Steamboat Springs ski resort is where cowboy boots and Stetson hats meet ski jackets and snowboards in the ranching country of northwestern Colorado. Steamboat Springs is a rugged but laidback town of 10,000 residents that changes to a ski town personality every winter.
Colorado skiing was born in Steamboat Springs. More winter olympians reside and ski in Steamboat than any where else in the world. Steamboat Springs trademarked the name "Ski Town USA" to testify to that fact. And they are proud of their skiing heritage and world famous "Champagne Powder"TM that brings in ski vacationers from around the globe.
The ski terrain at Steamboat has something for the whole family. There are gentle runs for beginners and slopes for intermediate skiers. For the more advanced skier, formidable moguls and open glades can be found. Even snowboarders will love Steamboat and the longest superpipe in the Rocky Mountains. You will love the 330 inches of powder that Steamboat is noted for each year.
Your Colorado ski vacation to Steamboat Springs will be filled with other winter adventures too. The traveler to Steamboat can partake in sleigh rides, ice climbing, ice fishing, snowmobiling, and dog sledding. And at the end of an action filled day, you can restore your tired body in Steamboat's picturesque natural hot springs.
Stroll downtown and you will find future olympians making their name on the 90-meter jump at Howelsen Hill where kids ski free. Shop in the art galleries of Lincoln Avenue or get your western apparel as a souvenir of this majestic western ski resort.
When spring comes and the snow melts, Steamboat Springs takes on a new light. The Yampa River Valley that Steamboat is located in erupts into soft green meadow colored with wildflowers and aspen groves. There's hiking, fly-fishing, biking, golf, and hand gliding as some of the summer activities found in the Steamboat area. The snowmelt from the 28 feet of winter snow provides a paradise for whitewater rafters, tubers, and kayakers.
Take on the Steamboat area's tradition and go horseback riding or participate in a real cattle drive. There's rodeos too and the famous Steamboat Pro Rodeo in August. The cowboy lifestyle comes alive in the long days of Steamboat's summer. A new twist to the rodeo is the Hot Air Balloon Rodeo in July.
On the cultural side of Steamboat Springs, you will find the internationally acclaimed Strings in the Mountains Music Series, Art-in-the-Park Festival, and the Steamboat Wine Festival. These summer festivals in Steamboat Springs round out a perfect Colorado vacation.
Unlike most of Colorado's ski resorts, Steamboat Springs is truly a genuine western tradition community. This is what makes Steamboat Springs unique, both in winter and summer. No matter what time of the year you vacation to Steamboat, you will be provided with the outdoor experiences you're looking for. Steamboat Springs is the gem of northwestern Colorado.
