Steamboat Springs’ Howelson Hill is the oldest ski area in continuous operation. It has been offering cold-weather recreation since 1915.
It also has the largest natural ski jumping complex in North America. It is also home to the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, which has practiced there since its inception.
The History
A short walk from downtown Steamboat Springs, Howelson Hill is home to the oldest ski area in North America. It also holds a special place in the history of skiing, having sent more Olympic athletes to competition than any other ski area in North America.
A small alpine ski area in the heart of Steamboat Springs, Howelson Hill has been in operation since 1915. Its name was given to it after Norwegian immigrant Carl Howelsen, who arrived in the town as a Barnum and Bailey Circus performer.
Howelsen was a cross country skier in his native Norway and he loved the snowy mountains of his new home. He soon introduced ski jumping to the locals and began to promote winter sports. This helped to establish Steamboat Springs as a world-class ski destination.
The Slopes
The slopes of Howelson Hill Ski Area offer terrain that’s catered for all ages and abilities. It has 50 skiable acres (10 are open for night skiing) and sees 150 inches of annual average snowfall.
It’s a smaller resort than many other ski areas in Colorado, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth visiting. There are some unique jumps and runs here that make the place stand out from the crowd.
The hill is also home to the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, where they train youth skiers, snowboarders and ice skaters. It’s a great place to watch some young talent tear up the jumps!
The Lifts
Known for its storied heritage, Howelsen Hill Ski Area is Colorado’s oldest continuously operated ski area. It also boasts the largest and most complete natural ski jumping complex in North America.
It is also home to a youth ski club. Howelsen Hill has been a training ground for many of the local and national alpine and Nordic athletes over the years.
The ski area has 15 trails of varying slope and difficulty, as well as a series of long jumps for training purposes. There are also two year-round nordic jumps, alpine race terrain and a terrain park.
The Atmosphere
Located in downtown Steamboat Springs, Howelson Hill Ski Area is one of the oldest continually operated ski areas in Colorado. With features like the largest ski jump complex in North America and a variety of options for winter sporting fun, Howelson Hill has been a training ground for 100 Olympians, 22 Colorado Ski Hall of Famers and 13 National Ski Hall of Fame members over its 90-year history.
As a family-friendly destination, Howelson Hill offers a range of snow sports to suit all abilities as well as year-round activities. The ski area also includes the Howelsen Ice Complex which provides an outdoor skating rink, bumper cars on ice and other family-friendly entertainment.
As with any ski area, weather conditions can have an impact on the snow quality at Howelson Hill. Whenever there is significant snowfall the piste conditions at Howelson Hill can change quickly. This is especially true around weekends when locals are out en masse and the slopes can deteriorate rapidly.