Steamboat Springs part 2

Steamboat Spring

Sulphur Spring

We spent another nice day hiking around Steamboat Springs doing the walking tour of the actual springs.  When I say hiking, I mean up and down streets and paths.  It was much more than I had anticipated, mostly because Doug was looking for the Sulphur Cave.  It is about 20 to 30 feet below ground and the most inactive of the springs.  You can't actually go down into it because you need oxygen masks now.  It once served as a vent for a massive spring.  But it was on the map and he was curious to find it.  Only we could never find the path that showed on the map and when we asked local hikers, they didn't know anything about it.  So it is one of the mysteries of Steamboat Springs known only to the visitor's board.

Sweetwater & Lake Spring

Terrace Spring

Steamboat Springs gets it's name from one of the springs.  In 1874, the Steamboat Spring "was a geyser expelling water in 'jets' reaching five to fourteen feet high.  The resonant chugging sound of the gushing reminded early trappers of a steamboat".  It ceased chugging in 1909 when blasting for railroad tracks damaged the spring.  Another one's natural flow was disrupted by the construction of Hwy 40 in the late 1970s.  The biggest spring feeds what is now a swimming, water sport complex that we didn't pay the price to get into.  It was the original bath springs of the Indians and has been built up since it was discovered by the white settlers. 

Part of our hike took us along the Yampa River, which the springs ultimately join with, either above or below ground.  Since it was a nice day, there were lots of people out, walking or bike riding.  They have a very nice bike/walking path set up along the river so it was really pleasant.  We also came across a man water boarding up the Yampa.  He was having some trouble and it was fun watching him.  Don't know if he does it competitively and was practicing or that's just the sport but he spent a lot of energy trying to go up some small rapids and against the river flow.

This is a nice area of the state and today is another sunny, warm day.  Nice conclusion to our trip.