Join Up The Creek for our annual long weekend getaway to Steamboat Springs over the “Balloon Festival” weekend! Lots to do in Steamboat! One of the nicest vacation towns in Colorado!
We are staying at the Rabbit Ears Motel, easy walking distance to downtown Steamboat, across the street from the in town hot springs, right beside the Yampa river and free town bus stop. Standard rooms have 2 queen size beds each, microwave and refrigerator in each room. A continental breakfast is included each morning.
Included in the trip price is the Friday night “Hawaiian Aloha welcome party”! This will be in the Motel’s “party room” and includes Hawaiian Mai Tai, welcome Lei, pineapple, beer, wine, salad, pizza, desert. Welcome party goes from 5 pm to 10 pm. Make sure to bring your best Hawaiian shirt or outfit!
Optional Activities planned
Balloon Fest viewing & activties
3 Organized hikes
Tubing the Yampa
In town bike riding
Golf at the Haymaker golf course
Strawberry Park Hot Springs
Art In The Park Event
Organized dinners for Sat & Sun
Trip itinerary
Friday July 9th, 2021 4:00 pm motel check in. 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm Welcome Aloha Hawaiian Luau pizza party! In the party room above the motel lobby. Includes pizza, salad, beer, wine, Mi Tais. Wear you best Hawaiian attire!
Saturday July 10th, Continental breakfast in the motel lobby each morning.
Balloon Festival Launch at 6:00 am Saturday and Sunday morning. View the spectacular launching of multiple hot air balloons as they take off and proceed down the valley.
HOT AIR BALLOON LAUNCHES, JULY 10 AND 11
Saturday & Sunday mornings – 6:30 a.m. — 9:30 a.m.
The Yampa Valley will be dotted with color as more than two dozen balloons take to the sky Saturday and Sunday mornings launch from Bald Eagle Lake.
Because Bald Eagle Lake has no public parking, access to the launch site will be restricted to ticketed shuttle-bus riders. Attendees can park at the Meadows Parking Lot beginning at 5:30 a.m. each morning, then take shuttles to the launch site to see the balloons launch, grab breakfast and shop from local vendors.
Shuttle tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children 11-17 and free for children 10 and under. This shuttle fee covers the transportation and parking fees associated with this annual event. All public parking for the event is at the Meadows Parking Lot at Pine Grove Road and Bangtail Way; only ticketed shuttle riders will be allowed access to the launch site at Bald Eagle Lake.
Purchase your ticket to ride the shuttle busses to the launch site to enjoy all the splendor. No parking at the launch site. The ticket fee covers transportation and parking fees associated with the event. Go to www.hotairballoonrodeo.com, click on buy your ticket.
The website says that you will need to wear a mask to ride the shuttle bus and view the balloon liftoff.
8:30 am, meet at the hotel lobby to car pool over to Rabbit Ears pass to hike up to rabbit ears rock formation. Bring water, sunscreen, lunch. Will be gone about 4 hours.
5:00 pm pot luck dinner in the hotel party room. Bring a dish to share and byob. Will have music, dancing, party will go until 10:00 pm.
OR
6:00 pm BBQ dinner at Rodeo Grounds, Rodeo performance starts at 7:30 pm. Jay Buerger will be leading a group to the rodeo grounds. You can buy the BBQ dinner when you get there, Rodeo tickets are $20 or $25 and need to be purchased on line in advance at www.SteamboatProRodeo.com. Meet at the party room a few minutes before 6:00 pm and the rodeo group can walk over to the rodeo grounds. It’s just a few blocks away.
7:00 pm Balloon Glow on Saturday evening. Watch the balloons fire up in Steamboat.
Sunday July 11
8:45 am meet at the hotel lobby to car pool over to ski Haus 1457 Pine Grove rd. It’s about a mile away so if you bring your bike just ride over. Some people will need to rent a bike. In town bike ride on the bike path that runs thru Steamboat parallel to the Yampa River. This is about a 2 hour easy ride on a cement path. Will start at a bike rental shop so those that don’t have bikes can rent one. Around $30.00 for a bike and helmet.
Or Golf at Haymaker Golf Course. Tee times 9:10 and 9:20 am, see Kathy Heese for details, can take 2 more people.
11:30 am Lunch at O’Neil’s Tavern 41-8th st. By the Yampa River. Great Bloody Mary’s!
1:30 pm Tubing the Yampa! Will start at an outfitter 841 Yampa st, that will provide a rafting tube, life jacket, and bus ride back to the starting point for $20. Takes about 1.5 hours to float down the Yampa river. Nice ride with a few minor rapids. Unfortunately looks like tubing may be closed due to low water, will see when we get to Steamboat.
5:00 pm Dinner at the Ore House, Pine Grove. Great steak and seafood restaurant. Please go to www.UpTheCreek.Org to rsvp. Click on the event calendar, go to July 11, click on “Dinner in Steamboat Ore House”, Register. Everyone orders off the menu, separate checks.
Strawberry Park Hot Springs, reservations for the weekend we are there are showing sold out but we can go to the in town hot springs across the street from the motel. Discount tickets available at the motel front desk.
All weekend, Art in The Park! Over 150 vendors will be offering all sorts of unique art pieces! Browse or buy!
Monday July 12, check out time 10 am.
9:30 am meet at the lobby to car pool over to Fish Creek Falls for a hike. The trailhead is in a state park so it’s $5.00 per car to enter.
TRIP PRICING
Dues-Paying UTC Members
Sign up now open:
2 NIGHTS / 3 DAYS
Double Occupancy - Dues-Paying UTC Members $275
Single Occupancy - Dues-Paying UTC Members $535
If you want single occupancy, sign up for two spots ($275 each) and we will credit you back $15.
3 NIGHTS / 4 DAYS
Double Occupancy - Dues-Paying UTC Members $375
Single Occupancy - Dues-Paying UTC Members $735
If you want single occupancy, sign up for two spots ($375 each) and we will credit you back $15.
Non-Member, Guests & Meetup Members
Sign up is open:
2 NIGHTS / 3 DAYS
Double Occupancy $325
Single Occupancy $635
If you want single occupancy, sign up for two spots ($325 each) and we will credit you $15.
3 NIGHTS / 4 DAYS
Double Occupancy $425
Single Occupancy $835
If you want single occupancy, sign up for two spots ($425each) and we will credit you $15.
Not a member? Join Now
Please review our Cancellation Policy and Terms of Participation: Cancellation / Terms of Participation
If you’re Driving to Steamboat:
Take I-70 West, at the Dillon/Silverthorne Exit #205, proceed North on the CO-9 for approx 38 miles. At Kremmling turn left on to US Hwy 40 West and continue for approx 50 miles over Rabbit Ears Pass.
Or, If I-70 is a mess take I-70 to Hwy 40 Exit 232 over Berthoud Pass thru Winter Park, to Steamboat.