The secret to skiing Colorado’s San Juan Mountains isn’t finding good snow—with 300 inches annually, that’s a given. The real magic happens outside resort boundaries, where untouched powder fills endless bowls and glades. San Juan offers backcountry skiing at its finest: breaking trails at sunrise and laying down fresh tracks from ridge to valley. From mellow tree runs to steep alpine terrain, these mountains have everything we’re looking for. With a guide for up to five days and your chosen hut as basecamp, we’ll discover terrain that matches our skills and pushes us just enough to keep things exciting.
After you’ve booked your backcountry ski hut, join one of the local guides on this Colorado winter and enjoy a taste of the Alps without even crossing the Pond. Feast your eyes on San Juan’s high alpine basins and enticing descents while enjoying a warm drink from the comfort of your cozy backcountry lodge. Then head out into the glorious backcountry and explore the secret stashes and hidden runs of the beautiful ski zones of the San Juan Mountain Range.
Price does NOT include the cost of the hut. When booking your hut, please also be sure to reserve a spot and meals for your guide.
I had an absolute blast on my two day backcountry skiing trip. Kaylee and the team were extremely helpful prior to my arrival. They helped guide me through some product selections and listened to what I wanted out of the trip. They set me up with Mason as a guide. He was extremely knowledgeable and set me up one some epic lines.
Included:
Add-ons
Not included:
Note: The price does NOT include the cost of the hut. When booking your hut, please also be sure to reserve a spot and meals for your guide.
If you haven’t booked a hut yet, take a look at some of the popular huts in the vicinity. To reserve your spot, simply visit the hut’s website, find a date that is available and fits your preferences and book!
OPUS Hut
Perched at 11,600ft, the OPUS Hut is an eco-friendly lodge, with a rustic wood interior, multiple decks and a wood burning fireplace, ready to welcome. All stays include meals for the party, including breakfast, an afternoon soup and dinner. For availability, see the calendar on the site.
Campfire Ranch Red Mountain Pass (formerly Thelma Hut)
With easy access from the U.S. Highway 550, this private off-grid hut sleeps eight in modern-rustic style. After you settle in, enjoy time in the sauna and get ready for your adventure. Meal packages booked with your stay include afternoon soup/snack, dinner and breakfast the next morning.
Alta Lakes Observatory
The Observatory is a private backcountry cabin located 13 miles from Telluride, CO, nestled underneath the 13,000-foot Palmyra and Silver Peaks. With 12 beds, fully-equipped kitchen, hot tub and other modern amenities, you’ll have the best warm haven to return to after a day on the slopes. Snowmobile transportation services can be provided for people and/or provisions!
Mount Hayden Backcountry Lodge
Tucked away in Richmond Basin above Ouray, this eco-lodge accommodates up to 16 guests in rustic comfort. Though wonderfully remote, the lodge offers unexpected comforts: cedar wood-fired hot tub, Starlink internet, and pristine spring water on tap. Your stay includes hearty chef-prepared breakfasts and locally-sourced dinners, with dietary restrictions accommodated when requested at booking.
Please keep in mind that you should reserve the lodging and meals for your guide as well.
In order to enjoy this backcountry adventure, you need to have a moderate level of fitness. You will be on your feet for a full day. While there is terrain for all skill levels in the San Juan Mountains, you will need to manage controlled descents in variable conditions. All participants should feel comfortable on challenging blue or black level resort runs and be able to carry a loaded daypack while skinning up variable degrees of terrain.
Backcountry skiing isn’t just for pros looking for the ultimate thrill ride, it’s also beginner-friendly, meaning anyone with challenging blue or black level resort experience can have fun in the backcountry. If you’ve never backcountry skied before, heading out with a guide is your best bet. They’ll take care of the planning, introduce you to the basics, like skinning uphill, and teach you how to manage the terrain. They also have the experience and avalanche training to keep you safe.
For technical backcountry ski touring gear, you will need to bring:
For personal items, we recommend bringing:
All mandatory gear can be rented in local gear shops or from the guide shop’s selection of loaner and rental gear. You can rent:
Ski rental locations are in Telluride and Ouray and should be picked up the night prior to your outing. If you need to rent gear, let us know and we can help make arrangements.
Group sizes and pricing
A skiing tour in the San Juan Mountains can be arranged for groups larger than 5 people. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements
If your group has skiers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
The starting point of your skiing tour in the San Juan Mountains is Telluride. To get there, most people fly into Cortez Municipal Airport (CEZ) or Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ), both a 1.5-hour ride from Telluride. A few airlines also fly directly into Telluride Regional Airport (TEX), a 10-minute ride from Telluride. From there, you can take a shuttle service, public transport, or rent a car to reach Telluride.
Once you’re there, you will meet your guide in their office at a predetermined time.
Medical and travel protection is mandatory for this trip. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!
Redpoint tailors their 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.
Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!
Day Trips Cancellations
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.
I had an amazing backcountry skiing trip with my guide Fischer. He was super nice and taught me a lot about avalanche safety, using skins, and living in telluride. He and everyone at Mountain Trip communicated with me a lot and helped me to prepare for our trip. Renting gear was no problem and they even lent me extra stuff that wasn’t up for rent. Overall super friendly and super helpful. The trip was amazing and I recommend it to anyone that loves skiing and wants to learn about and experience the backcountry!