Sept 4 - 6, 2026 | Steamboat Springs, Colorado
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A Celebration of the Continental Divide Trail
Every September, two migrations pass through the Yampa Valley at once. Sandhill cranes gather in the fields around Steamboat Springs before heading south, and the hiker bubble works its way up Colorado on the Continental Divide Trail. Trail Fest happens right where those two paths cross. For three days we join the Yampa Valley Crane Festival, the U.S. Forest Service, and a long list of local partners to celebrate the CDT in a Gateway Community that has been welcoming hikers off the Divide for decades and knows exactly how to feed them.
Build the weekend you want. Spend Saturday morning clearing corridor at the Three Island Trailhead alongside the crews who care for this stretch of trail, then celebrate with us that evening at Storm Peak Brewing. Run the 5K or 10K at 10,000 Feet along the Divide on Sunday, wander the Expo at Howelsen Hill in the afternoon, and close the night out with Anders Osborne at the last free concert of Steamboat’s summer. Nearly everything is free, all of it is family friendly, and none of it asks you to have hiked a single mile of the CDT. Come see what this trail means to the people who live alongside it, and bring someone who has never heard of it.
Trail Fest Sponsors
CDTC TrailFest was funded in part by a Yampa Valley Community Foundation 2025 Community Grant Fund. Thank you to all our event sponsors.
Full Trail Fest Schedule
Click any event in the schedule below to view additional details and links to RSVP or register.
Thursday Sept 3 - Sunday Sept 6, 2026 | 15th Annual Yampa Valley Crane Festival
Trail Fest runs alongside the Yampa Valley Crane Festival, hosted by our friends at Colorado Cranes, with four days of guided crane viewings, bird walks, expert speakers, live raptors, films, and family activities across Steamboat Springs, Hayden, and Craig. Most sessions are free, and many fill up fast.
Registration is open now. Browse the full schedule and reserve your spot at coloradocranes.org/festival.
Friday Sept 4, 2026 | Crane Festival Programming in Steamboat Springs
Kick off the weekend with three Crane Festival sessions in town:
- 1 – 2:15 PM MT: “Indigenous Peoples of the American Southwest and Their Relationships with Sandhill Cranes,” Library Hall at Bud Werner Memorial Library
- 4 – 6 PM MT: Crane Festival Happy Hour at The Press, 1009 Lincoln Ave.
- 6:15 – 7:30 PM MT: Film screening, “A Young Crane’s Long Journey,” Library Hall at Bud Werner Memorial Library
These are Crane Festival events. Check availability and register at coloradocranes.org/festival.
Saturday Sept 5, 2026 | 8:30 - 10:30 AM MT | Fish Creek Falls Guided Bird Walk
A guided morning walk at Fish Creek Falls with Crane Festival naturalists. Bring binoculars if you have them, sturdy shoes, and a layer for the morning chill.
This walk is currently full, but the waitlist is open at coloradocranes.org/festival. Heads up that it overlaps with our community stewardship event, so you will need to pick one.
Saturday Sept 5, 2026 | 6 - 8 PM MT | Trail Fest Kickoff Party
Celebrate with us at Storm Peak Brewing for films, speakers, specialty beers, and CDT giveaways. Whether you have thru-hiked the CDT three times or just heard of it this week, you belong here. All ages welcome.
Free to attend. RSVP so we know you are coming.
Sunday Sept 6, 2026 | 10 AM MT | 10K at 10,000 Feet Race
A family-friendly race along the CDT starting at the Monument parking lot at the summit of the old Rabbit Ears Pass road. The 10K (6.8 miles) starts at 10 AM and the 5K (3.4 miles) starts at 10:05 AM. We are running a CDTC shuttle to the start, so you do not have to sort out the drive yourself.
Advance registration is required and this one has a fee: $45 for the 10K and $30 for the 5K, with discounted rates for ages 17 and under. Race-day registration closes at 9:45 AM and is subject to permit limits, so register early at runningseries.com.
Sunday Sept 6, 2026 | 1 - 4 PM MT | Trail Fest Expo at Howelsen Hill
The heart of the weekend. Meet the local organizations caring for public lands in the Yampa Valley, talk gear with Big Agnes, Osprey, Mountainsmith, Eagle Creek, and Katabatic Gear, and get your worn-out gear patched up at our gear repair station. Grab a Backpacker Bundle from the Steamboat Springs Chamber, eat from the food trucks, and stick around for door prizes.
Free and open to everyone. RSVP for the Expo.
Sunday Sept 6, 2026 | 6 - 9 PM MT | Free Concert Series with Anders Osborne
Close out the weekend, and Steamboat’s summer concert season, at the base of Howelsen Hill with Anders Osborne. Food trucks and drinks on site. The Expo wraps right before the music starts, so you can walk straight from one to the other.
Free, no ticket needed. Details at keepinitfree.com.
Plan Your Weekend: Lodging, Parking, and Getting Around
Steamboat Springs is a proud CDT Gateway Community, and the whole weekend is walkable or a short bus ride from downtown.
- Lodging: SpringHill Suites is offering a discounted rate for Trail Fest attendees.
- Parking and transit: Free parking and free bus service serve the downtown venues, including Howelsen Hill.
- Getting to the race: We are providing a CDTC shuttle to the Rabbit Ears start on Sunday morning between 10-11 AM.
- What to bring: Early September at elevation swings from frosty mornings to warm afternoons. Layers, sun protection, and more water than you think you need.
Learn more about Steamboat Springs and the other towns along the trail on our Gateway Communities page.
Vendor + Sponsor Information
Join us at Trail Fest as a vendor to reach thousands of CDT enthusiasts throughout the event. Learn more or sign up below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Where can I stay in town?
A: While Labor Day is a busy time in Steamboat Springs and local ordinances prohibit camping in city parks/open spaces, there are a couple options:
- Spring Hill suites is offering a discount for TrailFest attendees at their locations.
- Rabbit Ears Motel usually has the cheapest rates directly through their website. Other places to check out would be the Western Lodge, Nordic Lodge, Gravity Haus, and the Sheridan.
- Don’t forget about the KOA campground near downtown as well!
Q: How do I get to/from Steamboat Springs from the CDT?
A: There are several options available during the weekend:
- On Saturday, CDTC volunteers will be doing trail work along the Three Island Lake connector trail. If hikers are in the Seedhouse area around 1pm, there will be a volunteer shuttle back to town.
- CDTC will be running a volunteer shuttle Sunday morning between 10-11am from Rabbit Ears Pass Trailhead after the start of the race. We will drop people off downtown near the Rabbit Ears Lodge and Howelson Hill for the TrailFest Expo.
- While most people come to Steamboat from Highway 40 near Rabbit Ears, Buffalo Pass and the Seedhouse campground area are other great ways to get a ride into town.
- Reach out to [email protected] for help with coordinating rides.
Q: How do I get around town to everything going on that weekend?
A: Steamboat Springs offers a free bus service all over town, from the resort, up to north side of town near Storm Peak Brewing. For more info about the town, visit CDTC’s website here or the Chamber of Commerce page.
Q: Who can I contact with additional questions?
A: Reach out to our Colorado State Regional Representative, Jordan Miller by emailing [email protected].