Steamboat, Colorado ski resort: background
Steamboat is a major Colorado ski resort, located 157 miles northwest of Denver. Steamboat has an airport just 22 miles away, in Hayden, the Yampa Valley Regional Airport, with non-stop flights from eight major cities. Loyal visitors like that Steamboat has less crowds, hype, and glitz than some other Colorado ski resorts.
Steamboat is actually a mountain range: 2965 acres include Mount Werner, Thunderhead Peak, Pioneer Ridge and Christie Peak; Sunshine and Storm Peaks are known for glades and light, dry "Champagne Powder". Non-skiers can take up snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, winter horse-riding, or tubing (day or night). Or soak in the natural hot springs in the area.
Check at the Steamboat site for special events such as Western BBQ's or seasonal Fireworks.
Steamboat is the third largest ski resort in Colorado, with 164 trails, 3,668 ft. vertical and 2965 acres of terrain.
Steamboat: features for families
Steamboat is extremely welcoming to families. Features include:- Kids Fly Free, Kids Rent Free, and Kids Ski Free deals
- Kids-Only Terrain and Lifts
- child-care programs for ages 6 months and up
- evening "Kids Night Out" programs
- On-Snow programs for many ages
- Mavericks Superpipe and Terrain Park with longest superpipe in N. America, and early opening date thanks to snowmaking. Mavericks has its own chairlift and terrain for all ability levels; Mini-Mav is a mini- superpipe with ten-foot walls, for novices.
Ski and snowboard camps are available for several age groups; for week-long camps, kids stay with the same instructor group all week. Package includes lift ticket for lesson times plus some after-hours access. (Check web site for updates.)
For teens at Steamboat: Rough Riders ski and snowboard programs are available for first-graders through 15 years; kids are placed in groups with similar ages and skill levels. For the same ages, Desperados Ski Weeks keep a group together with the same coach all week. Steamboat also has a Teen Ski Challenge, for skiers Level 6-8, ages 13-17.
Kids-Only Terrain and Lifts: Steamboat has five kids-only lifts, and two beginner teaching areas with easy "Magic Carpet" lifts. The "kids-only" terrain at Rough Rider Basin has its own lift plus teepees and a frontier-style fort. Steamboat also has kid's terrain park called Beehive.
Kids Ski Free at Steamboat: typically with this program, ages 12 and under ski free when parents buy 5-or-more day lift tickets, and one child is free, per paying adult. With Kids Rent Free:, one child (gets free equipment rental when a parent rents equipment for five days; other rental discounts for kids are also available.
Things to keep in mind:
- Be sure to check Steamboat's vacation packages. Some include airfares too.
- be sure to reserve for programs in advance.
- bring proof of age for 11- and 12-year olds!
Find out more about Steamboat:
- Steamboat site
- read about Steamboat at Kidznsnow.com, which has many details for families.
This brief profile is meant to introduce this resort to family vacationers; please note that the writer has not visited in person. Always check destination sites for updates.
