Steamboat

For those who think Colorado skiing is all Aspen and Vail, think again. Steamboat, the next largest ski area, nestled in the Routt National Forest, is a complete mountain range with six peaks: Mount Werner, Sunshine Peak, Storm Peak, Thunderhead Peak, Christie Peak and Pioneer Ridge. Mount Werner is named after local boy Buddy Werner, who conquered the Hahenkamm at Kitzbühel in 1957 (the first American man to win a major European downhill title). At 10,568 feet (3,221 m) it’s the highest peak of the six, and the main access to plenty of backcountry stashes with double black diamond chutes at East Face and North St. Pat’s, plus lots of other challenging runs. Pioneer Ridge opened in 1998 with the Pony Express—a high-speed quad chairlift allowing skiers and riders to easily explore 260 acres (105 ha) of gladed terrain that Steamboat locals have loved for years. Steamboat is large: there’s 2,965 acres (1,200 ha) of permitted terrain with a diversity of 65 miles (105 km) of trails. That translates into 64 trails and 3,668 vertical feet (1,118 m) for all ability levels. Ropes, signs, placards, gates and access points are used throughout the area to mark closures, ski area boundaries and access points for the backcounty terrain.

Snow in Steamboat
Take your pick: from late November through to mid-April you can ski beautiful gladed areas or groomed cruisers, or go for the bumps, steeps and open meadows with champagne powder in the trees for the most avid powder hounds. In fact, the term "champagne powder" was coined here and there’s plenty of it, with an average snowfall of nearly 30 feet every season. Steamboat’s snowmaking systems cover 333 acres (135 ha) of terrain, from the base area through mid-mountain to the top of Storm Peak. Night skiing is available at historic Howelsen Hill, located in downtown Steamboat Springs. This ski area dates back to the early 1900s and is the oldest continuously operating ski area in Colorado. Night tubing is also available at the Steamboat ski area. There are snowcat-drawn sleigh-ride dinners in the evenings and the gondola is open at night for dinner atop the mountain.