Howelsen Hill Keeps Sundays Free, but There Is Still One Required Stop
Howelsen Hill will offer free Sunday skiing during its 2026-27 season. Visitors still need a ticket, and some terrain may close for events or snow.
Howelsen Hill in Steamboat Springs will again offer free skiing every Sunday during the winter season, but visitors still need to stop at the Ticket Office. The city requires a free physical ticket before guests use the lifts or Nordic trails, even though no reservation is needed.
The planned 2026-27 season runs from November 28 through March 28, conditions permitting. That gives travelers a winter window for adding the downtown hill to a Yampa Valley visit, rather than treating the program as a single promotional day. Actual terrain access remains subject to conditions and the hill's operating schedule.
For a family considering an extra day on snow, the appeal is concrete: Sunday's lift ticket costs nothing. That does not make every part of the outing free. Equipment, instruction and other trip expenses should be considered separately, and the city explicitly excludes Tube Howelsen snow tubing from the Sunday offer.
Check the terrain before making it the day's plan
The city's reminders are worth reading before setting out. Snow conditions, competitions and special events can limit or close terrain on particular Sundays. Training by the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club can also occupy part of the Face. A free ticket therefore should not be read as a promise that every run or facility will be available.
That matters most if the group has a specific goal. Someone hoping for a few relaxed laps has a different plan from a visitor counting on a particular trail. Check the current operating information close to the visit, then decide whether the available skiing matches the group's needs.
Howelsen occupies a different place in town from nearby Steamboat Resort. It is owned and operated by the City of Steamboat Springs, with a skiing history dating to 1915. The hill's role as a community facility helps explain why an ongoing free Sunday program fits here.
The Sunday ticket has another use after skiing. The city's program page lists a same-day Mountain Tap Brewery offer from 2 to 5 p.m., with a choice of a qualifying beer or popcorn when guests show the ticket. Check the exclusions before ordering.
Start with the city's Ski Free Sunday details for access rules and reminders. Our Howelsen Hill guide offers a starting point for understanding the ski area before adding it to a Steamboat Springs itinerary.