Lifestyle

Published October 30, 2026 6:00am

Emerald Mountain, Steamboat Springs

Come winter in Steamboat Springs, the attention turns to Mount Werner, home to the ski resort . In the seasons in between, locals and visitors turn to the mountain on the other side of town: Emerald Mountain, home to 24 miles of trails for hiking, running and mountain biking.

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We were looking for an introduction to the mountain during a recent vacation. And we found that at the Blackmere Trailhead — the popular base of an old dirt road rising to Emerald Mountain’s old quarry.

It’s indeed a bustling launch point at the back of a neighborhood. Here we found everyone from dog walkers to long-distance types on foot and bike bound for connecting trails. Blackmere Trail serves as the trail system’s backbone. And it serves as a quick, scenic escape by itself, leading to a signature view.

It serves as a decent workout, too. The wide dirt path steadily ascends through meadows spotted by aspen and oak.…