Where is Steamboat Powdercats Located?

The Steamboat Powdercats’ office is conveniently located on-mountain at Steamboat ski resort in the Clock Tower Square.

The cat skiing terrain is located on Buffalo Pass which is north of the Steamboat Ski Area, across Fish Creek Canyon. The snowcats leave from the Dry Lake Campground which is a 25 minute drive from downtown Steamboat Springs. Included in the tour is transport between the staging area and your lodging.

Steamboat is located in Colorado, 156 miles (252km) northwest of Denver.


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Snowcat Skiing Terrain

The cat skiing terrain is one of the largest in the USA at 10,000 acres (4,047 hectares). This is 3.4 times bigger than the Steamboat ski resort, and unlike the resort, you don’t have to share the powder with thousands of other skiers and boarders.

The elevation of the terrain is similar to the upper reaches of the ski resort. The terrain is all below the tree-line and has a variety of aspects, so even if it hasn’t snowed in a while, the guides can still find good quality powder.

A typical day incorporates 8 to 16 runs with approximately 8,000 to 14,000 feet of vertical skiing or boarding. Runs vary in length from 500 to 1,200 vertical feet.

Three Snowcats = Three Different Ability Levels Steamboat Powdercats has a distinct advantage over many other cat skiing companies because there are three snowcats that cater to three different ability levels. This separation allows strong intermediates the comfort of knowing that they’re not holding up gun skiers and boarders. On the flip side, experts don’t need to worry that they’ll be twiddling their thumbs whilst waiting for less experienced powder riders.

Level 1 is a backcountry introductory tour for strong intermediate or advanced skiers/boarders who have limited powder experience. The terrain covered is mostly gentle open slopes with the occasional tree.

Level 2 is an advanced tour for riders who typically spend most of their time on black and double black runs. Guests must also be confident in powder and feel comfortable tree skiing at a reasonable pace.

Level 3 is for experts who have significant experience in the powder and are comfortable ripping the steeps, tight trees, and terrain that has fun features and rocky drop-offs. You don’t have to huck, but need to feel comfortable playing in this sort of terrain.