The GeoLifestyle team is so sad to see our longtime editor Sharon Lyon retire from writing to promote her third novel, but we are excited for what lies ahead! We’ve shifted to a model of submissions and rotating writers. If you’d like to submit content for consideration, please email editorial@aapg.org. First up among our rotating writers is Ali Sloan, founder and principal geoscientist at Four J Resources.
As we kick off the new year, many migrate to Colorado’s mountains to enjoy skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, and other winter activities. Since the snow levels in the Western United States have been off to a very slow start this season, we thought it would be fun to share some geologic differences between two hotspot resorts in the state. Even if you’re not skiing, there is so much to see and do, but for those who love a good route, let’s head down the geological black diamond! 🎿
J. Alexandra Sloan
Founder and Principal Geologist, Four J Resources
Steamboat Springs
Z Patrick/ Shutterstock.com
Roughly a three-hour drive from Denver, Steamboat Springs sits in Routt County within the Yampa River Valley. Known for its western mountain town feel, ski resorts, hot springs, trails, and river activities, this area has it all, with beautiful mountains on top of it.
Area geology: The greater Yampa River Valley area exhibits a diverse and complex range of exposures along the Park Range.
When driving to town along Route 40 from Denver, you will pass over the continental divide while going through Rabbit Ears Pass.
The Rabbit Ears are remnants of prior volcanism in the area.
The mountains surrounding the town were uplifted during the Laramide Orogeny.
Exposures of Precambrian basement, overlaid by Paleozoic and Mesozoic sedimentary units, can be seen across the valley and include shales, siltstone, and sandstones of the Chugwater, Chinle, and Morrison formations.
The Dakota Sandstone is prominent and overlaid with additional cretaceous shales and limestones of the Niobrara and Mancos. Quaternary age deposits blanket these older formations and were shaped by Pleistocene age glaciation, forming the U-shaped valleys seen today.
Structurally, fault zones cut through the area and create popular hot springs and geothermal areas of interest.
Go deeper: Read more about Steamboat Springs geology here and here.
Trip tips:
Be sure to take the Steamboat Gondola up to Thunderhead Lodge (don’t worry, you can ride it back down) and enjoy the vast views of the Yampa River Valley.
Watch the hot air balloons taking off in the early mornings just as the sun peeks over the mountains.
Hot springs: Relax in mountainside peace at either of these hot spring spots:
Strawberry Park Hot Springs: Note, this venue requires reservations and four-wheel drive to access it. It’s cash only upon arrival, so plan to stop at an ATM if needed.
Old Town Hot Springs: This is a family friendly recreation center and spa in the heart of downtown.
And speaking of downtown, I recommend you spend time wandering through this historic area. There is so much to offer! These are a few of my favorite spots to stop:
For dining:
Old Town Pub: Order the OTP Bowl after hitting the slopes, then stay for live music.
Laundry & Creekside Café: Make a reservation and enjoy breakfast or lunch here when the venue operates as Creekside Café. Brunch is my favorite! The same location becomes a restaurant called Laundry for dinner.
Salt & Lime: The name says it all: Try the margarita!
For Western wear (the area embraces a fashionable nod to country style!)
F.M. Light and Sons: Boots, jackets, Stetsons, Levis, Carhartt, and more here.
Steamboat Hatter: Each hat here is unique! Shop off the shelf or you can custom order a hat.
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Copper Mountain is on the west side of the Tenmile Range and sits within the Colorado Mineral Belt. Two major mineral districts are present in this area and include molybdenum and lead-zinc-silver carbonate replacement deposits. The Colorado Geological Survey has an excellent review and geologic map of the quadrangle (linked here).
Area geology:
Copper Mountain is also a part of the Rocky Mountain Region and shares the same orogenic processes of the Laramide and later-stage glaciation, but this area looks starkly different than the flat tops of the Yampa River Valley, exhibiting more stereotypical rugged alpine terrain.
Generally speaking, the Precambrian basement rocks of the middle Proterozoic were deposited and then later deformed and metamorphosed, forming ridges in the area that outcrop on the east and north sides of Copper Mountain.
The oldest rocks in the area are early Proterozoic metasedimentary and metavolcanic rocks. These were originally deposited around 1,800 Ma. Shortly thereafter (in geologic time), these rocks were intensely deformed and metamorphosed during a period of intense plutonism.
Sedimentary rocks including conglomerate, sandstone, limestone, shale, quartzite, and dolomites were deposited from Cambrian to Pennsylvanian-Permian time.
Following this deposition, there were two periods of Tertiary magmatism that created intrusions of sills and dikes and then more shallow stocks and plugs.
Trip tips:
The drive from Denver is about 90 minutes on a good day sans traffic, but this is rare. Plan to experience a slowdown along the I-70 corridor.
Where to stay: The area is home to its eponymous resort in Summit County.
Copper Mountain tends to get early snow for the ski season, but also has excellent hiking and biking trails. It is even home to summer camps that include skiing/boarding on real snow deep into summer!
Activities outside of skiing and mountain biking include:
Riding the Rocky Mountain Coaster: Purchase tickets at Guest Services and ride this thriller at the base of Copper Mountain in Center Village near American Flyer lift
Tubing down the hill in East Village (a great option for families/kids!)
Listening to live music at Jack’s Bar & Grill. Artists play during several afternoons throughout the week.
Perusing the stores around the Centre Village
Dining options:
Ten Mile Tavern: There are a lot of good pub food options here but try the ribs!
Sawmill Pizza & Taphouse: Go here for house made and hand-tossed pizza, pasta, and subs.
Eagle BBQ: Much like in Texas (though I won't claim it resembles that style at all), brisket is king here.
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