Yehaw. Steamboat Ski Resort

Grab your cowboy hat and head to the wild west of Steamboat ski resort where the local skiers are likely to have come straight off the ranch.

If you want perfectly placed aspen trees for powder and to see a stampede of cowboys on skis at the Bud Light Downhill Rodeo, then head for Steamboat. Loryn Kasten, Senior Communications Manager rounds up the best tips...

Q. How well do you know Steamboat?

Pretty darn well. I’ve lived and played here for 11 years now.

Q. So why do you think we should come?

Steamboat is unlike any other mountain town in the US. Our ranching heritage is strong - we were a cowboy town long before we were a ski town, and still today there are nearly 400 working ranches. You’ll encounter folks wearing cowboy boots and cowboy hats - it’s no gimmick, they probably just finished working on the ranch. That cowboy culture combined with our incredibly friendly nature makes this a welcoming vacation destination.

Q. Guess you know the resort like the back of your hand, what's your favourite run?

I have so many favourites, based on different things. For fresh groomed I can lap Sunshine lift line and Valley View all day long. For powder days I’ll head to the hike to terrain of No Names and North St. Pats. In between powder days I love 2:30 trees, they are perfectly placed aspens that keep snow fresh days after a storm.

Q. Where should we head for off-piste and backcountry?

Off-piste in Steamboat is the tree terrain (still in bounds). There are a few gates heading out of bounds, but we encourage most of our guests to stay in the resort boundary.

Q. Where is the most awesome view on the mountain?

Broadway bench off the Broadway green trail.

Q Where is the best food on the mountain for lunch? What should we order?

Four Points Lodge. The pot pie.

Q. Which restaurant would you recommend in Steamboat.

Depends on what you’re in the mood for. Café Diva for fine dining, Mazolla’s for pasta, Rex’s for a wide variety, Timber & Torch for great food in the base area,

Q. Which is the coolest bar for après?

Tbar.

Q What's the style for Steamboat? What should we wear to fit in?

Casual, any thing goes in Steamboat- except for fancy and furs.

Q Anything to do in Steamboat apart from ski and snowboard?

Tons! Horseback riding (image above, simplysteamboat), fly fishing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, hot air ballooning, art strolling, tubing, etc.

Q When is a good time to come?

Any time! We especially love Winter Carnival, held around the first or second weekend in February.

Q How easy is it to get to / from Steamboat? And do we need a car when we're there?

Incredibly easy. Yampa Valley Airport is located 20 miles from downtown Steamboat and offers nonstop flights from 15 markets in the US. Flying from London you can connect through Denver on to HDN. You do not need a car in Steamboat. Most hotels offer shuttles and there is a free bus system.