downs the whole way.

   We love a good hike that is pretty equal effort both ways. This is not a hike that is up one way and down the way back. You get the challenges of inclines and declines both ways. This means that you don’t have a ton of overall elevation gain (you never get above treeline) but you get the workout associated with a strong elevation gain!

3. If you go far enough, you hit a reservoir.

   We did not make it far enough in on this hike to hit the reservoir (hello, 100 degrees by 10am!) but if we were to have kept going, there would have been a reservoir for us to sit by and enjoy. The reservoir feeds the river that you hike along. Needless to say, we will be back to get to the reservoir on a cooler day!

4. Not overly busy.

   We arrived at the parking lot by about 8am and had no issues parking. However, when we were leaving there were cars circling the lot waiting for a space. There is no street parking - if you park on the street you will get ticketed if caught.

We will warn you that the trail is mostly loose gravel - meaning that the declines are slippery and your feet can definitely come out from underneath you if you aren’t overly cautious. Yes, speaking from experience on that one. Whoops! Luckily I only scraped my hand a little bit, but it could have been much worse!

Overall, we give this hike a 4 out of 5 stars.

Happy Trails!
Liz

Hike Review: Tyndall Glacier and Nymph, Dream, Emerald, and Haiyaha Lakes, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO

Disclaimer: this is an opinion about our personal experience of this hike. Others may have a different opinion, and that is perfectly acceptable. Everyone has a right to their own opinion.

This particular hike we come back to time and again because of how beautiful the scenery is. Located in Rocky Mountain National Park, this hike features so many amazing things, you can’t help but just be in awe the entire hike. 4 lakes. A couple waterfalls. A glacier. It’s one of our all time favorites and we hope you enjoy it as well if you choose to hike it!

Getting into RMNP

This year, you must reserve a time slot entry to get into RMNP, as well as have a pass to get into the park for the day. The pass can be a season pass, a day pass, the American the Beautiful Pass, etc. This has changed from prior years due to the Covid-19 outbreak. They do not offer these time slot entries at the gate so you much reserve them online in advance. To do that, you can CLICK HERE or log into recreation.gov, search for Rocky Mountain National Park, pick a date that has available time slots and pick your time! Once you pick your time, you have two hours to enter the park, so if you purchase the 8am entry, you have from 8am - 10am to enter the park. Once you are in the park, you can stay as long as you want. Be sure to take a screenshot of your confirmation on your phone, or print it out, as you will have to show it at the gate.

Where to park

Parking is all over the park once you get in, but watch for the road signs on what is full. If you can, we recommend parking at Bear Lake Lot - it’s the closest parking lot to the trail head. We say “if you can” because this lot fills up FAST. If it’s full, we recommend the park-and-ride lot. It’s easiest to find parking and you will have quick access to a shuttle bus that will take you up to Bear Lake and will have access to the same shuttles to take you back to your car when you are ready to head out.

The Elevation

This hike is a 5.1 mile out and back hike that has an elevation gain of ~1,100 feet. Keep in mind that you are starting at a very high elevation already at 9,449 ft above sea level. Entering the park, you will be at 7,860, and you will gain substantial elevation driving up to Bear Lake. Bring more water than you think you’ll need, snacks, and something with salt - your body might need it.

If you are coming from out of state, be sure to read about elevation sickness and the warning signs - it’s a very real thing and it’s not fun if you have it.

The Hike Itself

This hike is STUNNING. There are four lakes - five if you count Bear Lake - and they are so gorgeous. Our favorite one… it’s hard to pick! But if I had to, the lake at the base of the glacier is unreal and totally makes the hike. Be sure to look into the water as you walk by as you can some time see some fish swimming along.

We went in mid-June and there were still patches of snow on the hike. We did not have to use any gear other than our hiking boots, and saw some people in regular tennis shoes cross through the snow patches with no issues.

Rocky Mountain National Park is stunning and this hike showcases it to the nth degree. We absolutely love it and tend to hike this at least once a year. We give this hike a rare 5 out of 5 stars. Let us know what you think when you hike this as well!

Additional Resources You Might Enjoy:

Hike Review: Eagle’s View Trail

Day Trip Hiking Pack List

Hike Review: Eagle's View Trail Loop, Conifer, CO

Disclaimer: this is an opinion about our personal experience of this hike. Others may have a different opinion, and that is perfectly acceptable. Everyone has a right to their own opinion.

We’ve absolutely been loving the Conifer hikes lately. There is something to be said about finding hikes that are only 30ish minutes away from Denver! This hike is just south of Conifer in Reynolds Park. Considering how close this hike is to Denver, we headed out early to try to beat the crowds - and we are very happy we did! Here’s what we think you need to know about this hike!

Parking is free and the lot is actually decently sized.

We were pleasantly surprised to see a decent sized lot at the trail head that easily could fit 20 cars (or more) without having to park parallel or on the street! We arrived around 8:15 and had no issue finding a parking spot.

There are restrooms at the trail head.

Woohoo! This is always a great surprise when we see this. As comfortable as we are peeing in the woods, it’s always nice to not actually have to since a restroom is available!

The view makes this hike worth it.

The hike itself is a 4.2 mile loop trail which doesn’t sound too long, but considering the elevation gain you have during the first mile of the hike, we were glad it was on the shorter side. We went counter-clockwise and got a killer booty/hamstring/calf muscle workout in! Coming off the steep and steady incline and seeing the valley and mountain ridges for miles and miles and miles.. yeah, those views are why you do this hike.

Dogs are allowed on leash.

Unlike the Maxwell Falls hike we did, we did not see any dog poop on the trail! Thank you responsible dog owners!! This hike is STEEP and a good portion of it is not shaded, so if you bring the pups, be sure to bring them their own water. You do not want to be that dog owner that has to call the park rangers for assistance on getting their dog carried out after the doggo overheated. Yes, that happens.

We rate this hike 4.5/5 stars!

We loved the challenging incline on this hike, especially with the shorter distance this hike is. With the early start, we didn’t see more than 10 people on the trail until we were almost back to the parking lot. Having restrooms, a nice sided parking lot, and it being only a 30ish minute drive from where we live definitely adds stars to this hike for us.

If you hit this trial, let us know what you think by leaving a comment or sending us an email! We love hearing about everyone’s experiences!

Happy Trails!
~ Liz

Additional Resources You Might Enjoy:

Hike Review: Maxwell Falls, Conifer, CO

Hike Review: Eagle’s View Trail Loop, Conifer, CO

A Weekend Guide to Camping in Aspen

Camping season is here and we are so excited!! We love camping for many reasons, but one of the best is that you can go to so many places and have a place to stay for pretty cheap. If you are one to reserve campsites, you can get one for around $20/night, and if you are one that likes to gamble on if they can find a first-come-first-serve spot, you can get one for pretty much free. You really cant’t beat free-$20/night going to Aspen for the weekend!

Here are our recommendations for a weekend camping in Aspen!

Day 1

Arrive into downtown Aspen in time for a late lunch. Pick a local cafe or restaurant to have a nice lunch after a long drive. We parked and walked around downtown and stumbled across this amazing deli called Butcher’s Block (see their website here!) which offers made to order sandwiches. The meat is fresh shaved and just absolutely delish!

After lunch, head out to your campsite and get set up. We booked a spot at Difficult Campground which is about 5 miles outside of Aspen! If you reserve a spot, you typically can arrive to the site at 2pm. Be sure to stop and check in with the site host and purchase a bundle of firewood for your fire pit.

Have dinner at the campsite and treat yourself to a s’more!

Stay up late and stargaze. The stars and moon are SO bright in this area of Colorado!

Day 2

Get up, make a hearty breakfast burrito filled with eggs, bacon, and potatoes. Pack your hiking bag - don’t forget your rain coat - and head to the Four Mountain Sports shop in Aspen Highlands to purchase your shuttle ticket to Maroon Bells. (Please check this site for updates on reservations due to COVID-19)..

Unless you are a super-duper early bird, or an avid bike rider, taking a shuttle from Aspen Highlands is required in order to get to Maroon Bells.

Spend the day hiking around the park. Take amazing photos. Get caught in the rain. Marvel at the scenery. Catch one of the last shuttles out of the park back to the parking lot you left your car in.

Head to downtown Aspen to Aspen Brewing Company (if you are over 21) for a local craft beer or to CP Burger for ice cream and a round of mini golf.

Eat dinner at the campsite. Have another s’more because you hiked all day and deserve it. Try to stay up to stargaze again.

Day 3

Get up early, eat eggs and bacon for breakfast, pack your hiking bag again, pack up camp making sure to leave no trace, and head into downtown Aspen to take the gondola up to the top of the mountain.

You can purchase tickets at the ticket window which is before you walk up the two flights of stairs to the gondola. Don’t miss the sign otherwise you will be walking back down only to have to walk back up those stairs once your ticket is purchased.

Wait for a red gondola - you can connect your phone and play music on your ride up!

Follow the trails at the top of the gondola for a hike with stunning views. Grab a beer at Sundeck and enjoy the live music that is almost always there before taking the gondola back to the bottom - unless you are the more adventurous kind and hike to the bottom.

Check out the cute local shops and pick up a souvenir from your weekend get away.

Head back to your car and head home - it’s been a great outdoors weekend!

Additional Resources You Might Enjoy:

Day Trip Hiking Pack List

Hike Review: Maxwell Falls Trail, Conifer, CO

Disclaimer: this is an opinion about our personal experience of this hike. Others may have a different opinion, and that is perfectly acceptable. Everyone has a right to their own opinion.

We had high hopes for this hike - it is roughly a 30 minute drive from Denver, is a loop trail, and has a waterfall. We love loop trails and really loving having some features other than it being just a hike to be hiking. If it’s an out and back trail, we love if the hike ends at a lake, waterfall, river, etc. So this being a loop and having a waterfall? Sign us up!

Here’s what we think you need to know about this hike:

1. It is VERY crowded.

And we mean VERY. This hike had more people on it than we’ve ever seen on a hike. Ever. We started early, and it was already crowded with it being way more so when we were on the way out. If you want a hike that has a lot of people around, pick this. If you want a hike with very few people around, avoid this one.

2. It’s a bit of a bouldering scramble to get to the waterfall.

There is a sign that is posted that points you in the direction of the waterfall and it tells you to just follow the river up stream. What it doesn’t tell you is that you have to scramble down to scramble back up in order to get to a spot where you can see the falls.

3. Parking is free but spots in the lot are very limited.

The lot itself holds maybe 10 cars, if they all park so 10 can fit. Street parking is available but there are signs that designated no parking zones, so be careful when you street park. No one wants a towed car or a parking ticket!

4. There are three separate trails that all go to the same place.

Yes, you read that right. There are THREE trails once you get to the signs that are either for the loop, or Maxwell Falls. If you take the loop, you can pick from upper or lower. If you take Maxwell Falls, you will be running parallel and on the other side of the river than the waterfall. It does not matter which way you go. You can get to the waterfall with any of your choices.

All in, we give this hike a 3.5 out of 5. The sheer amount of people and the amount of dog poop along the trail knocked this one down for us. We are glad we did it - the hike is a great workout and the waterfall was a nice benefit, but we probably won’t be back to do this one again any time soon. Truly too many people for us.

Happy trails!

~ Liz

Additional Resources You Might Like:

Day Trip Hiking Pack List

Eagle’s View Trail, Conifer, CO