Emerald Meadows Trail
Photo: Notchcode, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- 0.2 mi
- distance
- 31 ft
- climb
- 7,258 ft
- high point
- Hard
- difficulty
- May–Sep
- best months
Caution today
Weather is marginal · SNOTEL, OpenWeather · checked 2 h ago
Emerald Meadows Trail is a cross-country skiing route in Colorado, about 0.9 miles from Steamboat Springs. It is a short stretch, just over a fifth of a mile long, with a total elevation gain of 31 feet, so it is a low-rise outing rather than a climb. The trail starts at about 7,230 feet and reaches a high point of about 7,258 feet, with the steepest part at about 7,230 feet, where the grade reaches 7 percent. It is a hard route, which suggests it is better suited to experienced skiers. Winter is the natural season for cross-country skiing here. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Steamboat Springs show January highs around 29°F with lows near 5°F. By May, highs reach about 65°F. That station sits roughly 390 feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the route run a bit cooler. The trail links with other routes in the area. Emerald Meadows, a mountain biking spot, and the Lupine Trail are each about 0.1 miles away. For climbing, Butcher Knife is about 1.5 miles off, and Steamboat Springs KOA offers camping about 2.8 miles away.
Local outfitters
- Rancho Del Rio42 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · May–Sep
Best time to visit Emerald Meadows 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.
Jan
29° / 5°
14 wet
Feb
34° / 8°
13 wet
Mar
45° / 18°
11 wet
Apr
54° / 27°
12 wet
May
65° / 34°
12 wet
Jun
76° / 39°
9 wet
Jul
83° / 46°
9 wet
Aug
82° / 44°
11 wet
Sep
74° / 36°
10 wet
Oct
59° / 26°
9 wet
Nov
43° / 16°
11 wet
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
Photo: 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.
Photo: 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.
Photo: 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.
Photo: Notchcode, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Bluffs Loop Trail
Next door
0.79-mile loop with 275 ft gain in Colorado.
SEE
Howelson Hill Ski Area
Next door
Howelson Hill Ski Area in Colorado has 4 lifts and 14 runs with 1,069 ft vertical drop.
Photo: 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.
Photo: 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.
SKI
Emerald Meadows
Next door
0.16-mile out-and-back ski route in Colorado with 76 ft of elevation gain.
Photo: 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.
Also worth it near here
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
