Guided Backcountry Skiing
Ski Legendary Tours in the San Juan Mountains & Around the World
From powder filled winter days in the San Juan Mountains to technical ski mountaineering objectives around the world, our guides tailor each trip to your skiing ability, goals, and the current conditions. Farm powder turns in fun, moderate terrain, build your backcountry touring skills, or take on steep descents and narrow couloirs.
With an extensive European style hut system across the San Juans, it is possible to enjoy skiing right out the door, returning in the evening to enjoy an aprés-ski dip in the hot tub and rewarding dinner after a full day of touring. In the springtime, when the snowpack becomes more stable, we venture into steeper terrain and offer ski mountaineering trips on Colorado 14ers such as Handies Peak and Mount Sneffels.
Skyward Mountaineering also offers ski mountaineering expeditions, in locations such as the Alps, Alaska, and custom international locations including Chile and Norway. These ski traverses and expeditions are a unique way to explore breathtaking mountains and extend the local ski season.
Explore Backcountry Skiing Destinations:
Beginner to expert backcountry skiing & splitboarding
From 30° meadows to steep couloirs and glacier tours
No previous backcountry skiing experience required for guided skiing on lower angle toursRed Mountain Pass, though skiers/boarders must be at least intermediate skiers in the resort. For more committing, steeper and/or technical descents skiers must have previous backcountry experience and be expert resort skiers
8 hours (full day)
Custom itineraries available for multiday hut based tours
San Juan mountains, Colorado (Red Mountain Pass and Silverton)
Denali National Park
Pacific Northwest
European Alps
Expert-Led Backcountry Skiing & Splitboarding Adventures For Beginners To Experts:
Ski secret powder stashes, epic steep couloirs and perfectly spaced aspen trees. The skiing in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains are renowned for the easy access to deep powder and steep terrain. From our winter basecamp in Ouray we offer guided backcountry skiing on Red Mountain Pass and Silverton. Depending on your skiing or snowboarding experience, each tour is built by our AMGA certified Ski Guides around your abilities and goals.
New to the Backcountry: If you're an intermediate or advanced resort skier ready to make the transition to backcountry skiing, we'll introduce you to backcountry touring equipment, efficient uphill travel techniques, terrain selection, and the fundamentals of traveling safely in avalanche terrain.
Experienced Backcountry Skiers: Apply your skills on bigger objectives in more remote terrain, steeper lines, and challenging ski mountaineering routes on Colorado 14ers or glaciers such as Mount Baker. Your guide will help select terrain and objectives that match your abilities.
Custom Ski Expeditions: From basecamp style ski mountaineering in the Alaska Range, hut-based ski tours in the European Alps, to international expeditions in remote ranges such as Chile or Norway. Each itinerary is built around the experience you’re looking for.
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![A skier in a blue jacket is carving on a steep face and spraying powder snow while descending the Snake Couloir on Mount Sneffels.]()
Beginner to advanced guided backcountry skiing on Red Mountain Pass and Silverton.
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![A group of skiers tour up to the Mount Hayden Backcountry Lodge in the San Juan mountains.]()
Intermediate to advanced European style hut based guided backcountry ski tours in the San Juan Mountains.
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![A skier in an orange jacket turns in deep powder with snowy trees in the background.]()
Intermediate to advanced guided backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering in the Pacific Northwest.
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![A team of three skiers traverse between crevasses on a glacier on Mount Baker.]()
Intermediate to advanced guided ski mountaineering on glaciated Cascades volcanoes.
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![A snowy and steep Matterhorn above the town of Zermatt during the Haute Route ski tour.]()
Classic European Alps ski tour from Chamonix to Zermatt.
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![A skier in a blue jacket and red backpack is skiing in deep powder in Greenland with an iceberg in the background.]()
International, custom ski mountaineering expeditions.
Skyward Mountaineering offers guided backcountry skiing and splitboarding throughout the San Juan mountains, around Ouray, Silverton and Red Mountain Pass as well as major ski mountaineering destinations such as the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, the Alps and custom ski mountaineering expeditions around the world. Locally, our easy access to great mid-winter powder and a wide variety of terrain on Red Mountain Pass and Silverton is unparalleled and makes for a great opportunity to enjoy solitude in the mountains while skiing great runs. Additionally, the San Juan mountains have become a popular destination for ski traverses and ski lodge based tours, join us for epic backcountry ski tours right out the front door. During the spring months, it’s game on for technical ski mountaineering such as the famous Snake Couloir on Mount Sneffels.
Our guides are not only expert skiers and snowboarders, but also have the credentials to back it up as AMGA certified Ski Guides and an established record of successfully guiding step and challenging descents on big mountains around the world.