Colorado · Cross-country skiing

Howelsen Meadows

Howelsen MeadowsPhoto: Notchcode, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
0.3 mi
distance
43 ft
climb
6,985 ft
high point
Moderate
difficulty
May–Sep
best months

Howelsen Meadows is a cross-country ski route in the Emerald Mountain - Baxter area of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, on city land. It is a short outing, about 0.28 miles long, with a total climb of 43 feet from a starting point around 6,948 feet to a high of about 6,985 feet. The route is rated moderate, with the steepest section at about 0.22 miles, where the grade reaches 4%. The most comfortable months for visiting are late spring and early fall. Typical averages from the nearby Steamboat Springs weather station show May highs around 65°F and September highs around 74°F, while winter highs stay near or below freezing. The Lupine Trail and the Bluffs Loop mountain biking route both sit about 0.1 miles away. Climbers can head to Butcher Knife, about 1.1 miles off, and Steamboat Springs KOA offers camping roughly 2.9 miles away.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Howelsen Meadows

    Best months: May–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      29° / 5°

      14 wet

    2. Feb

      34° / 8°

      13 wet

    3. Mar

      45° / 18°

      11 wet

    4. Apr

      54° / 27°

      12 wet

    5. May

      65° / 34°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      76° / 39°

      9 wet

    7. Jul

      83° / 46°

      9 wet

    8. Aug

      82° / 44°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      74° / 36°

      10 wet

    10. Oct

      59° / 26°

      9 wet

    11. Nov

      43° / 16°

      11 wet

    12. Dec

      30° / 6°

      14 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Steamboat Springs, CO, 0.9 mi away at 6,866 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more snow worth the drive

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