Steamboat Ski Resort Guide
For world-class glade skiing, surrounded by stunning scenery and a super-friendly atmosphere, few choices beat Steamboat.
Well known for its famous Champagne Powder and geothermal hot springs, Steamboat ski resort has been in business for 57 years and offers excellent skiing for all levels of expertise.
Good for
The Resort
Steamboat is located in Northwestern Colorado. The closest airport is Yampa Valley airport, 22 miles away.
It is about 3 hours (150 miles) from Denver. The western style town is small, with a laid back and cheerful vibe.
A lot of wealthy tourists visit for the ambiance, so there are shops and restaurants that cater to more expensive tastes, as well as more budget-friendly choices.
Despite the popularity of the area and the core of loyal return visitors, the town and resort don’t seem busy most of the time.
There are about 250 shops, boutiques, museums and art galleries to enjoy in town, and free bus transportation is provided.
From inexpensive hostels and private home rentals to luxury hotels, you can find lodging here for any budget.
On the slopes
There are six peaks and 169 runs at this family-friendly resort.
The seventeen lifts and skiable terrain of 12 km2 (2,965 acres) ensures that there truly is something for everyone here, from a few gentle, nicely-groomed beginner runs to hard core bumps, steeps and glades for the experts.
Steamboat is ranked among the top ten North American ski resorts by Ski Magazine.
Steamboat is the only ski resort with trademarked snow, which means it is the only place you can find this unique, extra-dry Champagne Powder.
The tree skiing is second to none and the champagne powder lives up to all the hype.
With that said, the place is famous for its snow quality – not for the quantity.
There are times when the lower base elevation of 2103 meters results in less snow on the lower half of the mountain.
The higher elevation reaches 3221 meters though, and is more reliable. The ski season typically runs from the end of November until mid-April.
The first thing most people do after an invigorating day on the slopes is to relax in Steamboat’s famed geothermal hot springs.
After that it’s time to choose where to eat, and with the myriad of bars and restaurants, the possibilities seem almost endless.
For fine dining and fine wine try Cafe Diva. For cheap and cheerful, Taco Cabo is an excellent choice, and all of the bread is locally handmade.
If you are in the mood for some good music and unique drinks in a relaxed setting, try the T-bar.
For late night partying, drinks, dancing and an overall good time it is hard to beat the highly rated Double Diamonds Bar.
The location
Stats
LIFTS
17
VERTICAL
2103m - 3221m
PISTES
165kmm
