By Shannon Lukens.
For those recreating on the mountain, Why Not Road has closures scheduled throughout the summer. It’s due to construction traffic for lift installation of Mahogany Ridge Express and the second leg of the Wild Blue Gondola. No bikes or pedestrians are allowed on Why Not Road (FS-321) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, through Sept. 30.
Press release from Steamboat Resort; June 7, 2023.
Why Not Road Summer Closure
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO- June 7, 2023– Steamboat Ski Resort will continue Full Steam Ahead on-mountain construction this summer season, as Phase III of the three-year, $220 million project comes to fruition for the 2024 winter season. Due to construction traffic for lift installation of Mahogany Ridge Express and the second leg of Wild Blue Gondola, Why Not Road (FS-321) will be closed to pedestrian and bike traffic Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm through September 30.
Why Not Road is always closed to non-permitted motorized vehicles but does provide access to various Forest Service and resort hiking and biking trails. The 2023 summer season closure, within permit guidelines from the Routt National Forest Service, allows construction vehicles to operate efficiently and effectively without compromising the safety of working crews and potential recreational users.
Access to mountain biking and hiking trails will be available through alternate routes including Thunderhead Hiking Trail and Zig Zag multi-use trail from the base area, and Zig Zag and Creekside for access from Burgess Creek Road. Suggested alternate routes include using Thunderhead Hiking Trail to the top of the Gondola, Valley View, Elkhead and other upper mountain trails; Zig Zag to Valley View, Creekside, Pioneer and other upper mountain trails, and Creekside to Pioneer.
The closure will remain in effect for the entirety of summer as construction traffic is expected daily through the fall. All other biking and hiking trails, including the Steamboat Bike Park, will be open this summer, but users should be aware of intermittent impacts due to construction. The Steamboat Resort website and the Steamboat App (available on Android and iPhone), will provide real-time updates of trails and conditions; guests should check periodically to know if trails are impacted.
Why Not Road will have visible signage notifying hikers and bikers of the closure and users who do not comply could be subject to fines and/or loss of pass.