Colorado · Cross-country skiing

Bluffs Loop Trail

Bluffs Loop TrailPhoto: Notchcode, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
0.8 mi
distance
126 ft
climb
6,952 ft
high point
Moderate
difficulty
May–Sep
best months

Bluffs Loop Trail is a 0.79-mile cross-country ski route on city land within the Emerald Mountain - Baxter area of Colorado, about 1.3 miles from the town of Steamboat Springs. The trail rises from 6,833 feet to 6,952 feet, a climb of about 126 feet over less than a mile, and the steepest stretch comes within the first 0.07 miles at about 10%. Winter is the natural season for this trail. Typical averages from the nearby Steamboat Springs weather station, which sits at nearly the same elevation, show January highs around 29°F and lows near 5°F, while June highs reach about 76°F and July highs about 83°F. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable times to visit. The Howelsen Meadows Trail and the Lupine mountain biking routes both lie about 0.2 miles away. Climbers can head to Butcher Knife, about 1.4 miles off, and Steamboat Springs KOA offers camping roughly 3.1 miles from the trail.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Bluffs Loop Trail

    Best months: May–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      29° / 5°

      14 wet

    2. Feb

      34° / 8°

      13 wet

    3. Mar

      45° / 18°

      11 wet

    4. Apr

      54° / 27°

      12 wet

    5. May

      65° / 34°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      76° / 39°

      9 wet

    7. Jul

      83° / 46°

      9 wet

    8. Aug

      82° / 44°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      74° / 36°

      10 wet

    10. Oct

      59° / 26°

      9 wet

    11. Nov

      43° / 16°

      11 wet

    12. Dec

      30° / 6°

      14 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Steamboat Springs, CO, 1.3 mi away at 6,866 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more snow worth the drive

Howelsen MeadowPhoto: Ranugad, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Howelsen Meadow

Next door

0.49-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 46 ft of elevation gain.

Steamboat Ski ResortPhoto: CarTick at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Steamboat Ski Resort

~7 min drive

Steamboat Ski Resort in Colorado has 20 lifts and 193 runs with 31 easy, 73 intermediate, 78 advanced, and 8 expert routes.

Emerald Meadows Trail;Lupine TrailPhoto: Notchcode, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Emerald Meadows Trail;Lupine Trail

Next door

0.13-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 73 ft of elevation gain.

SKI

Bottle Creek Ski Trails

~1h 24m drive

2.31-mile out-and-back ski trail in Wyoming with 498 ft elevation gain.

Lupine TrailPhoto: Notchcode, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Lupine Trail

Next door

Lupine Trail is a 0.17-mile route in Colorado with 33 feet of elevation gain.

SEE

Howelson Hill Ski Area

~1 min drive

Howelson Hill Ski Area in Colorado has 4 lifts and 14 runs with 1,069 ft vertical drop.

Emerald Meadows TrailPhoto: Notchcode, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Emerald Meadows Trail

Next door

0.21-mile route in Colorado with 45 ft of elevation gain.

Howelsen MeadowsPhoto: Notchcode, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Howelsen Meadows

Next door

Howelsen Meadows is a 0.28-mile trail in Colorado with 62 ft of elevation gain.

Blackmer DrivePhoto: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Blackmer Drive

Next door

Blackmer Drive is a 1.88-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 677 feet of elevation gain.

Onyx MinePhoto: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Onyx Mine

Next door

0.26-mile ski trail at Onyx Mine in Colorado with 54 ft of elevation gain.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors