Looking for a special tour catered to your interests? Have family or friends looking
for a fun outing? Or maybe a birthday party calling for something different? Private
tours allow you to plan your time with a Yampatika Naturalist. We can offer:
A guided hike in the Mt. Zirkel or Flattops Wilderness areas
A young naturalist program to stimulate kids' curiosity while giving parents some
time to explore on their own
A walk through the Old West to explore downtown Steamboat Springs' history and/or
Olympic Heritage
An invigorating snowshoe or cross country ski to discover the world of winter
A stroll along the Yampa River to seek out our area's birds.
Your own unique experience!
Our Naturalists are creative, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic. We will work with
you to plan a custom program that will suit your needs best.
Private program cost is generally $15 per person per hour with a minimum of four
people. Prices may vary depending on the length and type of program and the number
of participants. Email info@yampatika.org
or call 970-871-9151 for more details.
Conferences
Well organized, custom tours are a wonderful asset to conference participants. Through
these exclusive opportunities, they can get a taste of the area, its history, beautiful
surroundings and the community's character. Yampatika tours meet your needs. Our
local staff has all the connections to provide a truly unique Yampa Valley experience.
Email info@yampatika.org
or call 970-871-9151.
Weekly Programs and Nature Hikes
Summer 2010: (June 22 - September 4)
Steamboat and its surroundings are spectacular places to explore in summer! Our weekly hikes and programs offer topic-specific opportunities to learn about our region's natural history. Most programs are suitable for families. Please call us to find out about for age limits. Registration is required where noted.
How do I register?
Use our online form
Email us at info@yampatika.org
Call 970-871-9151
You will be contacted within two business days with your confirmation. If you receive no reply, please contact us to confirm we received your registration form. No registration is final until we receive payment. Please review Yampatika's cancellation policy before making a reservation.
The following weekly hikes are free, thanks to the generosity of the sponsors and partners. We hope you will thank them when you visit their businesses! Most hikes are moderate to moderately strenuous in difficulty. All occur at elevation. Please wear appropriate hiking shoes and bring a snack, water, and sunscreen. Weather can change dramatically and quickly in our region. Be prepared for heat or rain!
Yampatika is a "rain or shine" outfit. Programs will not be canceled due to weather. There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad gear!
Weekly Bird Walks
Days: Tuesdays, May 18 - June 29
Times: TBA 2-3 hours
Location: TBD (to find the best birds!) Call Yampatika for details and registration.
Cost: Free, (but we love donations!)
If you experience "birding frustration" (I can see them, but WHAT are they?), join local birding professionals to learn step by step how to look at and identify our feathered friends. These walks, geared toward beginning birders, are leisurely strolls along hard-surfaced trails where you will learn how to use binoculars and field guides, and apply birding ethics. Families are encouraged to join us. Group size is limited, so call today, 871-9151, to reserve your spot. Sponsored by the City of Steamboat Springs and John and Nancy Merrill. Offered in partnership with the Yampa Valley Birding Club.
Hike with a Naturalist on Mt. Werner
Days: Tuesdays, June 29th - August 3rd
Times: Call Yampatika for details 970-871-9151
Location: Steamboat Ski Area
Cost: FREE. A season pass or Gondola ticket is required
Learn about the flora and fauna of Mount Werner in summer. These intermediate to advanced hikes are co-led by a Steamboat Ski and Resort Corporation Ambassador and Yampatika Naturalist. Sponsored by Steamboat Ski and Resort Corporation.
Mineral Springs Walking Tour
Days: Wednesdays: June 23 - September 1
Times: 9:00am - 10:30am
Location: Meet at The Depot - 1001 13th Street
Cost: Free, (but we love donations!)
When the early settlers lost their livestock they would look around this mineral spring first because the animals LOVED the mineral-filled waters. Join our naturalist to learn how Steamboat Springs got its name. This is an easy walking tour. Receive $1.00 of your next visit to the Tread of Pioneers Museum after completing the tour. Sponsored by the City of Steamboat Springs and offered in partnership with the Tread of the Pioneers Museum.
Guided Tour of Yampatika's Environmental Learning Center at Legacy Ranch
Days: Wednesdays, June 23 - September 1
Times: 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Location: Yampatika's Environmental Learning Center
Cost: Free, (but we love donations!)
What was here before Yampatika's Environmental Learning Center occupied the Legacy Ranch? Learn about the Ranch buildings, their architecture and history and the stories they tell us. Sponsored by the State Historical Fund.
Watershed Walks with Yampatika
Days: Thursdays, June 24 - August 26
Times: 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Location: TBD - please call Yampatika at 970-871-9151 for details
Cost: Free, (but we love donations!)
Join a Yampatika Naturalist and local expert in a discussion of the Yampa River and its tributaries. Sponsored by the City of Steamboat Springs and Parks & Gardens.
Naturalist on duty at Fish Creek Falls
Days: Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays (June 24 - September 4)
Times: 10am - noon
Location: Meet at Fish Creek Falls upper parking lot kiosk
Cost: Free, (but we love donations!)
Only a few miles from town but tucked away in a spectacular canyon, Fish Creek Falls is a peaceful oasis and a popular place for both locals and tourists to get out into nature. Join a Yampatika Naturalist to learn about the area's flora, fauna, geology and history. In partnership with the U. S. Forest Service.
adult field schools
Aaahh, summertime in Northwest Colorado. Fields of colorful wildflowers, new places to explore, so many things to learn! Join our Yampatika leaders on our adult field schools for unique, fascinating, and educational experiences in our natural world. Registration is required. Payment is due to hold your spot.
You will be contacted within two business days with your confirmation. If you receive no reply, please contact us to confirm that we received your registration. No registration is final until we receive payment. Programs may be cancelled due to weather or low enrollment. Please review the Yampatika cancellation policy before registering.
Children below 12 are accepted in some programs but must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please call to verify age limits. Each program has specific equipment requirements, so call to get a list if one is not already noted in the program description.
International Migratory Bird Day
Date: Saturday, May 22
Time: 7am - 2pm
Location: Yampatika's Environmental Learning Center
Cost: FREE! (But we love donations!)
This festival is for the birds! And they want you to learn about how wonderful they are. Celebrate International Migratory Bird with Yampatika, The Nature Conservancy, Colorado Division of Wildlife, Bureau of Land Management, the Yampa Valley Birding Club, Tread of Pioneers Museum and the U.S. Forest Service. Activities for the whole family. No registration required. This event is free and open to the public.
There will be no on-site parking. Please park at Bald Eagle Lake.
Sponsored by Dax Maddox State Farm
Edibles Wildflower Hike
Date: Saturday May 29th
Time: 9am-12pm
Location: TBD (for optimal wildflowers!)
Cost: $40 members / $45 non-members
The snow has melted, there is actually color in the valley! Join local naturalist Karen Vail for a spring edibles walk. Spring provides many tasty native munchies and we will do a little backyard exploring, nibbling, and collecting. She will cover basic wildflower identification, basic uses, and collecting ethics. Wear good walking shoes; bring water, a snack, sunscreen and bag for collecting (if desired).
Urban Wildflower Hike
Date: Saturday, June 12th
Time: 9am - 12pm
Location: TBD (for optimal wildflowers!)
Cost: $40 members / $45 non-members
As the snow melts, join Karen Vail to explore the beauties in our own backyard, focusing on wildflowers in the urban area. This is a great opportunity for beginners to learn wildflower identification, and the more advanced to hone their skills. This is not a "hike" but more a "stroll" to really stop and look at the color beneath our feet. Wear good walking shoes; bring water, a snack, and sunscreen.
Wild Horses of the Sandwash Basin
Date: Saturday June 19th
Time: All day
Location: Meet at the Forest Service building - 925 Weiss Dr.
Cost: $100 - Includes lunch and transportation
Seeing wild horses in their natural habitat is something that you are not likely to forget. Bring your camera and binoculars! In Partnership with the Colorado Environmental Coalition, The Wilderness Society, Humble Ranch, and the Bureau of Land Management.
Summer Solstice Event
Date: Sunday, June 20 - Monday, June 21
Time: TBD
Location: Canyon Pintado near Rangely
Cost: $125 - Includes transportation, breakfast and lunch on Monday. Lodging not included.
Wake to see the summer solstice as it is highlighted by the shadow of the rising sun across thousand year old Native American pictoglyphs. Visit a site from which Native American tribes tracked the passage of the sun and moon to be sure and plant their crops at the most suitable time. In partnership with the Bureau of Land Management, the Colorado Environmental Coalition and The Wilderness Society.
Mad Creek Hike
Date: Friday June 25
Time: 9am to 1pm
Location: Meet at the Mad Creek Trailhead
Cost: $40 members / $45 non-members
Yes, it really was named Mad Creek after a rider on horseback tried to cross during spring runoff and was swept away; he survived, his horse was not so lucky. The history of the Mad Creek area is fascinating, and many relicts are still found in the area. The Mad Creek barn has been beautifully restored, and your guide, Karen Vail, provides photos and diary accounts to bring the area alive. This is a 5 mile round-trip hike with some elevation gain, and a rocky trail in places. Wear good hiking shoes, bring water, lunch and snack, sunscreen and brimmed hat (this trail can be hot!). In partnership with the U.S. Forest Service.
Wildflower Hike
Date: Saturday, June 26th
Time: TBD
Location: TBD (to find optimal wildflowers!)
Cost: TBD
Surprise, surprise, only Mother Nature knows where we will go today……
Balloons and Breakfast
Date: Saturday, July 10th and Sunday, July 11th
Time: 7am arrival, breakfast served at 8am
Location: Yampatika's Environmental Learning Center
Cost: $50 per person ($40 for bikers and walkers)
Join Yampatika for a gourmet catered breakfast and watch the balloons take off. This is a great way to get a parking space near the festival, eat well, and support Yampatika. Sponsored by Lindarose and Richard Berkley.
4 day Flat Tops Llama Trek
Date: Monday, August 16th – Thursday, August 19th
Time: TBD
Location: Flat Tops Wilderness
Cost: $880 per person, includes all meals
"Llamas! Photography! Flat Tops! Learn photography and explore the spectacular Flat Tops Wilderness of northwest Colorado this summer.
Yampatika is teaming up with renown Steamboat nature photographer Ken Lee to offer a truly unique 4 day/3night wilderness educational experience. Our days will be filled with pristine scenery and intensive nature/travel photography education. The best part is that our trusty companions, the llamas, do all of the 'grunt' work by carrying our gear and food all while leaving a minimal footprint on the environment. Photography technique and equipment will be discussed in detail but Ken's main emphasis will be on understanding and developing "The Art of Seeing" as the primary path to improving your photography.
Our guide for this amazing adventure is Karen Vail, naturalist , Steamboat native and veteran of many wilderness llama treks. No photography or backpacking experience is necessary but overall good physical conditioning and an adventurous attitude are required. In addition to clothing and personal items, you will need your own camping gear (tent, sleeping bag/pad,etc). A detailed list of required/recommended items will be provided. Aug 16 - 19. Cost $880 per person, includes all meals." For more information, please contact Yampatika (970-871-9151, www.yampatika.org) or Ken Lee (970-870-8887, www.kenleephoto.com)
Mountain Wildflower Hike #1
Date: Saturday, July 17th
Time: 8am - 4pm
Location: TBD (for optimal wildflowers!)
Cost: $55 members / $60 non-members
Escape the heat of the valley to see wildflowers of the high country. This will be a moderate to strenuous hike at altitude.
Mountain Wildflower Hike #2
Date: Saturday, July 31st
Time: 8am - 4pm
Location: TBD (for optimal wildflowers!)
Cost: $55 members / $60 non-members
Escape the heat of the valley to see wildflowers of the high country. This will be a moderate to strenuous hike at altitude.
Wild Mushroom Foray
Date: Saturday in August TBD
Time: 8am to 3pm
Location: Meet at the U.S. Forest Service building - 925 Weiss Drive
Cost: $45 members / $50 non-members
There is a fungus among us! And Bill Emerson, our local mushrooming expert, will help you understand all about the fungi beneath our feet. Bill will begin the day with identification tricks and other mushroom tidbits, and then the day will be spent identifying and collecting. You will have a tasty treat at the end of class cooking up what has been collected. Wear good walking shoes; bring water, lunch and snack, rain gear and a collection basket. Sponsored by Kahn Steel and Civil Design Consultants.
Windy Ridge Archaeology Hike with Yampatika and Tread of Pioneers Museum
Date: Friday, August 6th
Time: 8am to 2:30pm
Location: Meet at the U.S. Forest Service building - 925 Weiss Drive
Cost: $25
High on an isolated ridge on Rabbit Ears Pass is a piece of history dating back at least 8,000 years. The Windy Ridge Quarry was mined for the high quality quartzite by many tribes over thousands of years. This is a 5 mile round-trip hike, moderately strenuous. Wear good hiking shoes; bring water, lunch and snack, rain gear and sunscreen. Group size limited to 12 people. In partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the Tread of Pioneers Museum.
Perseid Meteor Shower Viewing
Date: Thursday, August 12th
Time: 10pm - ?
Location: Dumont Lake Picnic Site
Cost: $45 members / $50 non-members
It's a breathtaking sight as the meteors start streaming across the sky, almost one per minute. The Yampa Valley Astronomy Club will have an expert on hand to discuss the meteor showers, point out constellations and galaxies (yes, many galaxies!), and answer your questions. Meet at the Dumont Lake Picnic Site on Rabbit Ears Pass around 10:00pm. Carpooling is encouraged. The moon will set around midnight and the best viewing is after that. To be the most comfortable, bring a lounge chair or blanket to lie on, wear warm clothes and bring a sleeping bag or blankets. Bring binoculars if you have them. In partnership with the Yampa Valley Astronomy Club and the U.S. Forest Service.
Get to Know the Seedhouse Guard Station
Date: Saturday, August 7th
Time: All Day
Location: Meet at the U.S. Forest Service building - 925 Weiss Drive
Cost: $55 members / $60 non-members
The Seedhouse Guard Station originally collected seeds to rejuvenate our forests in 1910. Learn how it functioned and hike in the area. In partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and sponsored by Backdoor Sports.
Fall Foliage and Edibles Hike
Date: Saturday, September 18th
Time: 9am - noon
Location: TBD (To find optimal colors!)
Cost: $40 members / $45 non-members
Colorado fall colors are legendary. A hike through golden aspen is the highlight for this tour, but there are some tasty fall edibles we can sample along the way. The site will be determined as we get closer to the date so we can get the most beautiful viewing.
Get to Know the Pyramid Guard Station
Date: Saturday, September 25th
Time: All Day
Location: Meet at the U.S. Forest Service building - 925 Weiss Drive
Cost: $55 members / $60 non-members
Learn the history of this Guard Station near the Flat Tops
Wilderness and visit the town site of Pyramid. In partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and sponsored by Capital Funding Advisors.
We will contact you within two business days to confirm your participation. If you
do not hear from us, please contact us to make sure we have received your registration
request.
International Migratory Bird Day
Edibles Wildflower Hike
Urban Wildflower Hike
Wild Horses of the Sandwash Basin
Summer Solstice Event
Mad Creek Hike
Wildflower Hike
4 day Flat Tops Llama Trek
Mountain Wildflower Hike #1
Mountain Wildflower Hike #2
Wild Mushroom Foray
Get to Know the Seedhouse Guard Station
Fall Foliage and Edibles Hike
Get to Know the Pyramid Guard Station