Skiers and riders in Steamboat Springs won't need to pay a dime at the lift window on Sundays this winter. Howelsen Hill, billed as Colorado's oldest continuously operating ski area, is once again offering free skiing every Sunday throughout the season, with nothing more required than a quick stop at the ticket window.
The tradition, known as Ski Free Sundays, asks participants only to swing by the Ticket Office and pick up a free ticket before heading to the lifts or Nordic trails, according to the city of Steamboat Springs. No reservation is needed, and the offer applies to both alpine lifts and Nordic terrain throughout the winter. That's a real break for families, since a regular adult lift ticket typically runs $55, according to the Denver Gazette, while season passes range from $260 to $505 depending on whether skiers choose a Nordic pass, an alpine pass, or both.
There's an incentive to stick around after the final run, too. Anyone who shows their lift ticket at Mountain Tap Brewery between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. can claim a free beer — certain beers excluded — or a cauldron of popcorn, per the city's own account. The brewery has even rolled out a seasonal brew in the hill's honor, a Howelsen Haze IPA made specifically to celebrate the ski area.
A 1915 Legacy Still Drawing Crowds
Howelsen Hill isn't just old — it's practically a Colorado institution. The hill has operated as a ski area since 1915 and holds the distinction of being the oldest ski area still in continuous use in the state, according to the Colorado Encyclopedia. It was also the first ski area established in Steamboat Springs, per the Denver Gazette, and today it's owned and operated by the city itself rather than a private resort company.
That history has produced more than just nostalgia. Howelsen Hill has turned out nearly 100 winter Olympians over the decades, the city notes, making its roughly 50 skiable acres of alpine terrain something of an incubator for elite competitive skiing despite its modest size. Because the hill still functions as a training ground, portions of the slope may occasionally be reserved for athletes working on technique, per the Denver Gazette's reporting.
What Could Change a Free Sunday
Not every Sunday is guaranteed to look the same. The city cautions that specific Sundays could see limited or closed terrain due to snow conditions, special events, or competitions, and blackout dates may apply throughout the season. Howelsen Hill Ski Area is also closed on Christmas Day, December 25, regardless of it falling on a Sunday. Snow tubing at Tube Howelsen is excluded from the free offer entirely.
For the 2026-2027 season, Howelsen Hill is scheduled to open on Nov. 28, conditions permitting, and run through March 28, 2027, per the Howelsen Hill website — though the city notes those dates ultimately depend on snow and weather conditions. A late or lean winter has shifted the calendar before: the hill ended one past season early with a Closing Day celebration on March 22, about a week ahead of the prior year's March 30 closing, after a winter marked by lower snowfall and warmer temperatures, according to the Steamboat Pilot. Crews kept the hill running that year through grooming, lift maintenance, and snowmaking.
Free Sundays Have a Track Record of Packing the Hill
This isn't a new experiment — and past seasons suggest the free days can draw serious crowds. During one stretch in 2017, turnout on Free Ski Sundays jumped from 204 skiers and riders to 412 the following week, then spiked to 872 on New Year's Eve, the Steamboat Pilot reported at the time. The outlet also observed that the free days appeared to be drawing more skiers to the hill even on regular-price days, suggesting the promotion built momentum well beyond the Sundays themselves.
