On-mountain capacity will be limited, in particular during holiday and peak periods, and stand-alone lift tickets are currently not being offered. The only way to access the mountain is through advanced purchase packages and season pass products. 

Only guests who pre-book packages by November 2 through approved travel partners – of which Condos in Steamboat is one, will have mountain access for their reserved dates. 

“In Steamboat, we know that taking vacations isn’t as simple as it used to be,” said Rob Pearlman, President & COO, Steamboat Ski Resort and Corporation. “We want to welcome you back this winter, knowing that we are prioritizing your safety and making operational changes so you can enjoy your time on the slopes worry-free.”

The resort outlined the following guidelines for on-mountain services.

• For pass holders and pre-booked packages, additional lift-line management (specific queue times) may be necessary during holiday and peak periods. If this is the case, guests will receive further instructions closer to, or during, the season.   
• Ragnar’s and Four Points night dining will not operate due to capacity limitations on transportation to these venues. Hazie’s and Haymaker will be open with modified night dining. 
• Lodges and restaurants will be reconfigured to allow more space between tables. 
• Expanded outdoor dining options will be available at Rendezvous Lodge. 
• Advanced reservations will be required for all night dining, as well as day dining at Ragnar’s, Hazie’s, Stoker and Timber & Torch.
• Advanced reservations for Snowsports School lessons are required. Private lesson class sizes will be limited to 5 students. Group lessons will be half-day sessions with a target of 5 students per instructor. Children ages 2.5 to 4 years old may participate in private lessons with a maximum of 2 students. Childcare and group lessons will not be available for children under 5.
• Common COVID practices: We have all become accustomed to wearing facial coverings, socially distancing, practicing healthy hand washing/sanitizing, increased cleaning efforts at all high-touch points, etc. These practices will remain a priority for Steamboat Ski Resort staff and guests.

How well do you know Steamboat Springs? Test your knowledge and see. 

1. The town was given its name by French trappers who were confused by the engine-like chugging noise from a spring located across from the current library on 13^thStreet. It was reminiscent of an old Steamboat, hence the name.
2. The width of Lincoln Avenue – the main street that runs through downtown Steamboat, is wide enough to accommodate a cattle drive. The stockyards were on the west of town and ranchers had to move their cattle through town to the load onto cattle cars. The Yampa Valley is home to eight Centennial ranches, (they are still owned and operated by the same family after 100 years).
3. In the early 1900s, Steamboat was known for its strawberries. Around 9,000 crates of strawberries were shipped out of an area three miles from downtown, known to this day as Strawberry Park.
4. Howelsen Hill is the oldest, continuously running ski area in North America.
5. Sherman Poppen invented the modern snowboard in 1965. Back then it was called the Snurfer. Poppen, who was a skier, never actually learned to snowboard until he moved to Steamboat Springs in 1995.
6. Steamboat Springs is home to more U.S. Olympians than any other town in the nation.  Over 89 Olympians have come through the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club.
7. The Yampa River is named after a flowering root, which grows along the river. The Ute Indians used to ground it into flour and use it as a staple food in their diet.
8. The Yampa Valley has more than 150 natural hot springs. Since the 1800s, the Ute Indians together with the Shoshone, Arapahoe, Sioux, Crow and Cheyenne came to the area to soak in the medicinal springs.
9. F.M. Light & Sons is one of the oldest family-run businesses in the country. Last year the store, which is now in the hands of the 5^thgeneration, celebrated 115 years. Drive into Steamboat from any direction within a 150-mile radius, and you will see one of 100 yellow and black signs, advertising their wares. 
10. Founded in 1913, the Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts School and Camp is the longest continuously operating camp of its kind in the United States. Students from ages eight through college come to learn about dance, theatre, art and equestrian all summer long. Dustin Hoffman and Julie Harris are among the famous alumni.

Snow making at Steamboat Ski Area. Photo: Larry Pierce.

As darkness lifted in the early hours this morning, little plumes of moisture could be seen clouding in clusters over the Steamboat Ski Area. The snow guns were out and Mount Werner was getting primed for her winter coat.

On November 21, Alterra Mountain Company will pop the cork on bottles of Korbel and open their gondola doors for the first riders and boarders of the 2018/ 19 season.

“The countdown to Opening Day is on with the start of snowmaking,” shared Dave Hunter, vice president of mountain operations for the Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation. “We are just about 20 days away, the excitement is building, and our crews are hard at work assisting Mother Nature to create a great early season base for our guests to enjoy.”

New resort owners Alterra, have already started to make a mark on their master development plan for the ski area. The Bear River Bar and Grill at the base of the mountain underwent a mammoth transformation this summer and will reopen as the Timber and Torch. Expanded indoor seating, an oversized deck with outdoor fireplace and barbecue grill area are just some of the changes guests will be able to enjoy.

On the snow, diners can look out for the Taco Beast, a snowcat-come-food truck for some Mexican themed fast food and new signage marking trails and lifts. Although the resort’s 2,965 acres remains untouched, plans are afoot for future developments.

As the new season starts, one thing is certain, the annual line up of winter festivities stays unchanged. The Yampa Valley’s long list of winter traditions will be celebrated on and off the mountain, in true Steamboat style. Cheers to the next winter season.

Camera

Routt County’s scenery explodes into a backdrop of spectacular reds and golds during fall. Take to the roads and leave plenty time to pull over and take photos. Favorite drives include: The Flat Tops Wilderness Area Scenic Byway from Yampa over Dunkley Pass and Ripple Creek Pass; Elk River Road to Hahns Peak and Steamboat Lake; or Rabbit Ears Pass to Muddy Pass.

Binoculars

Spot an array of wildlife on the hillsides or roaming in the valley floor. It’s a busy time for our resident moose, elk, deer and bears. Keep a safe distance and use binoculars or telephoto lenses to watch them. Never approach a wild animal and make sure dogs remain on a leash.

Keep track of local bird sightings and document your own by using the popular app, ebird.org. For instant identification from a database of 650 North American birds, try merlin.allaboutbirds.org

 Warm Layers

Plan for cooler air temps in the mornings and evenings. Dress like a local and opt for layers. Several of the nations biggest players in outdoor recreation clothing and gear started out right here in Steamboat. Check out sidewalk sales throughout fall where last season’s gear can be a steal. You’ll have to race to the rack to grab anything from Smartwool or Big Agnes.

Taste Buds

It’s not just beer and brats on the menu this season, although you can find both in abundance at Steamboat’s OktoberWest festival on September 14 and 15. Sip local brews and pedal from pub to pub, while raising money for a great cause in the annual Mustache Ride on October 6.

Dine for less during ‘mud season’ when some of the town’s best eateries will be offering specials. Hunting season brings elk to the table in tasty stews and steaks. Homegrown apples, plums and the last harvest of peaches bubble inside cobblers and pies. Get a taste of local flavors at the first ever Yampavore dinner on October 11 at Harwigs Restaurant. All proceeds from ticket sales will go to support the Community Agriculture Alliance.

A Costume

We’re serious here – if you come on Halloween, you will need one. The downtown stroll is one of the community’s most cherished events. For two hours, Lincoln Avenue is closed to traffic and open to ghosts, ghouls and goblins. Join the throng of locals wandering from store to store on a trick or treat quest. Dress up and take part, or kick back with a cocktail and watch from the sidelines. October 31, 5-7 p.m.

The Irish are not the only ones who get to feel lucky. Spending a springtime vacation in Steamboat Springs will make you feel blessed, and here 10 reasons why.

1. Skiing or boarding on the fresh groomers in the morning and soft snow in the afternoon sun. (Although an impending storm is going to add a fresh layer of powder to the mix next week).

2. Rockin’ out at to a free concert at the base area with Bud Light Rocks the ‘Boat series.

3. Slopeside’s Ice Bar – après ski just got cooler.

4. Soaking in thermal waters at the Strawberry Park Hot Springs – one of 19 mineral springs on the Historic Hot Springs Tour through Colorado.

5. Cross-country skiing in a t-shirt and refueling with a picnic on Rabbit Ears Pass. (Pick up a to go from Backcountry Provisions but be warned, you might need a nap, it’s so good).

6. Gear sales have started in town and on the mountain so there’s plenty of bargains to snag.

7. Snowshoeing and hiking at Fish Creek Falls where the ice is beginning to melt. When it does, you can’t hear yourself think for the roar.

8. Sipping suds at the four local breweries dotted around town.

9. Road biking past miles of rolling ranch lands.

10. Taking an early morning hot air balloon ride as the valley below awakens.

Spring in the mountains is a tempestuous affair when it comes to the weather. Powder days have past for another season and summer pursuits are on hold until the snow melts and temperatures rise. Bikers and hikers are out and about but on rainy afternoons the great indoors comes calling.

Catch up on reading, peruse new book titles and unearth local folklore at the Bud Werner Memorial Library. Sit by the window with a freshly brewed coffee from the café and watch the Yampa River rush by. Kids are easily entertained in the children’s section where oversized beanbags and weekly activities lure mini bookworms.

Test your competitive spirit with a game of bowling at the Snow Bowl. Look out for disco bowling hours when the lights will be twirling and the music is pumping. If you are feeling creative unearth any artistic skills and paint a masterpiece at Splatz, located within the Snow Bowl.

Delve into local history and learn about the people and places that made Steamboat Springs what it is today. The Tread of Pioneers Museum on Eighth and Oak streets is a treasure trove of artifacts and information. Keep small visitors occupied on a scavenger hunt and make time to peruse the gift shop.

Who says ice cream can only be eaten in summer? Rain or shine, a trip to Lyons Soda Fountain for a hot fudge sundae always warms the soul. Put a tune on the jukebox and absorb the old-time atmosphere that keeps Lyons bustling all year round.

Shop until you drop on Lincoln Avenue. Family-owned and operated boutique stores offer an array of locally made creations from clothing to coffee. Step inside art galleries along the way including the Steamboat Art Museum which houses exhibitions by nationally re-known painters.

So our last activity is not indoors, but a little drizzle makes no difference when you are soaking in the hot springs. Relax in thermally warmed waters at Strawberry Park Hot Springs or the Old Town Hot Springs. Look for seasonal offers on massages and take relaxation to an elevated level.

Cloudy skies doesn’t mean the fun stops in Steamboat, it’s simply a case of changing the pace.