Steamboat Springs, CO
Steamboat Ski Resort - Night Skiing
Steamboat Springs is a world-class ski resort in the Yampa Valley in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Featuring fantastic skiing, abundant natural hot springs and a low-key après-ski vibe, Steamboat offers lots to do for skiers and non-skiers alike. Steamboat is also home to Champagne Powder® snow, some of the world's lightest and driest powder snow - they even trademarked the name! With less glitz and glamour than some other Colorado ski resorts, Steamboat is a perfect winter getaway.
Steamboat Ski Resort, founded in 1963, celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2023. With a rich history of winter sports excellence, Steamboat is home to more Olympians than any other ski resort in the country. In the winter, Steamboat features over 3,000 acres of skiable terrain, with plenty of trails in the beginner - intermediate range (that’s me!). The resort is now part of the IKON pass, connected to 50+ destinations globally, with the lift ticket prices to match. They’re also investing $200M to expand 650 acres of new terrain serviced by what will be the longest gondola in North America, plus a revamped base area with enhanced amenities.
The skiing was pretty awesome - even for a novice like me. The base had easy access to shuttle buses (they’re omnipresent in Steamboat) that dropped you off right at the gondolas, with an ice skating rink, a few restaurants and stores with all the gear you could ever want. Accessing the summit was quick, thanks to the 8-person gondola, and the trail maps were really easy to follow. There was a mix of snowboarders and skiers, and everyone from little kids to certified ski-bros came out to the slopes. One green trail, called “Why not?”, is over 3 miles long and winds past some stunning alpine scenery. For the serious skier, the black diamond run “Rolex” is pretty much a straight shot down the mountain. As far as gear goes, I got my skis, boots, helmet and poles delivered to my condo through Black Tie Ski rental - so big shout out for their door-to-door service (they legit drove my gear to my condo) that took all the hassle out of the process. As much as I liked skiing, I was more excited about the après-ski ski opportunities.
Après-ski
T Bar
Billed as a “5 Star Dive Bar”, T Bar was a ridiculously fun apres ski spot. Located at the mountain's base, T bar has been the ski-in, ski-out place to go for the past 14 years. Pub food and lots (and lots) of drinks on tap keep this place rocking all day. The inside is decorated with ski gear, bumper stickers and memorabilia, giving it a homey, local vibe. People come right off the mountain or a quick walk from town to join in the fun. This was definitely a highlight of the apres ski scene - loved this place!
The Collective
If T bar is the low-brow apres-ski option, then the Collective is definitely the high-brow destination. Part private wine club, part tasting room, the Collective is about 100 feet away from T bar, but worlds away in experience. Instead of pouring a selection of IPAs, the Collective has Chassange Montrachet and Larkmeade by the glass. Since I was traveling with my namesake and fellow oenophile, Brad and Brad made friends with the sommeliers and learned more about their wine story. This gem of a place isn’t stuffy or pretentious; in fact, Brad S was able to get them to dismantle their big dining room table so that we could play a few games of pool! As the afternoon wore on, we made friends with our fellow patrons, ate some delicious charcuterie and cheese, and splurged on a 2004 Lynch-Bages Bordeaux. We felt like we experienced the entire range of establishments in one truly memorable afternoon.
Hot Springs
One ‘must do’ activity in Steamboat is the famous Strawberry Park Hot Springs. This natural hot spring is surrounded by towering trees and rock formations, creating a tranquil and relaxing atmosphere. Soaking in the warm waters while surrounded by snow was an unforgettable experience. Access to the spring is via a somewhat treacherous road that requires snow tires and a 4 x 4 - so I would highly recommend booking in with a tour company - I used Sweet Pea. With door-to-door pick-up and drop-off, guaranteed timed reservation, plus a quick orientation tour, their service totally worth it. The water comes out of the ground at about 145 def F and the pools are at 104 and 100 degrees deg F, with a very cold natural stream right on the other side of the wall. Even though it’s almost painfully cold, I recommend a cold plunge every half hour. This was one of the best natural spa experiences I’ve ever had and probably my favorite Steamboat activity!
Hiking
One great way to get in your 10,000 steps is to hike along the Yampa River Core Trail. This trail runs almost eight miles alongside the Yampa river and is very easily accessible from town. Fully paved with great signage, this was a few hours off the slopes to catch some fresh mountain air. Along the way, there is a botanical park, fishing access and the Howelsen ice and ski arenas.
Bars and Restaurants
Apart from the apres-ski spots I mentioned, there are a few pubs that I really liked - including the Yampa Valley Brewing Company, Stormpeak Brewing, Mahogany Ridge and the Old Town Pub & Restaurant. The brewpub scene is strong in Steamboat for sure. On the upscale side, Laura the Butcher’s Meatbar was a standout for jamon iberico shaved off the leg, great cheese case and prepared sandwiches. So good we went back twice. For dinner, Primrose really stood out for its open-kitchen design, great wines by the glass and a menu that was more Brooklyn than Denver.
Steamboat Art Museum
Back in 2006, a group of artists, patrons and community supporters came together to establish a museum of Colorado art and culture. The current exhibition, “The New West: The Rise of Contemporary Indigenous and Western Art,” looks at works from the 1960s onwards that brings a fresh perspective to Western art and art by and about Native Americans. Housed in a historic bank building right on the busy strip in downtown Steamboat, this cultural landmark is well worth a visit.
Alpenglow
Each night at sunset, there’s a unique phenomenon called Alpenglow, where the setting sun hits the western-facing mountain and lights it up in a spectacular show.
