How to ski (or ride) Steamboat's glades

Rated the "Best Trees" by Skiing magazine, Steamboat Resort's glades are particularly lauded thanks to the magical combination of perfectly spaced aspen trees, ideal slope angle (steep, but not too steep) and of course, the resort's famous and ample Champagne Powder®. This perfect blend makes for a tree-skier's (or rider’s) paradise.

To help you get to the goods, we comprised a roundup of top tree-skiing zones at Steamboat Resort and how to get to them.

Sundown Lift Glades

Start the day on looker's right side of the mountain, which offers the quickest, most convenient access if you're staying in recommended, base-area lodging options, like the Steamboat Grand, Trappeurs Crossing, and Highmark. You're just a gondola and lift-ride away from cruising through powdery, epic glades.

From the top of the Gondola, make your way to Sundown Express. From the top of the chair, head down skier's left towards the Twilight run. Pop into the trees on skier's right to experience the joys in Twilight Glades. To access Steamboat's most popular glades, Shadows and Closets, you'll want to head skier's right from the top of the lift. Here, you'll be treated to 1,900 vertical feet of pristine firs and aspens. If you haven't had enough after one run, which is highly probable, head back to the Sundown Express and lap the glades of your preference as many times as you please.

Morningside Park

An expansive bowl-like zone located on the backside of Mt. Werner, Morningside Park is a playground for forgiving tree skiing. Morningside Park is accessible from the top Sunshine Peak or Storm Peak.

Here, you have a 200-acre bowl filled with playful, groomed runs flanked by well-spaced, intermediate-friendly glades. Morningside Park is perfect for a skier or rider who wants to experience fresh snow in the trees, but wants to forgo skiing or riding down any black runs.

Christmas Tree Bowl and The Chutes

Offering a wide array of double black-diamond terrain, Christmas Tree Bowl and the Chutes 1-3 will especially please challenge-seekers. From the top of Morningside Lift, experts will head over to the Chute 3 Gate. From there, they have their pick of chutes and steep trees, which offer plenty of thrilling features, including cliffs. To access the east side of Christmas Tree Bowl and all other terrain that lies beyond, i.e. No Names. North St. Pats and East Face, adventurous skiers and riders must tackle a 10-minute hike along the summit ridgeline of Mt. Werner.

If you find yourself near a chairlift that accesses Storm Peak around lunchtime, head to Four Points Lodge—Steamboat’s premiere on-mountain lodge. The restaurant serves fresh-made salad, pastas, soups and home-made chicken pot pie—yum! The Bloody Mary, which contains a meal's worth of accouterments, is not to be missed. There’s also an expansive selection of draft beers on tap.

Pioneer Ridge

Pioneer Ridge, aka all the terrain off of the Pony Express Liftline, is a great place for intermediate advanced to advanced skiers and riders looking to practice their tree skiing. This zone isn't as steep or technical as the renowned Christmas Tree Bowl and the Chutes, but offers long, natural gladed terrain and holds the snow days after a storm. In addition, Pioneer Ridge doesn't see the same skier volume like other zones.

By now you’re probably chomping at the bit to slarve through Steamboat’s powdery forests. We can help get you there, while making it easy for you. Get started by filling out a form for a custom quote.