Steamboat Ski & Resort

Steamboat is the Colorado resort where cowboy hats and ski boots share the same pavements without anyone batting an eyelid. The town grew up around ranching, and it still feels like a real Western town rather than a resort built for tourists. The mountain above it is famous for Champagne Powder®, the light, dry snow that settles in its aspen glades, and for some of the best tree skiing in North America.

What’s New for 2026/27

Steamboat has spent the last few years transforming itself. The Wild Blue Gondola, the longest and fastest ten-person gondola in North America, now runs from the base to the top of Sunshine Peak, and the Mahogany Ridge expansion has made Steamboat one of the largest ski areas in Colorado, with more than 3,700 acres.

This winter the work continues. Earth dug out during construction of the new Stockman Hotel has been used to raise the base of Maverick’s Halfpipe in Bashor Bowl, so the pipe needs less snow to build and should open earlier. The resort has also launched Steamboat Hospitality, bringing hotel rooms, slopeside condos and other lodging together in one place to book.

There are changes at the base too. The Knoll car parks are paid before 1pm this season, though cars with three or more people can park free in the Upper Knoll with a reservation. The resort is funding extra town buses on busy weekends and holidays, so if you are staying in town the bus is the easy option.

The Skiing

The mountain spreads across six peaks with around 3,600ft of vertical. Intermediates have miles of cruising on Sunshine and Storm Peak, while stronger skiers head for the glades of Shadows, Closets and Twilight, which are at their best on a powder morning. Greenhorn Ranch, a dedicated learning area served by the gondola, gives beginners and families their own space away from the busy base.

Off the Slopes

Steamboat has more than its share of things to do when the lifts close. Soak in the natural pools at Strawberry Park Hot Springs, wander the shops and restaurants of Lincoln Avenue, or watch the ski jumpers at Howelsen Hill, right in town. Opened in 1915, it is the oldest continuously operating ski area in North America, and it is a big part of the reason Steamboat has produced more Winter Olympians than any other town in North America.

The resort makes the most of that heritage. Two experiences launched last winter let you meet the people behind it: Ski with an Olympian, a full day on the slopes alongside one of Steamboat’s Olympians, and Dinner with an Olympian at the reimagined Crooked Antler restaurant. Howelsen Hill, owned by the City of Steamboat Springs, keeps things affordable too, with Ski Free Sundays and low-cost alpine and Nordic skiing, fat biking and tubing.

Lift Passes and Season Dates

Steamboat is on the Ikon Pass. How many days you get depends on which pass you buy, so check the details in our Ikon Pass 2026/27 guide before you book. The official Opening Day is planned for 21 November 2026, conditions permitting.

Getting There

Yampa Valley Regional Airport in Hayden is around 22 miles from the resort and has direct winter flights from several major US cities, and United Airlines has recently expanded its service there. From Denver it is roughly a three-hour drive.

For more information visit steamboat.com.

Steamboat: Your Questions Answered

What is Champagne Powder?

Champagne Powder is Steamboat’s trademarked name for the light, dry snow that falls there, thanks to its altitude and the dry air of north-west Colorado.

Is Steamboat on the Ikon Pass?

Yes. Steamboat is on the Ikon Pass. The number of days you get depends on which Ikon pass you buy.

What is the nearest airport to Steamboat?

Yampa Valley Regional Airport in Hayden is about 22 miles from Steamboat and has direct winter flights from several major US cities.

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