About Backdoor Sports
Backdoor Sports has been Steamboat's go-to backcountry outfitter since 1986, tucked along the banks of the Yampa River on downtown Yampa Street. They specialise in alpine touring, telemark, and backcountry ski gear alongside kayak, climbing, and camping equipment rentals, and run guided tubing floats and kayak lessons in the warmer months.
The backcountry ski focus sets Backdoor Sports apart from every other rental operation in Steamboat. While other shops cater to lift-served skiers and snowboarders, Backdoor equips the growing community of touring skiers who want to earn their turns in the Routt National Forest, Rabbit Ears Pass, and the backcountry zones around Buffalo Pass. Alpine touring setups, telemark packages, and splitboard gear are all available alongside avalanche safety equipment — beacons, probes, and shovels that are essential for anyone venturing beyond the resort boundaries. The staff are experienced backcountry skiers who can advise on route conditions, snowpack, and gear selection with authority.
When the snow melts, the Yampa River becomes the main attraction, and Backdoor Sports sits right on its banks. Guided tubing floats are a quintessentially Steamboat summer experience — drifting down the Yampa through town with the mountains rising on all sides. Kayak lessons range from introductory sessions on flatwater to whitewater instruction for those who want to paddle more challenging sections. The shop also rents climbing gear, camping equipment, and fishing tackle, making it a genuine four-season outfitter rather than a ski shop that closes for summer. For adventurers who are drawn to the backcountry, the river, and the less-travelled parts of the Yampa Valley, Backdoor Sports is the shop that understands what you are looking for.
