The Best Backcountry Skiing Routes in Telluride
Explore Backcountry Skiing RoutesThe Telluride Ski Resort is a year round destination located in the southwest corner of Colorado. The resort is in the southern San Juan Mountains, part of the Rocky Mountains, and is home to the highest concentration of 13,000 and 14,000 foot peaks in North America.
Top 10 backcountry skiing routes in Telluride
1
Double Cabin Uphill
Even though Telluride is well-known for backcountry skiing, the resort is not very accommodating to uphill users. Telluride Ski Resort only allows uphill access in the zone beneath Sunshine 10 lift, which is mostly green terrain that snakes among vacation homes....
2
Galloping Goose Uphill
Telluride Resort is not particularly generous with their [uphill policy](https://tellurideskiresort.com/safety/), but they do allow all-day access in one zone of the resort. This is the area beneath Sunshine 10 lift in Mountain Village....
3
Bald 1
A fifteen minute hike gives access to the power fields of Bald 1 - an easily digestible north-east facing powder collecting zone. From Prospect Express chair 12 stay skiers left on upper Galloping Goose along the boundary rope to find the avalanche control gate for the Bald Mountain area....
4
Trestle Shot
Trestle Shot holds a bunch of lines around an old mining trestle that is great for photos. Located in the middle North West aspect of Alta Lakes Basin above the Observatory, this area is perfect for mini hikes of around ten to twenty minutes, especially when avalanche conditions are high and it's good to stay away from risky faces....
5
Bald Hike
Bald Hike is accessed off Prospect Express chair 12 down rider's left of upper Galloping Goose. It is a favourite hike-to area on the Western edge of Prospect Bowl. Obeying the signed access gate Bald Mountain is an avalanche controlled short hike playground for experienced enthusiasts to step up to double black diamond terrain....
6
Bald 4
Take Prospect Express chair 12 to the top and grab a hot chocolate and a snack at High Camp warming hut. Head down Galloping Goose along the ski area boundary on the left until you see signs to Bald Mountain via an access gate....
7
Pee Wee's
Pee Wee's is a gnarly extreme zone between Mountain Quail and Dihedral Chute in the upper part of Black Iron Bowl. It is accessed from the Palmyra Peak hike-to access off Prospect Express chair 12....
8
Birthday Chutes
The north-east facing Birthday Chutes of Alta Lakes Basin are a cherished backcountry location in the San Juan Mountains. Named by a crew celebrating their birthdays picnicking in the Basin or renting out the Observatory for overnight parties, this area is the perfect gift of sweet turns, good aspect and nice pitch....
9
Silver Chute
Silver Chute is a little more North facing than The Wire and provides the possibility for wider turns when the champagne powder falls deep. Seemingly near-vertical at the entry and upper cliff zone may well require some rappelling during most seasons....
10
The Wire
The Wire, as the name suggests, is a skinny fall line chute that plummets off the top of Silver Mountain's near vertical North West face. It is a popular summer climbing route but in winter it is rarely rideable....
Top regions for backcountry skiing routes on Strava
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Bend
- Big Sky
- California
- Colorado
- Crystal Mountain
- Denali
- Echo Mountain
- Eldora
- Flagstaff
- Grand Targhee
- Grand Teton National Park
- Hyalite
- Idaho
- Jackson Hole
- Killington
- Lake Tahoe
- Loveland
- Mammoth Mountain
- Montana
- Mount Rainier National Park
- New Mexico
- North Bridgers
- North Madisons
- Oregon
- Park City and Deer Valley
- Powder Mountain
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Snowbasin
- South Bridgers
- Stowe
- Sugarbush
- Sun Valley
- Taos
- Telluride
- Teton Pass
- Timberline Lodge Summer
- Utah
- Vermont
- Washington
- Winter Park
- Wyoming
- Yellowstone National Park