Included: An experienced, local, professional backcountry ski guide 1-day guided backcountry ski tour or intro course in Summit County Transportation from the meeting point to the trailhead Add-ons: Gear rental — possible to rent mandatory gear from your guides at discounted rates, leave a note at checkout if needed Not included: Touring skis or splitboard, boots, skins, and avalanche gear (available to rent) Transportation to the meeting point Food and water Accommodation Anything not mentioned in the “Included” section above Insurance — recommended, available to add at checkout Guide gratuities — optional, 15–20% is customary

How fit do I need to be?

In order to join a backcountry ski tour in Summit County, good fitness is required, and you should be comfortable on steep blue to black runs at the ski resort . You’ll also need to be able to travel off-trail on ungroomed terrain. If you love skiing Vail’s Back Bowls, you’ll feel right at home. Expect a full day on your feet, skinning uphill with a daypack and skiing down in variable conditions. Before the trip, you’ll fill out a short health form, and your guides will get in touch to plan the day and pick terrain that suits your group.

What if I’ve never backcountry skied before?

Yes. If you’re comfortable on steep blue to black resort runs, both options work. The Intro to Backcountry Skiing & Splitboarding Course is built for first-timers. It covers gear, skinning, transitions, and avalanche basics in a small group. If you’d prefer a private day, the Private & Guided Backcountry Ski Tour can also be set up for beginners, with your guide teaching uphill technique and safe travel as you go.

What equipment do I need to bring?

Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring: Technical gear (available to rent): Avalanche transceiver, probe, and shovel Medium-sized backpack (around 40L) Alpine touring skis with climbing skins, touring boots, and poles, or a splitboard setup Clothing and personal items: Hard or softshell pants Synthetic or merino wool base layer Softshell jacket — optional Down or synthetic insulated jacket Hardshell or wind- and water-resistant jacket Light gloves for the uphill Warm gloves Brimmed hat or visor Neck gaiter or buff Sunglasses Goggles Helmet Sunscreen Snacks, food, and water Dress in layers you can easily add and remove. You’ll warm up fast on the uphill and cool down quickly on top.

Can I rent equipment?

Yes, your guides offer discounted rentals of avalanche safety gear (transceiver, shovel, and probe), backpacks, and touring skis or splitboards with skins, boots, and poles. Leave us a note at checkout with what you need, and your guides will have it ready for you.

Group sizes and age requirements

Group sizes and pricing: Intro to Backcountry Skiing & Splitboarding Course: This is a group course. It takes a minimum of 4 people to run, and the maximum group size is 12 participants , with a 6:1 student-to-instructor ratio . Private & Guided Backcountry Ski Tour: This is a private tour, with a maximum client-to-guide ratio of 5:1 . The cost per person goes down as the group grows, so it’s the perfect excuse to bring your friends along. Ski touring in Breckenridge can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements. Min. age requirements: If you are older than 18, you’re good to go. Minors may be permitted to join private tours on a case-by-case basis. If your group has skiers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

Getting there and meeting location

The starting point of your backcountry ski adventure is Silverthorne, Colorado, in the heart of Summit County. To get there, most people fly into Denver International Airport (DEN) . From there, it’s about a 1.5-hour drive west on I-70. Weekend traffic often makes it longer, so plan accordingly. You can rent a car, or take a shuttle or bus to Summit County. Intro course: You will meet your instructors at 8 am at the guides’ basecamp in Silverthorne . From there, we drive to the trailhead together in the guides’ vans to cut down on trailhead parking. Private & Guided Backcountry Ski Tour: You will meet your guide at 8 am , either at the trailhead or at the guides’ basecamp in Silverthorne. Your guide will confirm the exact spot at least 48 hours before the tour.

Safety measures and insurance

We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout. Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.

Breckenridge | Colorado

Backcountry Skiing in Summit County, CO: Guided Tours & Intro Course

Name: Backcountry Skiing in Breckenridge, Summit County, CO
Brand: 57hours
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5 (1 reviews)

1 day | Easy to Challenging | 5.00

From $240 ()

Skip the lift lines and crowded resorts, and head into Colorado’s backcountry for powder, first tracks, and high-alpine ridgelines. Summit County is about 1.5 hours from Denver, with thousands of acres of glades, slopes, and valleys to explore. Whether it’s your first time on skins or you’re ready to step it up, your guide plans the route, reads the snowpack, and handles the avalanche safety, so you can focus on earning your turns and enjoying the ride down.

Adventure Highlights

Powder without the crowds: Trade resort lift lines for quiet glades, open bowls, and untracked lines across Summit County
New or ready to level up: Pick a beginner-friendly intro course, or a private tour shaped around your goals
Learn from local pros: Your guides teach skinning, transitions, and avalanche safety, then pick the best snow of the day

Duration

1 day

Season

December through May

Group size

Up to 5 people

The adventure, day by day

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This full-day group course is for skiers and splitboarders who are comfortable at the resort and ready to take their first step into the backcountry. It focuses on hands-on practice with touring gear and technique, which the AIARE Level 1 course doesn’t cover. That makes it a great way to build experience before taking AIARE 1. You’ll spend the day in the field learning about gear, transitions, uphill travel, trip planning, and the basics of avalanche awareness. At least 4 participants are needed for the course to run.

Here's what our day will look like

What to expect

- Duration: About 8 hours, starting at 8 am
- Group size: Up to 12 participants, with 6 students per instructor
- Meeting point: The guides’ basecamp in Silverthorne

We meet at the basecamp, gear up, and head into the field together in the guides’ vans, then return to Silverthorne at the end of the day. Here’s what you’ll learn:

- Equipment: An overview of touring gear, how to make quick and efficient transitions, and an intro to avalanche safety gear
- Awareness: An intro to trip planning, backcountry navigation, hazard management, and avalanche awareness
- Movement: How to use climbing skins, set a skin track, and do kick turns

This is a private, fully custom full-day backcountry ski or splitboard tour in Summit County, Colorado. Your guide takes care of route planning, the snowpack assessment, and avalanche safety, then leads you to the best snow and safest terrain of the day, from mellow glades to high-alpine ridgelines. If you’re new to the backcountry, you’ll learn how to skin uphill, travel safely, and make smart decisions in the mountains. If you’re more experienced, the day can focus on bigger terrain or an avalanche safety refresher. Bring your own gear, or rent from your guides at a discount.

Here's what our day will look like

What to expect

- Duration: Full day, from 8 am to 4 pm
- Group size: Private, up to 5 skiers per guide
- Meeting point: At the trailhead or the guides’ basecamp in Silverthorne

Your guide will contact you at least 48 hours before the tour to go over the details and answer any questions. On the day, we meet at 8 am and head out for a full day in the field, and we’re back by 4 pm.

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Backcountry skiers in Summit County, Colorado

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Backcountry Skiing in Summit County, CO: Guided Tours & Intro Course

Adventure Brochure

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What others say about this adventure

5.00 (1 review)

Nikki Hooks Driggers

We went backcountry skiing with Kyle. He was knowledgeable, professional, outgoing and patient with us sea-level people! The route and location could not have been better! Thank you!!!

Show all reviews

Things to know

Included:
- - An experienced, local, professional backcountry ski guide
  - 1-day guided backcountry ski tour or intro course in Summit County
  - Transportation from the meeting point to the trailhead
Add-ons:
- - Gear rental — possible to rent mandatory gear from your guides at discounted rates, leave a note at checkout if needed
Not included:
- - Touring skis or splitboard, boots, skins, and avalanche gear (available to rent)
  - Transportation to the meeting point
  - Food and water
  - Accommodation
  - Anything not mentioned in the “Included” section above
  - Insurance — recommended, available to add at checkout
  - Guide gratuities — optional, 15–20% is customary
In order to join a backcountry ski tour in Summit County, good fitness is required, and you should be comfortable on steep blue to black runs at the ski resort. You’ll also need to be able to travel off-trail on ungroomed terrain. If you love skiing Vail’s Back Bowls, you’ll feel right at home.

Expect a full day on your feet, skinning uphill with a daypack and skiing down in variable conditions. Before the trip, you’ll fill out a short health form, and your guides will get in touch to plan the day and pick terrain that suits your group.
Yes. If you’re comfortable on steep blue to black resort runs, both options work. The Intro to Backcountry Skiing & Splitboarding Course is built for first-timers. It covers gear, skinning, transitions, and avalanche basics in a small group. If you’d prefer a private day, the Private & Guided Backcountry Ski Tour can also be set up for beginners, with your guide teaching uphill technique and safe travel as you go.
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:

Technical gear (available to rent):
- - Avalanche transceiver, probe, and shovel
  - Medium-sized backpack (around 40L)
  - Alpine touring skis with climbing skins, touring boots, and poles, or a splitboard setup
Clothing and personal items:
- - Hard or softshell pants
  - Synthetic or merino wool base layer
  - Softshell jacket — optional
  - Down or synthetic insulated jacket
  - Hardshell or wind- and water-resistant jacket
  - Light gloves for the uphill
  - Warm gloves
  - Brimmed hat or visor
  - Neck gaiter or buff
  - Sunglasses
  - Goggles
  - Helmet
  - Sunscreen
  - Snacks, food, and water
Dress in layers you can easily add and remove. You’ll warm up fast on the uphill and cool down quickly on top.
Yes, your guides offer discounted rentals of avalanche safety gear (transceiver, shovel, and probe), backpacks, and touring skis or splitboards with skins, boots, and poles. Leave us a note at checkout with what you need, and your guides will have it ready for you.
Group sizes and pricing:
- - Intro to Backcountry Skiing & Splitboarding Course: This is a group course. It takes a minimum of 4 people to run, and the maximum group size is 12 participants, with a 6:1 student-to-instructor ratio.
  - Private & Guided Backcountry Ski Tour: This is a private tour, with a maximum client-to-guide ratio of 5:1. The cost per person goes down as the group grows, so it’s the perfect excuse to bring your friends along.
Ski touring in Breckenridge can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

Min. age requirements:
- - If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
  - Minors may be permitted to join private tours on a case-by-case basis.
If your group has skiers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
The starting point of your backcountry ski adventure is Silverthorne, Colorado, in the heart of Summit County. To get there, most people fly into Denver International Airport (DEN). From there, it’s about a 1.5-hour drive west on I-70. Weekend traffic often makes it longer, so plan accordingly. You can rent a car, or take a shuttle or bus to Summit County.
- - Intro course: You will meet your instructors at 8 am at the guides’ basecamp in Silverthorne. From there, we drive to the trailhead together in the guides’ vans to cut down on trailhead parking.
  - Private & Guided Backcountry Ski Tour: You will meet your guide at 8 am, either at the trailhead or at the guides’ basecamp in Silverthorne. Your guide will confirm the exact spot at least 48 hours before the tour.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.

Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.
- Fully refundable within the initial 48 hours from booking, unless the trip date is less than 7 days from the time of the booking.
- Cancellations up to 7 days prior to the trip date are refundable 100%.
- Cancellations within 7 days prior to the trip date are non-refundable.

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