Steamboat Lake, Hahns Peak and the Sleeping Giant

One of the places we like to visit when we drive to Steamboat Springs is Steamboat Lake Park. The 2,820-acre (1,140 ha) park, established west of Hahns Peak in 1967, includes a 1,101 acres (446 ha) reservoir.  Park facilities include a visitor center, marina, boat ramps, campsites, cabins, picnic sites, and 5.5 miles (8.9 km) of hiking trails.

The reflections of the autumn trees in the water were beautiful!

Imposing Hahn's Peak is located east of the lake.  The peak has an elevation of 10,774 feet (3,284 m)/
Hahns Peak was named after Joseph Hahn, a gold miner who, with companions William Doyle and George Wray came to the area in the 1860s. Once a thriving gold mining camp, the town of Hahns Peak is the oldest permanent settlement in northwest Colorado’s Routt County and served as the county seat from 1877 to 1912.

Please click on the photo to enlarge it to read.

This placard tells how this area was a favorite hunting ground for the Native American Utes. They were nomadic hunters and found the valleys here full of elk, deer, bison, and beaver.  Sadly, most of the Utes were moved to a reservation in southwestern Colorado and Utah after the Meeker Massacre that took place in 1879.  I'll show you more about that in my next post.

Even though we made our visit to this part of Colorado about a week after peak autumn color, in early October, there was still much to be seen and enjoyed.

There are quite a few old and abandoned structures in the area that are interesting to photograph.

It takes a bit of imagination but do you see the Steamboat Springs "Sleeping Giant"? It's also known as Elk Mountain.

According to Steamboat Magazine: 

"As the legend goes, a long, long time ago, a gentle giant protected the Yampa Valley. He was to live forever, as long as he never harmed another living thing. One day, an evil ogre attacked the people of the valley. To protect them, the giant lured the ogre to Steamboat Lake, and tricked him into falling into the quicksand. The valley’s inhabitants were saved, but the giant had broken his one rule by killing the ogre, and the punishment was eternal sleep. When he was laid to rest, everyone came to pay their respects and surrounded the giant’s resting spot with rattlesnakes to keep him from being disturbed. Still today, these snakes protect the giant’s slumber. Some say this giant created the 'Yampa Valley Curse,' which draws people to return to the valley."

I'd say the Sleeping Giant has certainly worked his magic on us and has lured us back to Steamboat Springs many times! 

Stay happy, safe, and healthy!

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