San Juan mountains Backcountry Skiing

Enjoy guided backcountry skiing and splitboarding in Colorado’s San Juan mountains, with deep powder, steep chutes and farming turns in an open meadow. From our winter basecamp in Ouray, we have easy access to a wide variety of backcountry ski terrain, including overnight hut based ski tours. We want to share our secret powder stashes with you and seek out some of the incredible skiing and riding terrain on Red Mountain Pass and the 550 corridor. We have been guiding backcountry skiing in the San Juans for 30 years, join us for a guided backcountry ski tour on Red Mountain Pass, in Silverton, or on the peaks above Ouray. Whether you want to ski through an aspen forest, steep glades or a tight couloir, our local guides are expert skiers and avalanche instructors with an intimate knowledge of these mountains.

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A pair of skis icon, depicting the type of guided backcountry skiing in Ouray, Colorado.

Beginner to expert backcountry skiing

Icon of a mountain, depicting the prerequisites required for hiring a guide for backcountry skiing in Colorado.

No previous backcountry skiing experience required, though skiers/boarders must be competent skiers in the resort

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Full day (8 hours)
Custom itineraries available for multiday hut based tours

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San Juan mountains (Ouray), Colorado
11,018 ft / 3,358 m

Private Ski Guiding

  • Steep, exposed and epic - there is an abundance of extreme and exciting terrain in the Silverton area. A higher level of experience is recommended for much of the skiing here due to the advanced terrain. Couloirs, steep trees, chutes and peak descents await.

    Classics in the area include skiing from the summit of Kendall Mountain 4,000’ rigght down into the town of Silverton, skinning up from the Silveton Ski area parking area to access the steep chutes and trees of upper Prospect Gulch, as well as peaks ans slopes around the popular ice climbing venue, Eureka. Come see why Silverton is a true, died-in-the-wool backcountry skiers paradise!

  • Connecting the famous Colorado mining towns of Ouray and Silverton along Highway 550 lies Red Mountain Pass. Famous for its narrow, exposed roadway, it is equally well known among backcountry skiers for having some of the finest, easily accessible backcountry ski tours in all of Colorado, if not the country. Tours of all types and for all abilities can be found in any direction from the top of the 11,100’ pass: easy, safe low angle alpine powder runs, steep and wild couloirs and numerous 12-13,000’ ski accessible peaks. Red Mountain Pass is a great hub for skiers and boarders of all abilities. The area has great day tours and even plenty of lower hazard areas when the avalanche danger is concerning.

    Lead guide, Vince Anderson, has been skiing and guiding tours on Red Mountain Pass for over 30 years! Vince also shares his ski passion as a Big Mountain & Freeride coach for a local kids ski team. He can also share his expertise with those just looking to up their ski skills as well as mentor folks on the process of becoming more self sufficient back country tourers. Let us share our love of this fantastic playground with you!

Two people with skis on their back are climbing a steep snowy couloir with rocky mountains in the background.
Two people backcountry skiing on snow-covered terrain in a mountainous landscape with rocky cliffs and sparse trees. They are touring uphill with the sunrise creating a dramatic sun-shade line.
A person wearing an orange jacket and skis on their back is climbing a steep snow-covered rock face in a mountainous area with snow and rugged terrain in the background.
A person skiing down a deep snowy slope on a clear day.
A skier descending a snow-covered mountain, leaving a trail of ski tracks in the deep snow.
A skier in a bright green jacket and red helmet carving down a snowy mountain slope.
Guide, Vince Anderson, wearing a purple jacket, green pants, and skis on their back is climbing down a steep snow slope with a blue sky above.
A skier is turning in deep powder, starting to initiate the next pole plant. There are snow covered evergreen trees in the background.
A person skiing down a deep powder snowy slope through a forested mountain landscape.
Skiers' perspective looking down a snowy mountain slope with ski tracks, surrounded by tall pine trees and a distant snow-covered landscape.
A group of ski mountaineers bootpack up a steep snow couloir with wind blowing snow of the cliffs above them.
A snowy headwall with multiple ski tracks in deep powder descending from the ridge.

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Two skiers stand in front a serac ice fall on the Mer de Glace glacier in Chamonix.
Two ice climbers in the Ouray Ice Park Lead Only Area. The lead climber, wearing a yellow jacket is climbing the second pitch of a steep wall of ice.
A skier in a green helmet and red jacket is turning down a steep couloir.
A skier in a red jacket is standing in front a backcountry hut and removing their touring gear after a day of backcountry skiing.

Ouray Ice Park

Haute Route Ski Tour

Hut Based Ski Tour

Intro To Ski Alpinism

Questions?

Our office staff are guides, climbers and skiers - we’re here to help!

Talk to a guide

Reliable ski touring in the San Juan mountains starts in December and can last through May. February and March often bring the largest snowfalls and early spring is a great time for steeper lines and ski mountaineering objectives.

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For beginner-intermediate to advanced skiers/riders, no previous backcountry touring experience is required.

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Montrose Regional Airport is 45 minutes from Ouray. There is NO rideshare service in town, you may book a shuttle service or rent a vehicle with AWD/4WD (for winter driving). If basing out of Silverton, it is possible to fly into Durango Regional Airport, 1 hour from Silverton.

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There are plentiful hotels in downtown Ouray, though Silverton is another possible option. Hotels in either location are conveniently located walking distance to restaurants/breweries and the Ouray hot springs make a great aprés-ski relaxation.

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Skiers/riders are responsible for providing their own personal clothing and touring equipment. Skyward Mountaineering may provide avalanche rescue equipment with advanced notice. See recommended equipment list below:

A pair of crossed skis icon, depicting the personal equipment necessary for this trip.

    • Long Underwear: Should be comfortable for a full day of activity, synthetic or merino wool will wick moisture away from the body

    • Ski socks: Over-the-calf winter weight for superior warmth. Heated socks (e.g. Lenz) are great!

    • Warm hat

    • Sun hat

    • Buff: Lightweight neck gaiter for adding warmth around ears or covering your face in windy or sunny conditions

    • Softshell gloves: Waterproof with high dexterity. 2 pairs recommended, one midweight and one heavyweight.

    • Mittens: mid-weight leather are great for colder conditions. Can be used with heat packs.

    • Midweight top baselayer: Merino wool or synthetic fibers will wick sweat away.

    • Heavyweight bottom baselayer: Optional for those that run cooler.

    • Midweight fleece jacket: An integrated hood adds warmth and weather protection

    • Active insulation jacket: Ideal balance of breathability and warmth for winter aerobic activity

    • Midweight vest: Optional, adds warmth to your core without restricting movement

    • Softshell jacket: Midweight with a helmet compatible hood. Should have Durable Water Resistance (DWR) coating

    • Ski pants: Can be hard or soft shell depending on the conditions (hardshell are best for colder, stormy or winter conditions).  Side vents are nice to extend the comfort range for warmth on ascents. Must fit over boot cuffs.

    • Insulated parka: Only necessary for mid-winter and very cold days. Down is lighter/more compressible and a hydrophobic treated down will insulate even when wet. Should have at least 200 grams of 800 fill insulation

    • Skis with touring bindings: between 90mm and 115mm underfoot depending on snow type

    • Ski touring boots

    • Climbing skins fitted to skis; mohair or mohair mix is great, though full synthetic is fine.

    • Ski crampons compatible with bindings and skis

    • Adjustable poles (plus an extra basket)

    • Avalanche transceiver

    • Shovel

    • Avalanche probe

    • Ski helmet or climbing helmet

    • Day pack (30-40 liters) to carry extra clothes, helmet, water and food for the day (should have straps to carry skis)

    • Sunglasses: Dimmable recommended, CAT 3 lenses w/ athletic fit

    • Googles: Two pair recommended, one for low vis and another for sun/shade mix.

    • Small tube of sunscreen and SPF chap stick

    • First aid kit: Small, should include any personal medications and blister kit for feet.

    • Hand warmers: Optional, for those colder days

    • Fully charged phone

    • 1-2 liters of water: A thermos with your favorite hot drink is recommended. Avoid water bladders and hoses as they are prone to puncture and freezing in a winter environment

    • High energy lunch and snacks: A healthy mix of fats, sugar, and protein for a full day of the on-the-go (leftover pizza or sandwiches are a great midday pick-me-up)

    • Sattelite communication: InReach, optional.

    • Small headlamp

    • Important: Let us know what you DO NOT have, we may have it.