Steamboat Lake Outpost

Come experience Colorado mountain living, home to world-class outdoor adventure! Now hiring for the Summer/Fall 2024 season!

The Steamboat Lake Outpost is a one-stop shop offering lodging, a restaurant, general store, the only gas pump for miles, and outdoor activity tours and rentals. The Outpost seeks to be a community gathering place, where locals and travelling adventurers alike can come together in a place defined by life-giving warmth and hospitality and a desire to build genuine relationships.

We are surrounded by the Routt National Forest, right on the doorstep of the Mt. Zirkel Wilderness in the mountains of North Routt County. It is the outdoor recreationalist's playground, with unparalleled hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, fishing, hunting, backcountry skiing, snowmobiling and more. Steamboat Springs, CO is a beautiful 40 minute drive away with access to everything you need.

Jobs in the Spotlight

Now hiring for the Summer/Fall 2024 season! Free on-site housing!

Seasonal
  • summer
  • fall

Now hiring for the Summer/Fall 2024 Season! Seasonal or year-round position available!

Seasonal
  • summer
  • fall
  • winter

Come experience mountain living at its best! Season and year-round opportunities available!

Seasonal
  • summer
  • fall
  • winter

Now hiring for the Summer/Fall 2024 season! Come experience mountain living at its best!

Seasonal
  • summer
  • fall

About Steamboat Lake Outpost

Now hiring for the Summer/Fall 2024 season! 

START DATE: May 5, 2024

Come spend a fun and memorable summer living, working, and playing in a beautiful part of Colorado! The Steamboat Lake Outpost is an exciting, fast-paced one-stop shop consisting of a restaurant, general store, lodging accommodations and outfitter activities. We are committed to providing seasonal personal and professional growth opportunities with potential for full-time employment as well.

Our mission as a business is to be the gathering place of North Routt County, creating a space where locals and visitors alike can build authentic relationships in a life-giving environment defined by high-level service and genuine hospitality and care for our guests. 

We are located in the rural mountain community of Clark, Colorado, 40 minutes from the closest town of Steamboat Springs (which has the nearest grocery store!). We're far from civilization and we love it! Surrounded by the Routt National Forest, there are endless adventures awaiting you whether you are into hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, hunting, snowmobiling, or backcountry skiing. We are not far from the rugged Mt. Zirkel Wilderness Area with its world-class hiking and backpacking trails and access to the Continental Divide. The Elk River and Steamboat Lake offer fishing and boating activities. Steamboat Springs offers incredible downhill skiing, along with ample nightlife and entertainment opportunities.

The Employee Experience

The Steamboat Lake Outpost is a place where you will have many opportunities to experience new things and learn new skills. It is our goal to provide our staff with the opportunity to grow as leaders in a safe and positive environment. Our organization is centered around creating a space where people feel known and valued, while also delivering excellent service. All employees should expect to jump in to help housekeeping, shovel snow, wash dishes, or anywhere else there is a need! Working here requires a certain level of understanding, flexibility, and initiative. A positive, can-do attitude with an innovative approach and a willingness to roll up your sleeves and hop in wherever needed will go a long way towards making your experience unforgettable.

When we're not on the clock, our staff enjoys taking advantage of all that rural Routt County has to offer. During the winter months, we can be found skiing and snowshoeing a few miles from the rugged Zirkel Wilderness Area, while the summer months offer great opportunities for camping, hiking, biking, mountain biking and fly-fishing. 

There will be some days where you fall asleep as your head hits the pillow. Other days, as the sun sinks behind the mountains, you sit by the campfire with new friends, tell stories, and laugh far into the night. At the end of the day, we want to find ways to connect with people, provide compelling Rocky Mountain experiences, create a space where people can get away from distractions and be together in an authentic, life-giving way.

If this seems like a great fit for you, please apply!

Ideal Candidate

We are committed to building a staff that embodies our mission and values and encourages others in that direction too.

Qualities of Ideal Candidates:

  • Smart, kind and driven
  • Problem solving skills
  • Takes ownership, and has a good sense of when to call in a team member or manager to help
  • Positive attitude
  • Resilient
  • Hungry for personal and professional growth
  • Service oriented
  • Should exhibit a high level of self-awareness and a passion for connecting with people
  • Committed to excellence and displays attention to detail
  • A team-oriented mindset

Because we live and work in the same space, we are committed to maintaining a community based on traditional values, authentic relationships, and healthy living. We take seriously the opportunity to exemplify hard work, kindness, gratitude, and an “others first” attitude as we serve our local community and the myriad of outdoor enthusiasts who come to explore the area.

Our community culture is a crucial factor in our guest’s experience, and we are committed to maintaining a positive and healthy staff while avoiding drama – and that which causes it – at all costs.  To this end, there is a code of conduct that all of us who work here subscribe to, and we expect those who come to work at SLO to agree and abide by these rules. The following are not tolerated and are grounds for dismissal:

  • Irresponsible behavior regarding alcohol (drunkenness, parties, etc.)
  • Underage drinking
  • Illegal drug use
  • Abuse of prescription drugs
  • Use of marijuana- while the use of marijuana is legal in the state of Colorado for individuals over the age of 21, to be an Outpost employee you must be marijuana-free.

You will be required to pass a drug test upon a conditional offer of employment, and we reserve the right to test any employee(s) we reasonably suspect in violation of this policy.  

Our housing is gender-based, and we protect the privacy of the individual by limiting access to our housing to the residents of that particular unit.  Our buildings and residences are smoke-free, and smoking is limited to remote parts of the property, and we strongly encourage staff to be tobacco-free.

Although we love animals, we do not allow staff to bring pets.

We do not discriminate based on gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religious or political beliefs, marital status, race, or economic status.

Our community values are something we feel strongly about and feel the clean lifestyle gives our staff the best opportunity to form authentic relationships, grow, and pursue healthy habits.  It is understandable that our community may not be a “fit” for everyone, and we simply ask that you consider our policies before applying to live and work here. If you are concerned about your ability to follow our code of conduct, please consider other options. If we sound like the type of community you would like to be a part of, please continue on to our application. Thank you for your thoughtful consideration.

Room and Board

We provide free housing as a part of our compensation package. The motel room style community housing contributes to the unique experience offered here. Living and working in the same space presents an opportunity to create deep bonds in a relatively short time which can lead to lifelong friendships. The housing is gender-based, and we protect the privacy of the individual by limiting access to our housing to the residents of that unit. Each room typically houses two employees, and has its own private bathroom. Bed linens, pillows, and towels are provided, as well as a microwave and mini-fridge in each room. Free onsite laundry, community kitchen and lounge area is also provided. Storage space is very limited, so please pack appropriately. We will supply a suggested gear list for new employees. 

Employee Perks

Outpost employees enjoy living and working in a beautiful area with access to extensive recreation opportunities in the Routt National Forest. Our compensation package consists of free housing, a base hourly salary and free/discounted participation in guided activities and rentals. We allow employees to join most of our guided tours at no cost. Days that you work, you get a complimentary shift meal and you always get 20% off our store items (excluding fuel, tobacco, and alcohol).

Getting Here and Getting Around

The Steamboat Lake Outpost is located approximately 25 miles from Steamboat Springs. It is highly encouraged staff bring their own vehicle. There is no public transportation between the Outpost and Steamboat Springs. Please be advised if you are coming in the winter, your vehicle should be equipped with AWD or 4WD and have appropriate winter tires. Snow removal is one of our biggest challenges in winter and your vehicle must be able to be moved during this process.

If you choose to fly, our closest airport is in Hayden, CO (Yampa Valley Regional Airport). It is approximately one hour from SLO and we would be happy to pick you up there upon your initial arrival. You can also take a shuttle from the Denver airport to Steamboat Springs and we would pick you up in town.

Please note: Once you are on property, we do not offer personal use of company vehicles. We do occasional runs to town for company needs, so it is possible you would be able to hitch a ride, but it is never a guarantee. 

For Fun

Surrounded by over 2 million acres of national forest, including the nearby Mt. Zirkel Wilderness area, the opportunities are endless for outdoor recreation and adventure! From hiking, backpacking, flyfishing, hunting and mountain biking in the warmer months, to world-class backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing and snowmobiling in the colder months, you will never be bored! Steamboat Springs (25mi away) boasts a world-class downhill ski resort and top notch mountain biking at Emerald Mountain. In addition, the Yampa and Elk Rivers provide premium fly-fishing opportunities. Steamboat Lake State Park offers Blue Ribbon waters for ice fishing in winter. The city of Steamboat Springs provides many local restaurants, festivals and events throughout the year. There are plenty of opportunities to keep yourself busy when you are not working!

How to Apply

If the Steamboat Lake Outpost seems like a great fit, please fill out our online application here!


Contact Steamboat Lake Outpost