dpPacific Northwest skiers are about to have a direct route to one of the best little ski towns in America.
Alaska Airlines announced Thursday that it is starting a direct route from Portland to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, starting in 2027.
This is the first time the airline is operating directly between the Portland International Airport and the Yampa Valley Regional Airport, which is about 30 minutes outside Steamboat Springs, spokesperson Sarah Lasky said.
The new route will operate Thursdays and Saturdays from Feb. 11 through March in 2027, timed to coincide with ski season in Colorado.
Departing flights will be scheduled to leave Portland at 10:40 a.m., landing in Steamboat Springs at 2:05 p.m. Return flights leave the Rocky Mountains at 2:45 p.m., scheduled to land back in the Pacific Northwest at 4:35 p.m.
Steamboat Springs is home to the Steamboat Ski Resort, which has 2,965 acres of terrain across five mountains and trails for skiers of all levels. The town also has the much smaller Howelsen Hill Ski Area, which claims to be the oldest continuously operating ski area in Colorado.
Alaska Airlines said travelers can check their ski and snowboard equipment up to 50 pounds as a single checked bag. That includes one boot or helmet bag without additional equipment or clothes. Equipment can exceed 62 inches linear, but anything more than 115 inches linear will incur an oversize bag fee.
This is Alaska’s second direct route between Portland and Colorado — the airline already offers direct flights to Denver.
