Colorado’s best ski deal?  Maybe one that costs nothing at all.  At Steamboat Springs’ Howelsen Hill, “Sunday Funday is taken to an entirely new level,” reads the city webpage for Ski Free Sundays. Yes, on Sundays throughout the season, visitors need only to walk into the ticket o ffice to grab a pass at no charge.  Ski Free Sunday is a beloved tradition at North America’s oldest operating ski area. Howelsen Hill’s municipal operators call it “Colorado’s most affordable Sunday lift ticket” and “a way to celebrate the community’s Olympian spirit and honor the tradition of this historic ski area.” Howelsen Hill traces its history back to 1915, when Norwegian immigrant Carl Howelsen introduced ski jumping here close to town. The jumping complex remains one of the continent’s largest of its kind.  Downhill skiing was developed over the years; today’s map shows 17 trails rated a mix of green, blue and black diamond spread across a humble summit near 7,140 feet. Those upper reaches are accessed from the Barrows Chairlift, which opened for the season at the start of this month.  Recent years have seen that lift majorly upgraded and a magic carpet installed to serve Tube Howelsen. The additions came in an effort to broaden the appeal of Howelsen Hill, which for generations has been a local training ground for Olympians and competitive youth.  Along with the newer lifts, Howelsen’s appeal has been helped by Ski Free Sundays and a groomed Nordic trail network spanning 13 miles. The free ticket applies to the Nordic trails as well, but a separately purchased ticket is required for tubing. (Due to conditions, Tube Howelsen had yet to open for the season as of this writing.) The Ski Free Sunday webpage adds: “specific Sundays could see limited or closed terrain due to snow conditions, special events or competitions.” Some Sundays could also see the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club training across Howelsen’s face. For all other days, the ski area charges $52 for adult tickets (ages 19-64). Senior (65 and older) and youth (5-18) tickets are $38.  Learn more at steamboatsprings.net/619/Ski-Free-Sundays ...read more read less