My winter visit to Steamboat Springs, CO was filled with lots of phrases like “best outdoor activity yet,” “my favorite yet,” and “absolutely wonderful.” There are so many things to do in Steamboat Springs and while I tried to dampen my enthusiasm and be more writerly with my descriptions (and I removed a lot of exclamation points!!), I want you to know how good Steamboat Springs treated me. It feels important.
Why did my winter visit to Steamboat Springs, CO mean so much?
I am a hobbyist blogger, a travel enthusiast. I am not making money on this. Nor am I an influencer. There are people out there with sleeker blogs, who are dropping everything to go travel the world, and then writing about all of the countries for you.
That’s not me.
That will likely never be me (unless I do that as a septuagenarian).
We elected to give our kids the benefits of a more traditional lifestyle. We wanted them to have roots, a community, a place to return to over and over again as they wander far away on their own. We wanted them to have a bond with a particular place that held all their memories as they grew.
That decision feels hard and wrong sometimes, to be candid. In the end, though, I realize and understand this is what I am meant to give to my children and my husband.
But to remind myself of everything IÂ do get to see, I have this blog. Also, in an effort to encourage others to go and do, I really enjoy sharing what we are able to do within that traditional lifestyle. I stretch the limits, and think you can, too!
The flip side is that our vacation time is precious. When we get a chance to travel, it has to COUNT.
I realize that may be putting excessive amounts of pressure on myself, but by sharing what I learn here, my hope is to help you maximize your days, too. I want you to go on these trips.
This is the very long way of saying: Steamboat Springs, CO during the winter was one of those rare vacations where all the things just came together for me. It is a great winter destination if outdoor adventures next to natural hot springs and delicious cocktail bars are your thing. (And if they are, you are following the right website.)
I can’t promise you the storybook snowfall we had, but I can promise you that you will find winter in Steamboat Springs navigable and easy to enjoy.
Things to do in the Winter in Steamboat Springs, CO
Table of Contents
Getting to Steamboat Springs
When I only get one ski trip a year, and at that usually only an extended weekend, there is a trifecta to make it work: convenience, price tag, and good skiing.
For me, Steamboat Springs met all the criteria. Big Sky was far; Vail was expensive; Canaan Valley wasn’t the best skiing I’ve experienced. But Steamboat managed to meet all three, while having a great vibe in town, too.
Steamboat Springs does have its own airport (Yampa Valley), but it is fairly small and, therefore, can be more expensive to fly in and out of.
Denver, however, is a huge hub with a plethora of options. From my location in Virginia, I can drive to major airports and get direct flights to Denver on discount airlines.
From Denver, it is a very easy three-hour drive to Steamboat Springs. Of course, this requires a car rental (which, given that Steamboat Springs has a free shuttle around town, you may be considering foregoing), but the ease of the Denver flight was a selling point for the group I was traveling with.
Average Temperature and Average Snowfall
According to OntheSnow, Steamboat gets an average annual snowfall of 286″ of snow per year and on average has 69 annual snowfall days. The current 10-year snowfall record is 28″, and the average snow depth at Steamboat is 46″.
The best times to visit for winter activities are December, January, and February when the average snowfall is anywhere from 60 to 80 inches each month.
Temperatures during these months are anywhere from mid-30’s to single digits.
I find this weather great for skiing and outdoor activities, and the weather we experienced during our trip to Steamboat was ideal for our travel itinerary.
Skiing Steamboat Springs Resort
Steamboat Springs Resort was one of my favorite resorts to ski. This was my second visit, and each time I’ve left with warm memories and tired legs – the best kind of ski trip!
The resort has 3,741 acres of mountain, with 181 trails.
This isn’t the biggest resort I have ever skied, but it is friendly and incredibly easy to navigate. This spot is not known for back-country or extreme skiing, but I found trails for all levels and adequate terrain to be challenged. If you are skiing with a group of differing skill levels, Steamboat Springs is a great fit.
The views were stunning, particularly on a bluebird day. The lifts ran quickly and reliably, the snow was powder, and overall I had fun out here.
Combined with a great town and other exceptional outdoor activities (with all necessary infrastructure), my ski trip in Steamboat Springs was one I would do again.
Snowshoeing in Steamboat Springs
This was another of my favorite adventures in Steamboat Springs.
There is a lot of snowshoeing available in the area. But I was by myself and wanted to be 1) safe 2) sure not to get lost, and 3) have easy access to transportation.
I ended up at Howelsen Hill, hiking to the top of Emerald Mountain. (See an interactive map here.)
This was gorgeous. The track up the mountain was easy to follow. (On the way down, though, I was feeling confident and adrenaline-pumped, so decided to try some new paths, where I got turned around a bit with all the white, untrampled land.)
The entire trail network in this area is fun to explore. There were cross-country skiers and fat bike riders, too.
The view at the top was worth all the sweating and hard work.
Visit the Hot Springs in Steamboat
The town gets its name reliably: for all the springs! There are hot springs all around, but the two most popular experiences (and the ones most accessible) are Old Town and Strawberry Park.
Old Town is located right in the middle of Steamboat Springs and has a full fitness facility. Strawberry Park is further afield and requires a driver.
Snowmobiling Tour
My siblings took a half-day to go on a guided snowmobile tour outside of Steamboat Springs, into Rabbit Ears Pass.
They loved this adventure. Out of all the snowmobiling adventures the two of them have had, this topped the list. Of course, in the past snowmobiling adventures they have gone on someone has gotten the machine stuck every single time. So maybe it’s a low bar?
Rabbit Ears Pass is an iconic pass in the Rocky Mountains, named for a rock formation that lords over the valley below which looks like, well, rabbit ears.
It can be pretty rugged wilderness out that way, so having a guide is a good idea. By exploring via snowmobile (versus foot or ski), you get to see a lot more of the area.
Eat Good Food in Steamboat Springs
There are a lot of good eateries in Steamboat Springs, with a cute downtown area to meander around.
Back Door Grill and Salt and Lime appear on just about every list of “best of.”
We also noticed The Laundry Restaurant appearing on the same lists and decided to grab whatever reservations we could. It did not disappoint. This was a delicious experience (complete with lovely craft cocktails.)
There are, of course, plenty of restaurants and bars around the resort for apres skiing and they fit the bill: cold beer and salty burgers.
Snow Tubing
Snow tubing is a blast for families. We go at least once a winter in our neck of the woods, and we look forward to the adventure.
The most convenient snow tubing in Steamboat Springs is at Howelesen Hill, right in the center of town.
A little further out of town is Saddleback Ranch, which offers the fabulously named “YEE-HAW” snow tubing hill.
Fat Biking in the Snow
If you’ve never had the chance to try out a fat bike, I highly recommend it! The large wheels on these bikes mean they can tackle sand and snow like a “regular” bike cannot. Mr. Family Trip and I went for miles up a beach one summer on fat bikes and found the experience a delight.
For a full guide on where to rent and where to fat bike in Steamboat Springs, Routt County Riders is a great resource.
Cross-Country Skiing
There is the option to cross-country ski at the same place I snowshoed: Howelsen Hill / Emerald Mountain. There were quite a few out there enjoying the sport while I was tromping around in my rented snowshoes.
But Haymaker Nordic Center is going to keep everything easy. Maintained trails, rentals, and even lessons if you want them! It’s a one-stop shop.
Whatever you decide to do in Steamboat Springs, even if it is just sitting with your feet up looking out over snow-kissed mountains, enjoy yourself. Travel is precious, and all of it matters. Find your joy and follow it.
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