Hayden

Hayden

Twenty-five miles to the west of Steamboat, lies the original ranching town of Hayden, Colorado. Founded in 1876, the primary source of commerce was ranching, agriculture, and coal mining. Today the ranching life is still alive and strong and Hayden provides the classic backdrop to rural western life. The town of Hayden covers 2,098 acres and has a humid continental climate with warm summers, cold winters, and even precipitation year-round. The frost-free growing season is short, averaging 93 days. Hayden sits at 6,343 feet of elevation with hay fields and subtle elevation gains as far as the eye can see. Building a new $50M school was a lifetime accomplishment for the small community in 2020 and now boasts a student population of 436. There is a wonderful grocery store called The Hayden Mercantile, affectionately nicknamed, The Merc, which boasts an incredible selection of locally butchered meat from the surrounding ranches. Hayden is the primary town outside of Steamboat and has a population of 2,452 as of the 2020 census. Hayden is home to the Yampa Valley Regional Airport, the closest major airport to Steamboat and one of the most accessible and capable airports in the Rocky Mountains with direct flights from many of America’s largest cities. The Routt County Fairgrounds (in town), Yampa River State Park (3 mi west of town), and Elk Head Reservoir (15 mi north-west of town) are all within minutes of the town center. Homes for sale in Hayden, Colorado consist of mostly smaller single-family homes on ¼ acre or larger parcels ranging in age from 100 years old to current new builds. There are quite a few new housing developments that have sprung to life since 2005 and average home prices are continuing to gain momentum. This is a community that is driven by its desire to remain true to its ranching past and provide a path forward for its citizens to succeed in the present and the future.