Just because the day ends does not mean the fun has to. Night skiing is the perfect way to get a few more laps in after the sun goes down, and it is a genuinely different experience from the daytime mountain: quieter, emptier, and a little bit magic.
When Is Night Skiing At Steamboat?
Hours: 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Night skiing typically runs Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings from mid-December through late March, with additional weekday night skiing added during the peak holiday period between Christmas and early January.
The resort confirms the exact 2026/27 night skiing calendar in the fall. Check steamboat.com or the Steamboat app for the current schedule before you plan an evening around it.
One date to watch: Steamboat has historically closed night skiing on Super Bowl Sunday. Worth checking if you are here in early February.
What You Get
Night skiing covers 1,100 vertical feet of terrain lit by stadium-style lighting that genuinely illuminates the runs properly. Visibility is better than most people expect.
Access is via the Christie Peak Express, a six-person high-speed chairlift with both a midway stop and a peak stop, topping out around 8,000 feet.
Five trails are open:
- Sitz
- See Me
- Vogue
- Stampede
- Lil' Rodeo
That breaks down to two beginner trails, two intermediate, and one advanced, so every ability level in your group has somewhere to go.
Ikon Passholders Ski Free At Night
This is the detail most passholders never use.
Ikon Pass holders get unlimited night skiing access at Steamboat, limited only to the operating days and dates of night skiing. No separate ticket needed. Just take your pass directly to the Christie Peak lift.
The important part: if you use your Ikon Pass during the day and then again that same night at the same destination, it counts as one day, not two. So a full day of skiing plus a night session costs you a single day off your pass.
Ikon Base Pass holders can access the mountain at night on any day they have already skied.
More in our guide to Steamboat lift tickets and passes.
Night Lift Tickets
Not on an Ikon Pass? Night lift tickets are sold separately and are one of the better value tickets on the mountain.
Local's Tip: prices increase as the date approaches, so booking online in advance gets you the best rate. Buy night lift tickets here.
The Smarter Option: Afternoon Tickets
Here is the move most visitors miss. Afternoon lift tickets include night skiing on eligible evenings.
Early Afternoon Lift Tickets can be purchased online in advance right up until the day of your visit. Late Afternoon Lift Tickets are sold onsite only. Either way, you get the back half of the day plus the night session for one price.
Excellent value on arrival days, departure days, or a first day when altitude is catching up with you and a full day feels like too much.
Need Gear?
The resort offers night-specific ski and snowboard rentals, so you do not need to rent for a full day if you are only skiing the evening. Adult packages are for ages 13 and up, with youth options available.
Ikon Pass holders get 20% off equipment rentals booked in advance online. See our ski rental deals too.
How Do I Get My Tickets?
When you purchase a lift ticket, night skiing ticket, scenic gondola ride, or mountain coaster ticket, you receive an email confirmation with a Print Voucher link.
Scan the barcode from that confirmation at one of the Pick Up Kiosks in Steamboat Square. Your ticket prints out and you proceed directly to the lift. No ticket window, no queue.
Military tickets: active and retired military, including reservists and National Guard, plus dependents, can call 800-922-2722 at least 24 hours ahead for discounted tickets. Military ID required.
Tips For A Good Night Session
- Dress warmer than you think. Temperatures drop hard once the sun goes down. Add a layer compared to what you wore that afternoon, and bring dry gloves.
- Clear or low-light goggle lenses. Your daytime lens will be too dark. If you only have one lens, sunglasses are not the answer here.
- Expect firmer snow. Surfaces set up as temperatures fall, so runs that were soft at 3:00 p.m. will be quicker at 7:00 p.m.
- It is quiet. One of the real appeals. Lift lines are minimal and you can lap the same run repeatedly without fighting crowds.
- Great for kids and nervous skiers. Shorter, lower pressure, fewer people flying past. Some kids who resist a full day will happily do an hour under the lights.
- Eat first, or plan to eat after. Base area restaurants get busy right around 5:30 p.m.
Make An Evening Of It
Night skiing pairs well with everything else happening at the base:
- Skeeter's Ice Skating Rink in Steamboat Square, free with your own skates.
- Apres at Timber & Torch or The Range before or after your session.
- Sunset Happy Hour at Thunderhead, free for 26/27 Ikon passholders and $30 otherwise, with live music and a toast to the sunset over the Yampa Valley.
- Holiday Balloon Glow on December 12 and Light Up The Night on February 13, both of which run alongside night skiing at the base. Note that night skiing has a delayed 6:30 p.m. opening on Light Up The Night.
See the full Steamboat winter event calendar.
Stay With Steamboat Lodging Company
We aim to keep the fun going even after the sun goes down. After a day, or a night, on the mountain, there is nothing better than a real home to come back to.
All our homes are set up with your comfort in mind, from hotel-style luxury linens to a plush seating area to views of the Yampa Valley just outside the door.
- Ski-in ski-out lodging, ideal when your ski day ends at 8:30 p.m. and you just want to walk home
- Walk to slopes properties
- Mountain area rentals
- Private homes and townhomes for groups
Browse all Steamboat Springs lodging, check our lodging deals, and book direct for the best rate.
Contact Steamboat Lodging Company
Phone: 970-457-4785
Email: Contact us here
Office: 1169 Hilltop Parkway, #101A, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
More Steamboat Planning Resources
- Steamboat Lift Tickets & Passes
- Packing For Your Steamboat Ski Vacation
- Steamboat Winter Event Calendar '26/27
- 11 Things To Do in Steamboat Off the Slopes
Night skiing hours, trails, and ticketing are sourced from Steamboat Resort and accurate as of publication. Operating dates for the 2026/27 season are confirmed by the resort in the fall and are subject to change based on conditions. Confirm at steamboat.com before planning your evening.