Snow was stacking up fast when I pulled into town, and the lifts at Steamboat Springs Resort were already spinning. If you are hunting for things to do in Steamboat Springs in December, you are in the right place. Between the mountain, the hot springs, and the trails, the town stays busy from first chair to last call. Winter here feels manageable, even for a short trip, and the snow usually shows up on time.
- Best time
- December, January, and February
- Where to stay
- Downtown Steamboat Springs or near the resort
- Perfect for
- Skiers, families, and hot springs fans
- Don't miss
- Champagne Powder snow at Steamboat Springs Resort
Things I'd tell a friend
Three things I would tell a friend before they book a December trip.
Skip the small airport
Steamboat has its own airport, but it is fairly small and flights can be more expensive. Denver is a huge hub with plenty of options, and from there it is a very easy three-hour drive to Steamboat Springs. You may want a rental car, though the free shuttle around town means you can park it once you arrive.
Source · Checked the route myself
Snow comes heavy in December
December, January, and February each average 60 to 80 inches of snow. Temperatures run from the mid-30s down to single digits, so pack for both. That snow is exactly why the skiing, tubing, and snowshoeing are so good.
Source · Weather records say so
Other winter adventures
Beyond the main attractions, winter in Steamboat Springs also means dog sledding with Alaskan Huskies, ice fishing, hot air ballooning, sleigh rides, and even the Bridgestone Winter Driving School. Browse art galleries, go shopping, or check out four local breweries and a distillery. The hard part is fitting it all in.
Source · Picked this up locally
Steamboat Springs Resort
This is the big one, the reason most people head to Ski Town, U.S.A. in the first place.
- 3,741 acres of mountain
- 181 trails for all levels
- Stunning views on a bluebird day
- Easy to navigate with mixed skill groups
Steamboat Springs Resort is the centerpiece of a winter trip. It has 3,741 acres of mountain and 181 trails, with everything from beginner runs to long cruisers to steep and deep pitches. The snow here is the light, dry Champagne Powder that made the town famous, and on a bluebird day the views are hard to beat. The lifts run quickly and reliably, and the terrain is easy to navigate. This is not the biggest resort you will ever ski, and it is not known for backcountry or extreme skiing. But there is enough terrain to challenge you, and it works well when your group has different skill levels. The town is also home to more Olympic skiers than any other place in North America. After skiing, restaurants and bars around the resort serve cold beer and salty burgers. With December averaging 60 to 80 inches of snow, conditions are usually deep.
A friendly mountain, not an extreme one
This is not the place for backcountry or extreme skiing. It is friendly, easy to navigate, and has trails for all levels. That makes it a good fit when your group has different skill levels.
Fly into Denver and drive three hours
Steamboat Springs has its own airport, but it is small and flights can be expensive. Fly into Denver and drive the very easy three hours. You can rent a car, or skip it once you see the free shuttle around town.
December brings the deepest snow
December, January, and February see 60 to 80 inches of snow each month. Temperatures run from the mid-30s to single digits, so plan your layers.
Ride the lifts early; a bluebird day here is something else.
Stay near the base so the resort restaurants and bars are only steps away.
The Steamboat Hotel
The Steamboat Grand
- Outdoor swimming pool
- Free Wifi
- Private Parking
- Non-smoking rooms
- Skiing
- Facilities for disabled guests
- Fitness center
- Tea/Coffee Maker in All Rooms
- Bar
- Breakfast
We earn a commission on bookings through these links. The picks are mine, and that doesn't change them.
Howelsen Hill
If you want one spot that sums up a Steamboat winter, this is it.
- Colorado's oldest continuously operated ski area
- Trailhead for snowshoeing to Emerald Mountain
- Most convenient snow tubing in town
- Indoor ice skating at the Howelsen Hill Ice Complex
Howelsen Hill sits right in the middle of Steamboat Springs. It holds the title of Colorado's oldest continuously operated ski area, and in winter it turns into a multi-sport playground. You can snowshoe from here to the top of Emerald Mountain, and the track up is easy to follow. The trail network is fun to poke around, with cross-country skiers and fat bike riders sharing the snow. The view at the top makes the climb worth it. On the way down, side paths can leave you turned around in all that white, untrampled snow, so stick to the main route. The same hill has the most convenient snow tubing in town, right in the center of things. You can also skate indoors at the Howelsen Hill Ice Complex or on the new outdoor rinks. Pull up an interactive map for trail info, check the city's Tube Howelsen page for tubing details, and look at Routt County Riders for fat bike rentals and routes.
Stick to the main track
The track up Emerald Mountain is easy to follow. On the way down, side paths can leave you turned around in all the white, untrampled snow, so save new routes for when you know the area.
One hill, many winter sports
Howelsen Hill is Colorado's oldest continuously operated ski area. In winter it also hosts snowshoeing, snow tubing, cross-country skiing, fat biking, and ice skating.
Right in the center of town
You can walk to Howelsen Hill from the center of town. A free shuttle around Steamboat Springs helps too.
Stick to the main track on the way down and you won't get turned around.
Base yourself downtown and Howelsen Hill is an easy walk from your door.
Sheraton Steamboat Resort Villas
- Outdoor swimming pool
- Free Wifi
- Private Parking
- Non-smoking rooms
- Family rooms
- Skiing
- Facilities for disabled guests
- Fitness center
- Spa and wellness center
- Bar
The Nordic Lodge
- Outdoor swimming pool
- Free Wifi
- Free parking
- Non-smoking rooms
- Family rooms
- Skiing
- Facilities for disabled guests
- Tea/Coffee Maker in All Rooms
We earn a commission on bookings through these links. The picks are mine, and that doesn't change them.
Old Town Hot Springs
After a cold day on the mountain, this is where you warm up.
- One of the two most popular hot springs in town
- Right in the middle of Steamboat Springs
- Full fitness facility on site
- Easy choice over a longer drive to Strawberry Park
Steamboat Springs is named for its springs, and they are all around the area. The two most popular and most accessible are Old Town and Strawberry Park. Old Town Hot Springs sits right in the middle of Steamboat Springs and has a full fitness facility. That makes it the convenient option when you do not want to plan around a drive. Strawberry Park is further afield and requires a driver, so it suits a different kind of day. If you want a soak without leaving town, Old Town is the straightforward pick. It also pairs well with the downtown Steamboat Springs dining scene. The Laundry Restaurant, Back Door Grill, and Salt and Lime show up on just about every local best-of list.
Two springs, two different trips
Old Town sits right in the middle of Steamboat Springs and has a full fitness facility. Strawberry Park is further afield and requires a driver.
Pair a soak with downtown dinner
Make it an evening: soak first, then eat. The Laundry Restaurant, Back Door Grill, and Salt and Lime all show up on local best-of lists.
Pick Old Town if you want a soak without the long drive.
Old Town Hot Springs sits in the middle of Steamboat, so downtown lodging puts the springs at your door.
Homewood Suites By Hilton Steamboat Springs
- Indoor swimming pool
- Free Wifi
- Private Parking
- Non-smoking rooms
- Facilities for disabled guests
- Fitness center
- Tea/Coffee Maker in All Rooms
- Bar
- Good Breakfast
The Inn At Steamboat
We earn a commission on bookings through these links. The picks are mine, and that doesn't change them.
Rabbit Ears Pass
For a faster way into the backcountry, point a snowmobile this way.
- Half-day guided snowmobile tours go here
- Named for a rock formation that looks like rabbit ears
- Rugged wilderness, so a guide makes sense
- You see far more than you would on foot or skis
A half-day guided snowmobile tour outside Steamboat Springs heads into Rabbit Ears Pass. It has been a favorite of people who have snowmobiled all over, and it tops the list more often than not. Rabbit Ears Pass is a well-known pass in the Rocky Mountains, named for the rock formation that overlooks the valley and looks like, well, rabbit ears. It can be rugged out there, so having a guide is a good idea. A snowmobile lets you cover a lot more ground than foot or ski travel, which is the whole point. If you have a group that likes a little speed, this is the adventure to book.
Why a guide matters here
It can be rugged wilderness out around Rabbit Ears Pass, so having a guide is a good idea. They know the route and keep you safe.
Half-day trips leave from town
Guided snowmobile tours run outside Steamboat Springs into Rabbit Ears Pass. A half-day trip is enough to get a real feel for the backcountry.
A snowmobile covers more ground
On a snowmobile, you see a lot more of the area than you would on foot or skis. For groups that like speed, this is the one.
Let a guide lead; the wilderness here is not the place to wing it.
Saddleback Ranch
When you want tubing outside the center of town, head this way.
- Sits a little further out of town
- Home to the YEE-HAW snow tubing hill
- A different tubing option from Howelsen Hill
- Snow tubing is a blast for families
Snow tubing is one of those winter activities that works for everyone. Howelsen Hill is the most convenient tubing in the center of town, but Saddleback Ranch, a little further out, offers the fabulously named YEE-HAW snow tubing hill. You ride down on an inflatable tube and the lift does the work of getting you back up. The ranch hill gives you a different setting from the town hill, and the name sets the tone for what is basically a long, silly, very fun slide. With two good options, you can decide based on how far you want to drive.
A short drive from the center
Saddleback Ranch is a little further out of town than Howelsen Hill. Count on a short drive to reach the tubing hill.
Two solid tubing options
Howelsen Hill is the most convenient tubing in the center of town. Saddleback Ranch is further out and has the YEE-HAW snow tubing hill.
The YEE-HAW hill is worth the short drive out of town.
Haymaker Nordic Center
Cross-country skiing here is low on fuss and high on quiet trails.
- Maintained cross-country trails
- Rentals on site
- Lessons if you want them
- One-stop shop for Nordic skiing
You can cross-country ski at Howelsen Hill and Emerald Mountain, but Haymaker Nordic Center keeps everything easy. It has maintained trails, rentals, and even lessons if you want them. That one-stop setup means you can show up without gear and still get out on the snow. If you want more Nordic options in the Steamboat Springs area, trails are also available at a guest ranch or through the Steamboat Ski Touring Center. There is no shortage of places to ski. If you have never tried cross-country skiing, the lessons at Haymaker are a low-pressure way to start.
Rentals and lessons on site
Haymaker Nordic Center has maintained trails, rentals, and lessons. You do not need your own gear to try cross-country skiing.
Ski Howelsen Hill too
The trail network around Howelsen Hill and Emerald Mountain also has cross-country skiers. If you already have skis, you can head there too.
Other Nordic trails nearby
Nordic trails are also available at a guest ranch or through the Steamboat Ski Touring Center. You have more than one option for a quiet ski day.
Rentals are on site, so you can try Nordic skiing without buying gear.
What is there to do in Steamboat Springs in December besides skiing?
Snowshoe Howelsen Hill, soak at Old Town Hot Springs, ride a snowmobile at Rabbit Ears Pass, and go tubing at Saddleback Ranch or Howelsen Hill. You can also try cross-country skiing at Haymaker Nordic Center, fat biking, dog sledding, ice fishing, hot air ballooning, or sleigh rides.
Is December a good time to visit Steamboat Springs for snow?
Yes. December, January, and February each average 60 to 80 inches of snow. Temperatures run from the mid-30s to single digits.
How do I get from Denver to Steamboat Springs?
It is a very easy three-hour drive from Denver. You will want a rental car, though the free shuttle around town means you can leave it parked once you arrive.
Where can I go snow tubing in Steamboat Springs in December?
Howelsen Hill has the most convenient tubing, right in the center of town. Saddleback Ranch, a little further out, has the YEE-HAW snow tubing hill.
Which hot springs should I visit in Steamboat Springs?
Old Town Hot Springs is in the middle of town with a full fitness facility. Strawberry Park is further afield and requires a driver.
Can beginners ski at Steamboat Springs Resort?
The resort has 181 trails with options for all levels. It is easy to navigate and works well when a group has different skill levels.
