Guide to Visiting Steamboat Springs in Winter (2024)

This guide to Steamboat Springs in winter explains what to do in the town, tips for skiing, where to stay, and other travel tips.

Every winter, I make sure to take at least one ski vacation. In the past, I’ve gone to destinations such as Lake Tahoe, Park City, and Whistler.

This year, my annual ski trip was to Steamboat Springs Colorado, and it quickly became on of my favorite ski towns.

Whether you are a skier, snowboarder, or neither, Steamboat Springs is a great winter destination. The town is so cute with great restaurants and shopping.

The ski resort has amazing runs, good quality snow, and plenty of après ski opportunities. In addition, the entire area is a beautiful winter wonderland with amazing views.

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Skiing in Steamboat Springs

The number one activity in Steamboat Springs in winter is skiing. Chances are, if you are visiting Steamboat in the winter, it is to ski.

The mountain resort is large, with tons of different lifts and runs. They also have great mountain amenities, such as lodges with some of the best mountain food.

Steamboat Springs is a part of the Ikon resort pass. If you visit other ski resorts on this pass or plan to visit many days in the year, consider getting the pass to save money.

Otherwise, lift tickets can be purchased online or at the mountain.

All of the lifts to get on the mountain originate from the same base. There are two gondolas and one chairlift that transport you to different parts of the mountain.

Choose which life based on the types of runs to prefer. One gondola serves mostly green runs, while the other leads to mostly blues and blacks.

Other Things to Do in Steamboat Springs in Winter

As mentioned, skiing and snowboarding are the top activities in Steamboat Colorado in winter. However, if you aren’t skiing or are taking a day away from the mountain, there are other fun things to do.

Snowmobile – One of the best ways to experience the snow without skiing is on a snowmobile tour. If you haven’t snowmobiled before, Steamboat is a great place to try.

Since it’s a valley, there is plenty of flat ground to drive around on with amazing mountain views.

Hot Springs – Steamboat got its name from all of the hot springs in the area. As a way to escape the cold or relax your muscles after a day of activity, you need to visit one of the hot springs.

Shop Downtown Steamboat – Downtown steamboat is a super cute mountain town. There are a few blocks of great shopping and restaurants.

With some free time, be sure to peruse the main street. You will find clothing boutiques, art galleries, and plenty of ski shops.

Where to Stay

When choosing where to stay in Steamboat Springs, the biggest decision will be staying in the village or mountain resort. Either way, you will likely end up driving to the other location daily, for skiing or for restaurants.

I personally highly value ski-in/ski-out so I recommend staying at the base for skiing convenience. Then you can drive into town for shopping and restaurants when you need to.

One Steamboat Place – If you are visiting Steamboat Springs in winter and are planning to ski, One Steamboat Place is definitely the best luxury place to stay.

This condo complex has a combination of owned and rental units. Each unit is beautifully designed with high-end finishes and mountain décor.

The building has many amenities such as valet, concierge service, a ski valet and storage, daily breakfast, daily happy hour, a gym, a spa, and a pool.

The best part of the resort is the convenient location, only a 2-minute walk from the base.

Sheraton – For a more budget-friendly accommodation near the base, you cannot go wrong with the Sheraton. The property has resort villas with bedrooms and small kitchens, which is a great perk.

In addition, there is an onsite pool, spa and gym. The main reason to stay at this hotel, similar to the above option, is the walkable distance to the ski lifts.

Where to Eat in Steamboat Colorado

There are a ton of great restaurants in Steamboat. They range from casual to fine dining with cuisines such as American, Sushi, BBQ, Italian, and more. Below, see my top recommendations for brunch, lunch, and dinner.

Brunch

Creekside Cafe and Grill – Consistently rated #1 for brunch in steamboat springs, this restaurant is a great choice. The menu has all of the breakfast classics with a southwest twist.

For example, a brisket eggs benedict or fried chicken and waffle with sausage gravy. If you are visiting on a weekend, be sure to get a reservation ahead of time.

Winona’s Restaurant – I haven’t personally tried this restaurant but have heard great reviews. It’s also a classic American-style brunch.

Lunch

Beaujos Pizza – Colorado chain with delicious pizza and some pasta options. They are known for their mountain style pizza that is measured by the pound.

It has layers of toppings surrounded by thick crust, with local honey for dipping. This is a great fast-casual option for lunch.  

Apres Burger Bistro – Near the slopes, this burger restaurant is a great location for a lunch break or apres ski. The burgers are huge and tasty, with unique topping pairs that make for an interesting bite.  

Timber & Torch – This casual bar and restaurant is right at the base of the mountain. They serve all the classic bar-fare such as wings, nachos, and burgers.

In addition, the large outdoor area is a great place to relax with a beer or cocktail.

Dinner

Aurum – Hands down, the best meal I had in Steamboat was at Aurum. It’s a high-end restaurant but does not feel stuffy.

The dining room overlooks the river and would make a great spot for a date night. The food is incredible! I tried the short rib and the elk, both of which were amazing.

Truffle Pig – Another high-end restaurant option, I highly recommend Truffle Pig. Unlike most restaurants on this list, it’s located at the base which is ideal if you are staying at the mountain.

There is a wide range of food options but be sure to start with the bacon wrapped dates.

Yampa River Icehouse – Casual, but tasty, barbecue restaurant with river views. Go here for Texas-style barbecue and items such as pulled pork, smoked chicken, and brisket.

There are also a variety of side dish items, my favorite was the brussels sprouts.

Ore House – Ore House is a charming, cowboy-style steakhouse. Although they serve quality steak at steakhouse prices, the atmosphere is much more laid back.

Each entrée comes with a visit to the salad bar, and two side dish options. The steak here is great and the other food is decent, but overall I recommend this restaurant.

What to Pack for Steamboat Springs in Winter

The above collage shows an idea of what to wear in Steamboat. If you want a complete guide to packing for a ski trip and outfit ideas, check out my complete guide here.

Skiing Outfits – The temperature on the mountain can vary each day. To be prepared, I recommend packing a few options for base layers and a good quality ski suit.

When I visited, the daily temperature was around 20 degrees, so I only wore a thin wool base layer. Other times, it can be below zero and additional layers will be necessary.

Casual Outfits – During the day in Steamboat, you can’t go wrong with jeans, a sweater, and a cute jacket. However, be sure your jacket is both cute and warm.

Night Outfits – In general, Steamboat Springs Colorado is a very casual town. Even at night, it’s appropriate to wear jeans and a sweater to a nice restaurant.

If you are wanting to be a bit dressier, you can wear a fun leather pant or long sweater dress.

Getting to Steamboat Springs

Steamboat is a 30-minute flight or 3.5-hour drive from Denver Colorado. If you prefer to fly, there are direct flights to the Steamboat Airport in Hayden from cities such as Seattle, Chicago, Houston, and Dallas.

There are also a few daily connections through Denver. From the airport, it’s approximately 30 minutes to downtown Steamboat and 45 minutes to the ski resort.

Another option is to fly into Denver, then drive the remaining distance to Steamboat. While this takes a bit longer, it will provide additional flexibility to your trip.

With unpredictable winter weather, flights in and out of Hayden can be unreliable.

If you choose to rent a car, but sure to get an SUV with snow tires as the mountain passes can be snowy. If that makes you nervous, there are shuttle and hired driver service to get you from Denver to Steamboat.

Transportation around Steamboat

Steamboat Springs is broken up into two main tourism areas – the town and the ski resort. The town is where you will find many restaurants and shopping.

At the ski resort, there is the gondola and chair lifts, along with a few restaurants. These two areas are around a 15 -minute drive apart.

If you are visiting Steamboat Springs in winter, chances are you will want to spend time in both of these areas.

To get between the locations, I highly recommend having a rental car. While there is some public transportation and rideshare, having your own car will be the most convenient.

For skiing, there are parking lots between the village and mountain with consistent shuttle service to the mountain.

Summary of Steamboat Springs in Winter

Overall, Steamboat Springs in winter is a great destination for a ski trip or snowy escape. The town is the perfect mix of a humble small-town and a bustling tourism destination.

Unlike other Colorado ski towns, Steamboat is not stuffy or pretentious. Everyone is so nice and welcoming!

Spend your time in Steamboat playing in the snow, whether skiing on the mountain or soaking in a hot spring. In addition, visit downtown for great restaurants and shopping.

Related Posts:

• South Lake Tahoe Winter Vacation Guide and Itinerary
• Zermatt Ski Vacation Complete Guide and Itinerary
• Guide to Visiting Steamboat Springs in Winter
• Guide to Skiing in South Lake Tahoe at Heavenly Ski Resort

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