Included:

• • An experienced, IFMGA or AMGA-certified ski guide with extensive knowledge of the area
  • 1-day guided backcountry ski tour in the Wasatch Mountains
  • Avalanche safety gear (transceiver, shovel, probe, and pack) if needed

Not included:

• • Ski touring gear (skis, boots, skins, and poles)
  • Lift tickets for lift-accessed tours (for yourself and your guide)
  • Transportation to the trailhead
  • Lunch, water, and snacks
  • Accommodation
  • Anything not mentioned in the “Included” section above
  • Insurance — recommended, available to add at checkout
  • Guide gratuities — optional

In order to join a guided backcountry ski tour in the Wasatch, good fitness is required, along with intermediate to advanced downhill skiing ability. Some touring experience helps, but it isn’t required for every tour. Expect up to 5,000 vertical ft (1,525 m) of climbing and skiing on the standard tour, and up to 8,000 ft (2,440 m) on advanced tours.

You’ll be on your feet all day, skinning uphill with a loaded daypack and skiing in changing conditions. For advanced tours and ski mountaineering, you’ll also need solid stamina, good skinning technique, and prior approval from your guides, through an earlier outing or a mutual contact.

Backcountry skiing isn’t just for pros looking for the ultimate thrill ride, it’s also beginner friendly, meaning anyone with a moderate fitness level and blue 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:

• • Alpine touring skis, telemark skis or splitboard with skins (can be rented)
  • Touring boots and poles (can be rented)
  • Avalanche safety equipment (can be rented):
    • Digital, 3-antenna avalanche transceiver or beacon
    • Lightweight snow shovel
    • Avalanche probe

For personal items, we recommend bringing:

• • Wind and waterproof shell jacket with hood (Gore-tex recommended)
  • Ski pants (Gore-tex recommended)
  • Helmet
  • Synthetic or wool base layers, underwear and socks
  • Down jacket or vest
  • Gloves and hat
  • One triple-action locking carabiner or two conventional locking carabiners
  • Repair kit and Leatherman for your equipment (can be shared between several people)
  • Water bottle and 1L of water
  • Food you can eat on-the-go
  • Sunglasses or ski goggles
  • First-aid kit
  • Sunscreen
  • Daypack large enough to carry all items listed (around a 30-40L bag)
  • Camera — optional

All mandatory gear can be rented if you don’t have your own. You can rent:

• • Avalanche safety pack, including backpack, beacon, shovel and probe can usually be rented from your guides
  • Alpine touring or telemark skis, touring boots and poles can be rented from Wasatch Touring and Outdoor Adventures
  • Splitboards can be rented from Outdoor Adventures and Wasatch Touring

Ski rental locations are in Salt Lake City 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.

Groups and pricing:

• • Standard tours: up to 4 skiers per guide. Larger groups get an extra guide.
  • Advanced tours and ski mountaineering: up to 2 skiers per guide.

Ski touring in Utah’s Wasatch Range can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

Min. age requirements:

• • Everybody over the age of 18 is welcome to book this backcountry skiing adventure.
  • Minors may be permitted to join private tours on a case-by-case basis.

If you plan to ski with anyone under the age of 18, please contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

The starting point of your Wasatch backcountry ski tour is the Cottonwood Canyons, just outside Salt Lake City, Utah. To get there, most people fly into Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC). From the airport, it’s about a 30–45-minute drive to the mouth of either canyon. Renting a car is the easiest option, but there are also shuttle services and the UTA ski bus up both canyons. If you’re staying in Park City, plan on about 45 minutes to the trailhead.

You will meet your guide at 8 am. The spot depends on the day’s objective, and your guide will confirm it the night before. The usual meeting points are:

• • Little Cottonwood Park and Ride, at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon (UT-209/UT-210)
  • Big Cottonwood Park and Ride, at the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon (UT-190)
  • Alta or Brighton ski resorts, for lift-accessed tours
  • Near Provo, for tours in the Southern Wasatch

Parking at both Park and Ride lots fills up fast on powder days, so give yourself some extra time.

I dropped the old “FR021 before the Park City resort” directions because they didn’t make sense for Big Cottonwood. I added the UTA ski bus as a public transport option. It’s worth checking that link and the current season’s schedule before you publish.

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.