+ 20
Sam's Knob and Big Burn Uphill
Backcountry Skiing Route
Details
3.71 mi
3,602 ft
Snowmass uphill route with a huge amount of vertical, and lots of great options for descent.
If you want big vertical on a ski tour at Snowmass, this is the route to take. In total it gains more than 3500 feet, surpassing 11,800 in elevation at the top of Big Burn. Because it’s open to uphill travel during operating hours, you can head up whenever you like and take your time if need be. Some crushers will of course hammer this out all before breakfast, but the daytime access provides the rest of us a chance to work up to that level.
This is also just a good-quality ski tour within the bounds of the resort. In addition to the panoramic views from Bonzai Ridge on the way up, you can find top-notch skiing on the way down. Sneaky’s is one of the more unique intermediate runs at Snowmass, and some other really good blues drop from the top of Big Burn. If you want to get some tree skiing, Sneaky’s Glades and Powerline Glades have some of the best on the mountain. Even if you only take this route as far as Sam’s Knob, there’s a wealth of intermediate and advanced terrain you can ski down from there. All of those options make Sam’s Knob/Big Burn uphill the hands-down best route for earning your turns at Snowmass.
Aspen Snowmass allows uphill from 5am-10:30pm with an uphill pass. Be sure to check the [uphill policy](https://www.aspensnowmass.com/four-mountains/snowmass/uphill-policy) for more information and how to get a pass before you go. Written by Jesse Weber
If you want big vertical on a ski tour at Snowmass, this is the route to take. In total it gains more than 3500 feet, surpassing 11,800 in elevation at the top of Big Burn. Because it’s open to uphill travel during operating hours, you can head up whenever you like and take your time if need be. Some crushers will of course hammer this out all before breakfast, but the daytime access provides the rest of us a chance to work up to that level.
This is also just a good-quality ski tour within the bounds of the resort. In addition to the panoramic views from Bonzai Ridge on the way up, you can find top-notch skiing on the way down. Sneaky’s is one of the more unique intermediate runs at Snowmass, and some other really good blues drop from the top of Big Burn. If you want to get some tree skiing, Sneaky’s Glades and Powerline Glades have some of the best on the mountain. Even if you only take this route as far as Sam’s Knob, there’s a wealth of intermediate and advanced terrain you can ski down from there. All of those options make Sam’s Knob/Big Burn uphill the hands-down best route for earning your turns at Snowmass.
Aspen Snowmass allows uphill from 5am-10:30pm with an uphill pass. Be sure to check the [uphill policy](https://www.aspensnowmass.com/four-mountains/snowmass/uphill-policy) for more information and how to get a pass before you go. Written by Jesse Weber
Route and Elevation
Segments
| Name | Distance | Elev. Diff. | Avg. Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| VExpress Base Station to Sam's Knob Station | 2.10 mi | 2,077 ft | 18.7% |
| Mall to Mid Station Hill Climb | 1.04 mi | 1,047 ft | 19.0% |
| Mall to Sam's Knob Skin | 1.80 mi | 2,001 ft | 21.0% |
| Sam's Knob Hill climb | 1.85 mi | 2,005 ft | 20.5% |
| Lot 13 to top of Sam’s | 1.67 mi | 1,818 ft | 20.5% |
| Big Burn from Lot 13 | 2.97 mi | 3,189 ft | 20.3% |
| Sam's Knob from Lot 13 | 1.59 mi | 1,804 ft | 21.5% |
| Sam's Knob from Lot 13 | 1.48 mi | 1,752 ft | 22.3% |
| Midway to top of Sam's | 0.68 mi | 860 ft | 23.7% |
| Coney Glade to Sam’s | 0.40 mi | 486 ft | 22.9% |
| Big Burn Access Road Climb | 1.16 mi | 1,283 ft | 20.8% |