Musical Scavenger Hunts

Walking adventures for all ages in downtown Steamboat Springs

Take friends or family of all ages on one of three musical scavenger hunts through downtown Steamboat Springs: each walking adventure features fun trivia challenges highlighting many special places you’ll find only in our unique town. Play at your own pace, learning local intel on several historic spots. Once you hit each spot, answer the trivia questions and listen to the locale-inspired music before moving on. Stop for snacks, beverages, and restroom breaks as you make your way through downtown.

FREE! Play anytime. Just bring a smartphone with cellular data enabled.

Choose your course:

Scavenger Hunt

FAMILY HUNT

Start Little Toots Park

  • Distance: ~2 miles
  • Time: 1.5-3 hours
  • Ages: all

Details: Connect music with the places we love in downtown Steamboat Springs.

Park for free in either library parking lot off of 13th Street (no limitation) or in a three-hour spot on Yampa Street during play.

Safety: The musical scavenger hunts takes place on the Yampa River Core Trail, the Howelsen Hill complex, and downtown Steamboat sidewalks. Please use crosswalks, follow traffic signals, take care around traffic, and always stay aware of your surroundings. The Core Trail is used by many pedestrians, cyclists, and skaters: stay on the correct side and watch for others. Adult supervision required.

YOUTH HUNT #1:

Start Howelsen Hill

Howelsen Hill

  • Distance: ~0.6 miles
  • Time: 30-60 minutes
  • Ages: 2-6 + parents, camp counselors, or early childhood center staff

Details: Take your tiny tykes on a musical journey to explore around the Howelsen Hill ski jump complex run by the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. On your musical tour, you will connect award-winning children’s musicians with the heritage and special places in our town.

Park for free during play (up to eight hours) in the Howelsen Hill Ski Area parking lot.

Safety: The hunt takes place on sidewalks and walking through the Howelsen Hill parking lot. Adult supervision required.

YOUTH HUNT #2:

Start Bud Werner Library

  • Distance: ~0.6 miles
  • Time: 30-60 minutes
  • Ages: 2-6 + parents, camp counselors, or early childhood center staff

Details: Take your tiny tykes on a musical journey around the Bud Werner Memorial Library in downtown Steamboat Springs! On your musical tour, you will connect award-winning children’s musicians with the heritage and special places in our town.

Park for free during play in either library parking lot off of 13th Street (no limitation) or in a three-hour spot on Yampa Street.

Safety: The hunt could include two street crossings on 13th Street; however, it is possible to avoid both street crossings by parking in the overflow library lot (across 13th from the library building) and walking on the Yampa River Core Trail. The hunt takes place on sidewalks and the multi-use Core Trail. Adult supervision required.

Disclaimer: Each activity is intended for families, summer camps, early childhood centers, or other adult-supervised groups. Strings does not condone children playing any of these musical scavenger hunts without proper adult supervision.

Tips:

  • We do not recommend using a bicycle: walking will allow you to keep an eye on the app’s compass directions.
  • Time required for each hunt varies depending upon your group’s speed and interest in the musical and heritage trivia questions.
  • Install the app onto your smartphone (step #1 below) before you start — while connected to WiFi/

To play: (click green text below to link to more details)

1. Install the free Locandy app onto your smartphone from your phone’s app store. Find Locandy on: Google Play | Apple’s App Store (Must access these links from your phone.)

2. Do a “Text-search” for “Strings” and select the course you would like:
• FAMILY HUNT (start Little Toots) = Strings Music Festival Walking Scavenger Hunt
• YOUTH #1 (start Howelsen Hill) = Strings Music Festival Youth Scavenger Hunt #1
• YOUTH #2 (start Library) = Strings Music Festival Youth Scavenger Hunt #2
When prompted, download and install the hunt.

3. Make sure you enable cellular data for the Locandy app. The activity requires a very small amount of data but please note your service provider may charge fees for use.

4. Head to your hunt’s start location and begin!

Special Thanks to these Community Partners who make Steamboat Springs and Routt County such a wonderful place to live and visit.

  • Bud Werner Memorial Library
  • City of Steamboat Springs
  • Historic Routt County
  • Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts School and Camp
  • Routt County
  • Routt County Search and Rescue
  • Steamboat Art Museum
  • Steamboat Creates
  • Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club
  • Steamboat Art Museum

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will the scavenger hunt take?
Time required for each hunt varies depending upon your group’s speed and interest in the musical and heritage trivia questions. We provide a range of times to cover most groups.

What ages can take part?
The youth hunts are specially made for children aged two to six with adult supervision. The family hunt has appeals for all ages. All hunts require adult supervision.

Is this activity accessible for people with disabilities? May we use strollers?
Yes, the Core Trail and sidewalks are ADA accessible and strollers are common.

Do I have to pay for the app?
No, Locandy is a free app that you can download from the app store on your phone.

How do I find the scavenger hunt on Locandy?
Within the Locandy app, do a “Text-search” for Strings. Select your course from the results.

What setting should my phone be on?
Make sure that your phone allows the Locandy app to use cellular data. Although you can download the hunt at home or somewhere else with a WiFi connection, cellular data needs to be enabled so the compass works within the app.

Where should I park my car?
See parking recommendations for your specific hunt in the colored columns above.

Are there restroom stops on the hunt?
Yes. Each hunt includes nearby access to public restrooms.

I don’t want to answer all of the questions. Can I just go from place to place?
Yes. Instead of answering the questions, scroll to the bottom right corner of your screen and click the blue “Next” question. The questions are not mandatory.

I’m stuck and want to skip a stop. How do I do that?
Simply hit “Skip” and you will be taken to the next clue in the sequence. Or click on the menu icon at the top right and select a different stop. Please be aware that the distance estimate will be off, as the distances are only marked between clues.

Can I stop the scavenger hunt and start it again another day?
Yes. If you want to stop at a certain clue, simply close out of the app. Next time you want to play, open the app again and it will start you back at the same clue you stopped at before.

The compass is acting weird!
The Locandy compass is digital and doesn’t work like a magnetic compass because it is GPS-based. We recommend you hold your phone flat like a conventional magnetic compass. However, if you find that your direction is not always clear, you may get a better read with some devices by holding the phone vertically.