These 10 Resorts in the West Know How to Treat a Skier Right
Find out which Western resorts were ranked highest by SKI readers for guest service in the 2022 Resort Guide.
Tucked away in Colorado’s northwest corner, Steamboat Resort catches storm fronts tracking from both Utah and Wyoming, so it often boasts powder days when other areas report scant snowfall. Pair that trademarked “champagne powder” with Steamboat’s abundance of moderate-angle glades, and you get some of the best lift-served tree skiing anywhere.
While there’s no off-the-chart extreme skiing here, the accessible terrain also makes it ideal for intermediates looking to get better, or a multi-generation ski trip that appeals to skiers of all ages: Grandparents and children alike can find their bliss on easy-going cruisers. Kid-centric ski instructors and a relaxed atmosphere round out the family appeal. Credit Steamboat’s distance from major cities (the closest is Denver, 150 miles away) for preserving authentic character at the resort and the adjacent town of Steamboat Springs.
Homesteaders settled this cowboy town long before the lifts started spinning, and even now, you’ll see as many Stetsons as ski hats on downtown sidewalks. Don’t forget to bring yours.
Average Snowfall | Acres | Lifts | Trails |
314″ | 2,965 | 18 | 169 |
Steamboat, Colo., is on the Ikon Pass. Ikon Pass holders get unlimited access to the resort. Ikon Base Pass holders get 5 days.
From lodging and and dining to off-slope activities and local tips, here are the SKI editors’ picks for what to do in Steamboat, Colo.
Bloody Marys abound, but Thunderhead Red’s (at the top of the gondola) outpaces the pack with a Breakfast Bloody that garnishes house-infused vodka with pickled veggies, hard-boiled egg, and maple-glazed bacon.
Four Points Lodge serves gourmet comfort food like chicken pot pie, Reuben sandwiches, and sweet potato fries.
Steamboat’s morning vistas often feature colorful hot air balloons bejeweling the sky: Become part of the show with Wild West Balloon Adventures.
The Shadows offers 2,000 vertical feet of tree skiing that begins among high-alpine spruces and ends in paper-white aspens.
Check out—or enter, if it’s your thing—the Cowboy Downhill in mid-January.
Become Wild West outlaws at The Crooked Key, an escape room offering a fun, interactive game for all ages.
Visit F.M. Light & Sons on Lincoln Avenue for legit Western duds, souvenirs, and more. A Steamboat staple since 1905.
To sample some of Steamboat’s famous trees, take the Sundown Express to Twilight. Well-spaced, leg-burning glades await.
Don’t be surprised if you crush boot-top powder for three days and all the kids want to talk about is the new Outlaw Mountain Coaster, the longest such ride in North America.
In an increasingly brilliant downtown dining scene, Table 79 stands out, and has even made up a new word, calling itself a “Foodbar.” Try the Smoked Elk & Chorizo Meatballs.
Find out which Western resorts were ranked highest by SKI readers for guest service in the 2022 Resort Guide.
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The locals are the friendliest around, and the cowboy spirit gives the town its character.
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