Steamboat has opened the world of the outdoor mountain environment to adaptive and special needs participants for nearly three decades. The resort continues to work to grow this inspiring program through a staff of highly educated and dedicated employees, state-of-the-art adaptive equipment, efforts with outside organizations and host events of all sizes from World Cups to the annual Vertical Express for MS to the Steamboat All-Mountain Adaptive Ski Camps.

Check out our winter STARS program to make your on-snow experience the best it can be!

Mountain Facilities & Restaurants

ADA Gondola Cabin

The resort added a cabin to its gondola that is like no other. Cabin No. 129 was built specifically to be more convenient for adaptive skiers, particularly wheelchair users. The cabin means that wheelchair users can roll through the gondola line to board the special cabin for the trip to Thunderhead. The ADA cabin opens up to 32.7 inches instead of the regular gondola door openings of 24.4 inches. The cabin itself is larger and both of the bench seats flip up, allowing enough room for a wheelchair to turn around inside. If the wheelchair guest is traveling with an able bodied person that person may easily sit down on one of the benches while still allowing plenty of room for the wheelchair. Also, the door opening mechanism of the ADA cabin is in the roof (as opposed to the floor), which allows more room overall. CWA of Switzerland (the same company that built the original eight-passenger cabins in 1986) built the new cabin at a cost of $32,000.

Parking & Mountain Access

The most accessible parking is in the Gondola Square Parking Garage on Mt. Werner Circle. Our parking attendants will direct you to the most convenient parking space. You can access the Ticket Office, Ski & Snowboard School and the slopes by using the covered bridge adjacent to the transit center to reach the elevator. Once you exit the elevator use the ramp to get down to the next level.

View the Accessibility Map of Gondola Square showing Gondola Square access for our adaptive guests.

Restrooms

Base Area – Ground level of the Gondola Building, next to Kids Vacation Center. Second level restrooms located behind Gnarly Charlie's Pizza.

Thunderhead Facility at the top of the Gondola – First level next to the Stoker Bar. These are accessed independently by going outside, around the front of the building, and in through the main doors. If desired, please mention you would like assistance and a representative will happily assist you through the inside of the building to the restrooms.

Wheelchairs

Wheelchairs are available to assist you in accessing the facilities on our mountain. For your convenience, a wheelchair is located at each of the four locations below. Please have your Companion Skier obtain the chair or ask for assistance when you arrive.

• Base of the Gondola in the loading and unloading area.
• Top of the Gondola / Thunderhead in the loading / unloading area.
• Thunderhead Facility at the top of the Gondola offers both casual and fine dining facilities along with restrooms, snacks and an accessory shop. All levels are accessible by a service elevator. Upon boarding the Gondola, please mention if you need use of the wheelchair or if you're intending to dine. The lift staff will notify the Upper Terminal of your arrival. A staff member will greet you at the top to assist you to the elevator and desired floor.

Resort Transportation

Even with sufficient handicapped parking at the base area, the resort operates a 25-passenger El Dorado National Aerotech wheelchair accessible shuttle from its remote parking lot, the Meadows. The shuttle features a Braun fully automatic wheelchair lift, double wheelchair lift doors, passenger foldaway seats over wheelchair positions and enhanced interior and exterior lighting.

Local Transportation

Steamboat Springs Transit (SST) is the public transportation system for Steamboat. SST provides service for both fixed route and Para transit service. The fixed route serves much of the downtown area, the Ski Area base and many of the adjacent condominiums. Please call for the closest stop and service times. The Para transit service is available upon request for those who qualify. This service provides curb-to-curb service to any location within the city limits. Next day advanced request is required for this service. There is no charge for this service, as all SST buses that provide service within the city limits of Steamboat Springs are free.

Steamboat Springs Transit – 970-879-3717.