Three Perfect Days · Steamboat Springs

Groomers, then the hot tub.

Steamboat is a cruising mountain. Most of its 180-plus trails are wide, groomed and long, which means a group with a nervous first-timer and a strong intermediate can ski the same hill and meet for lunch. Walk to the gondola, ski until your legs say so, and be back in the hot tub before the light goes.

Mixed abilitiesGondola 10 min walkFree bus at the door
Day One

Find your legs.

Morning

Walk to the gondola

Ten minutes on foot, or the free Green Line from 50 feet outside the door. Ride the gondola to Thunderhead and warm up on the long groomers below it.

GondolaGreen Line bus
ActivitySkiing & Snowboarding at Steamboat ResortSki & RideSee it in the guide →
Midday

Lunch at the top

Thunderhead has the busiest lodge on the mountain; go at 11:30 or after 1:30 and you'll get a table.

Afternoon

Buddy's Run

The classic Steamboat blue: wide, steady and long enough that you forget to count turns.

Blue
Evening

Après at the base

Ski Time Square, boots still on, sun dropping behind the ridge.

Eat & DrinkT BarAprès-ski · winter only · Ski Time Square · 5 min driveSee it in the guide →
Day Two

Sunshine, and lights after dark.

Morning

Breakfast with a mountain view

A slow start on the mountainside patio before the lifts get busy.

Eat & DrinkParamountBreakfast & lunch · mountainside patio · 5 min drive · 🐾 Dog-friendly patioSee it in the guide →
Midday

Sunshine Bowl

The best easy skiing on the mountain, off the Wild Blue gondola: wide open, gentle and in the sun most of the day.

Wild Blue gondolaEasiest terrain
Afternoon

Rest your legs

Boots in the dryers in the heated garage, and an hour off.

Evening

Night skiing at Howelsen Hill

Colorado's oldest ski area, five minutes from downtown, lit up after dark. Watch for the Olympic jumps, then walk to dinner at Mazzola's.

Night skiingSince 1915
ActivitySkiing & Nordic at Howelsen HillLocal FavoriteSee it in the guide →
Day Three

Half a day, then the rink.

Morning

First chair, last laps

Corduroy is best before 10. Ski your favorites from the first two days.

Afternoon

Skate at the base

Lap the outdoor rink in Gondola Square instead of a third ski afternoon.

ActivityIce Skating at Skeeter's RinkGondola SquareSee it in the guide →
Evening

Dinner at the top of the gondola

Newly remodeled. Ride up for dinner and the lights of the valley below.

Eat & DrinkHazie'sFine dining · top of the gondola · Steamboat ResortSee it in the guide →

What the locals know

  • Arriving in the afternoon? Night skiing at Steamboat is the easiest warm-up for your first evening.
  • Buy lift tickets online before you arrive; the window price is the highest you'll see.
  • The free Green Line bus stops 50 feet from the door, so nobody has to carry skis to the gondola.
  • Lessons fill on holiday weeks. Book them when you book the house.

Your base for all of it.

Escape Chalet sits in the mountain district at the base of Mount Werner, a flat ten-minute walk from the gondola, with the free Green Line bus stopping 50 feet from the door.

  • Four ensuite bedrooms, sleeps 10, so nobody shares a bathroom after a long day out
  • A 10-person hot tub, open year round and held at 102F
  • Chef's kitchen with a 36-inch Wolf range, and a dining table that seats 8 with 3 more at the bar
  • Heated garage for two cars, with an EV charger and boot dryers
  • Up to two dogs, free when you book direct, with the Pup Package included
Book direct

The gondola is a ten-minute walk.

Four ensuite bedrooms, sleeps 10, ten minutes' walk from the gondola. Two dogs stay free when you book direct, and the Pup Package is included.

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