Summit County

Summit County encompasses 391,680 acres of North America’s Rocky Mountains. About 77% of this gorgeous land is publicly owned.

The Blue River cuts through the heart of Summit County feeding the nearly 3,000 acre Lake Dillon. Further north, the Blue feeds boating enthusiast’s prized, Green Mountain Reservoir.

Summit County is bordered to the east by the Continental Divide, to the west by the Gore and Ten Mile Ranges, to the south by historic Boreas and Hoosier Passes, and to the north by the high mountain deserts of Grand County.

Grays Peak is the counties highest point at an astonishing 14,270 feet, while Green Mountain Reservoir is Summit's lowest elevation at 7,750 feet.

Summit County was originally occupied by the nomadic Ute Tribe, which thrived on once plentiful bison. In 1859 the first significant surge of miners came over the divide in search of riches in gold, silver, and other precious metals.

Mining camps and towns sprang up quickly. Frisco and Breckenridge were incorporated in 1880, and Dillon in 1883. Historic homes, buildings, and mining remnants still stand throughout the county.

Today’s Summit County boasts four world-class ski resorts including Breckenridge, Arapahoe Basin, Keystone, and Copper Mountain. It hosts five acclaimed golf courses. The course at Breckenridge is the only Jack Nicklaus designed course open to the public in the country. There are also three Nordic centers, gold metal fishing waters, bountiful hiking, camping, horseback riding, boating, biking, and hunting.

If you own a Summit County rental property or a second home that you want to yourself and need the highest tier of customer service offered in property management or if you are looking for the ultimate Rocky Mountain experience count on Summit County's Apex!

Steamboat Springs lies in the Upper Yampa River Valley.  Originally, the Yampa River Valley was home to the nomadic Ute Indian Tribe, who thrived upon the valleys rich hunting and fishing.  Steamboat Springs is believed to have been named by a group of fur trappers who heard a “chug chug” sound coming from one of the hot springs along the shores of the Yampa, and thought they where hearing the sound of a Steamboat. 

Steamboat was and is a working ranching community.  Cattle and sheep ranching along with hay farming are still a large part of the community and its economy, as is coal mining.  Lincoln Ave (Steamboat’s Main Street) was made wider than usual so ranchers could drive cattle down it.  This tradition is still honored during the annual Fourth of July parade.

In 1913, Norwegian ski jumper Carl Howelsen arrived in Steamboat and founded Howelsen Hill the oldest continuously running ski area in the USA.  In the same year he founded the annual Winter Carnival which to this day is one of Steamboats most celebrated days of the year.  In 1963, Steamboat Ski Resort was opened.  Then known as Storm Mountain it was changed to Mt. Werner in 1964 following the tragic death of local Olympian Bud Werner in an avalanche.  Over its history, Steamboat has produced over fifty Olympic athletes.

Steamboat receives an average snowfall of 350 inches, and Steamboat Ski Area has nearly 3,000 acres of skiable terrain to enjoy its famous “champagne powder”.  The tree skiing and this light fluffy snow have placed Steamboat on the map as one of the most desirable ski destinations in the world.        

Skiing is not all that Steamboat has to offer.  Other winter activities abound such as nordic skiing, snowmobiling, dog sledding, and snow shoeing.  The bottom released waters of Stagecoach and Catamount Lake create perfect trout habitat for world class fishing year round. 

A classic local saying is “I moved here for the winter and stayed for the summers!” Steamboat’s abundant annual snowfall feeds the lush valley and its streams and lakes.  Whether hiking or biking the trails, fishing the famous waters, rafting, kayaking, or tubing the Yampa River, boating on one of the local reservoirs, horseback riding, going for a hot air balloon ride, attending the rodeo, or soaking in one of the areas many hot springs Steamboat is sure to make you fall in love with summer in the Yampa Valley. 

Not to be passed over, autumn in Steamboat is arguably the most beautiful season of the year.  The changing colors of the scrub oak and aspen bring “leaf peepers” from all over the country.  The trophy elk and deer of the Yampa Valley also attract hunters from around the world for the fall hunting season.