Steamboat Easter holidays
Colorado has had some fantastic spring skiing over past seasons and Steamboat has been at the forefront for snow. With temperatures typically rising to allow blissful t-shirt skiing, you’ll be hard pushed to find a better time of year to ski. Despite the sun, prior years have seen snowfalls right up until mid-April for those who still have a hankering for the champagne powder Steamboat is famous for.
If you’re there with the sole purpose of skiing in mind, you have to treat it tactically. The best time of day to ski in spring is late morning, from about 10 to midday – this allows the ice from the night before to be slightly melted and creates the perfect balance of ice and slush (and also lets you fit in a hearty breakfast at Winona’s beforehand). In the morning head to sunnier slopes, mainly facing south, as the ice will melt that little bit quicker, to get optimum conditions. Later in the day, stick to north facing slopes which hold off the sun for longer – Steamboat has an abundance of these, perfect for the afternoon. Steamboat has runs named in accordance of the best time to ski them: accessible from the Sundown Express, High Noon, One O’clock, Two O’clock and Three O’clock are all pretty self-explanatory! For those hell-bent on spending longer with their skis off the snow that on it, the terrain parks are the perfect place to be in spring; with slushier snow, you’ve got a softer landing.
In our humble opinion, the best thing to do is skiing from mid-morning to early afternoon, before putting our ski boots up whilst relaxing on the decking of an après bar. Slopeside Grill and Bar is right next to the Preview trail, offering some of the best people watching views available whilst you sit sipping on a cool beverage. T-Bar is another favourite, offering a bar and restaurant for ski in/ski out convenience. Another great way to enjoy the weather if you just don’t fancy skiing is taking a dip in the Old Town Hot Springs, where you can soak up the sunshine whilst soaking in the naturally heated water.
There are a number of events usually put on during the end of the season – our favourite is the Cardboard Classic, which has graced the slopes of Steamboat for over 30 years. In this event, cardboard cut-outs are created and ridden whilst sliding down the slopes, as well as “athletes” in fancy dress trying to ski over a stretch of water. Always guaranteed to see some spills and splashes, this is fantastic for spectators of any age.
Easter snow and skiing conditions in Steamboat
Easter Snow History
Top alt:3224m
Average snow depth
Mar/Apr176cm/93cm
Bottom alt:2103m
Average snow depth
Mar/Apr144cm/76cm
Resort alt:2052m
Easter ski rating