Yampa River Botanic Park

The Park sits at an altitude of 6,880 ft in a cool valley at the foot of Mt Werner, the Steamboat Ski Mountain. In winter, cold air flows down the mountains into the Valley so that temperatures can reach as low as minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit (and Celsius). The Park gets an average of only 60 days a year without a killing frost. These low temperatures, together with very dry summers and high levels of ultra-violet make this a challenging climate in which to grow plants. Native species, plants from similar climates in other parts of the World, and cultivars of lower-altitude plants thrive. The gardens contain mostly perennials.
The Yampa River Botanic Park is managed by a volunteer association. The 6 acre park sits on land donated to the City of Steamboat Springs.
The Park is free and open to the public from dawn to dusk, May 1 through October 31. Most plants in the Park are labeled with common and scientific names and show which plants are native only to Northwest Colorado (endemic). Since 1999 the Park hosts "Music on the Green", free lunchtime classical and contemporary music concerts. yampariverbotanicpark.org