Colorado Wilderness offers exciting guided backcountry ski tours and snowshoe itineraries that showcase the beauty of the Rocky Mountains and great sense of adventure that winter in Colorado offers. Each itinerary is designed to cater to various skill levels, ensuring that both beginners and experienced adventurers can enjoy the pristine snow-covered landscapes. Join us for a memorable experience filled with exploration and breathtaking scenery in the heart of nature.
Why Choose Our Expert Guides?
Our guides are not only knowledgeable but are genuine experts in their field. With avalanche and medical training, safety is our number one priority. Venture out into the backcountry with an expert guide to discover hidden gems and a Colorado Winter Wonderland Adventure!
Join Us for an Adventure!
Let us take you on a journey where you can connect with nature and enjoy winter in an adventurous way in some of the most beautiful settings Colorado has to offer.
In this article:
Backcountry Ski Tours & Snowshoe Itineraries
Backcountry Ski: Full Day
Intro to Backcountry Skiing
Want to experience skiing in Colorado? Our state is crowned with spectacular peaks rising from the plains and at the apex of those mountains is the continental divide, America’s watershed division line. Our Colorado ski tours showcase our mountains and terrain in a whole new way. We approach the Divide from the east and spend the day skiing runs and terrain below its veil. Come with us to learn all about backcountry skiing in Colorado with a custom and private guided Colorado ski trip! The goal of our guided alpine skiing tours is to provide a safe and educational experience not found in a guidebook. This is a great introduction to the sport of backcountry skiing in Colorado or can be used to facilitate the improvement of backcountry ski skills for intermediate and advanced skiers wanting to improve skills or test themselves.
Itinerary: For this guided ski tour, we depart Boulder, Denver, or Estes Park in the early morning and travel through the town of Estes Park or Allenspark into Rocky Mountain National Park. We then spend the day skiing in the best spots based on the desires of the groups and the weather / snow conditions.
Difficulty Description: Moderate: D2 – D4: D2 – Angle around 25 degrees with simple topography. D3 – Perhaps slightly steeper than D2, or may include more challenging terrain features. Examples include East Face of Flat-top Peak D4 – Similar to an easier “Expert” run at a resort. Slope angles usually around 30 degrees. Grade 2 in length or 4-6 hours and at least 1000 feet of elevation gain.
Intro to Ski Mountaineering
Colorado is one of America’s most classic and beloved destinations for full-throttle ski mountaineering, with grand scenery, exciting drops, and a bevy of peaks and ranges to choose from. This course will take you to the best ski mountaineering routes in the Front Range, from the James Peak Wilderness, the Indian Peaks, and Rocky Mountain National Park. We’ll go over technique, safety, and navigation as we find routes that match your ability and ambition.
Itinerary: For this guided ski tour, we depart Boulder, Denver, or Estes Park in the early morning and travel through the town of Estes Park or Allenspark into Rocky Mountain National Park. We then spend the day skiing in the best spots based on the desires of the groups and the weather / snow conditions.
Difficulty Description: Moderate to Advanced previous backcountry skiing and avalanche education is required
RMNP Intro to Couloirs & Descents
You’ve skied all the resorts, you’re confident, and you’re looking for the next challenge. Join us on a trip into Rocky Mountain National Park, as we learn how to ski steep lines and thrilling couloirs. This intro to couloirs and descents will teach you how to jump turn, how to control your speed, and how to confidently ski tougher lines. This will prepare you for such lines as The Cristo Couloir on Quandary Peak. Our experienced, AIARE-trained guides will take you to find the hidden powder stashes and big lines that you’ve always dreamed of.
Itinerary: For this guided ski tour, we depart Boulder, Denver, or Estes Park in the early morning and travel through the town of Estes Park or Allenspark into Rocky Mountain National Park. Expect a brisk 1 to 3 hour approach to most of these couloirs before we drop in to the goods. We then spend the day skiing in the best spots based on the desires of the groups and the weather / snow conditions.
Difficulty Description: Moderate to Advanced previous backcountry skiing and avalanche education is required
RMNP Peaks & Descents
Rocky Mountain National Park is the premier destination for ski mountaineering, thrilling couloir drops, exciting touring, and some of the grandest scenery in the Western United States. This tour will take you up several of Rocky Mountain’s famed peaks, as we explore the park in a way that very few people get to see. We’ll choose our peaks based on comfort and ability level, and some may include technical climbing as we summit and then drop into a few different routes across the Continental Divide. Prepare for long and cold days as we explore the best ski mountaineering in Colorado.
Itinerary: For this guided ski tour, we depart Boulder, Denver, or Estes Park in the early morning and travel through the town of Estes Park or Allenspark into Rocky Mountain National Park. We then spend the day skiing in the best spots based on the desires of the groups and the weather / snow conditions.
Difficulty Description: Moderate to Advanced previous backcountry skiing and avalanche education is required
Snowshoe: Full Day
Indian Peaks
From the easier trails at Brainard Lake to the steep up-hills of Moffatt Tunnel and East Portal, snowshoeing in the Indian Peaks Wilderness has something for everybody. The Indian Peaks Wilderness, set an hour west of Boulder, is a gorgeous landscape comprising of lakes, waterways, mountains, valleys, and a plethora of wildlife including moose, elk, and black bears. This tour allows exploration of the many meadows, waterways, and mountain trails of this gorgeous terrain.
Itinerary: For this guided snowshoe tour, we depart Boulder or Denver in the early morning and travel through the town of Nederland and into the Indian Peaks Wilderness. We then spend approximately 4-6 hours snowshoeing to the best spots based on the desires of the groups and the weather / snow conditions. Denver departures should plan on taking an extra 2-hours roundtrip in transportation.
RMNP Backcountry
There is no better way to see the spectacular Rocky Mountain National Park backcountry than by snowshoeing. This tour takes you to the valleys and peaks of a majestic wintery landscape, as we explore frozen lakes and waterfalls, snow-covered basins, and surround ourselves with towering mountains. Rocky Mountain becomes an entirely different park in the winter as the snow creates an entirely different atmosphere, and animals such as moose and elk forage through the forests and plains. We’ll have plenty of opportunities for wildlife viewing as well as scenic overlooks.
Itinerary: For this guided snowshoe tour, we depart Boulder, Denver, or Estes Park in the early morning and travel through the town of Estes Park or Allenspark into Rocky Mountain National Park. We then spend approximately 4-6 hours snowshoeing to the best spots based on the desires of the groups and the weather / snow conditions. Denver departures should plan on taking an extra 2-hours roundtrip in transportation.
Hut to Hut Skiing
Colorados famed huts are set deep in the backcountry, in spectacular settings, which can be used as a base for exploring the surrounding area. This tour will take you to Colorados famed mountain huts, where we’ll enjoy the company of other travelers, sleep and eat in a warm environment, and then spend the day skiing around the surrounding landscape. We may also link multiple huts together and explore an area over multiple days, staying in a different hut each night.
Itinerary: For this guided ski tour, we depart Boulder, Denver, or Estes Park in the early morning and travel 2-3 hours to our trailhead. We then depart for our lodging for the evening, a rustic hut deep in the Colorado Backcountry. The first day is usually a longer day because we will be skiing into the hut with all our gear for the trip. After we get set up in one of the wonderful huts a nice hot dinner and relaxation will commence. Depending on how long you wish to stay out the days will consist of skiing fresh untracked powder and the nights will be spent in the hut. Hut skiing is so enjoyable because all you need to bring is your clothes, food and a sleeping bag, all the rest of the gear is at the hut! On the last day of the trip we will load up , have a leisurely ski out to the trailhead and drive back to Boulder.
Difficulty Description: Moderate to Difficult
Backcountry Development Series: 3-Day Intro Skiing Beyond Resorts
Join our three-day backcountry skiing program in Rocky Mountain National Park and explore new terrain beyond the resort. Our program covers essential skills such as backcountry ski equipment, clothing systems, kick turns, hotspot/blister prevention and foot care, ski tour planning, and quick and efficient transitions. You’ll learn how to read and gather information for planning a safe and enjoyable tour while immersing yourself in the natural history and ecology of this iconic national park. You’ll enjoy the beauty and solitude of the wilderness. Perfect for beginner and intermediate skiers looking to expand their horizons in a safe and guided environment.
Curriculum
● Backcountry ski equipment
● Clothing systems for backcountry skiing
● Kick turns
● Skiing techniques in variable snow conditions
● Getting into the skis in any situation
● Hotspot/blister prevention and foot care
● Ski tour planning
● Reading and gathering information for tour planning
● Quick and efficient transitions
● Hydration and food planning for a ski tour
Difficulty Description: Moderate, beginner level ski touring course
Prerequisites: Skiing experience and avalanche training
Custom Guided Ski & Splitboard Tours
Want to experience skiing in Colorado? Our state is crowned with spectacular peaks rising from the plains and at the apex of those mountains is the continental divide, America’s watershed division line. Our Colorado ski tours showcase our mountains and terrain in a whole new way. We approach the Divide from the east and spend the day skiing runs and terrain below its veil. Come with us to learn all about backcountry skiing in Colorado with a custom and private guided Colorado ski trip! The goal of our guided alpine skiing tours is to provide a safe and educational experience not found in a guidebook. This is a great introduction to the sport of backcountry skiing in Colorado or can be used to facilitate the improvement of backcountry ski skills for intermediate and advanced skiers wanting to improve skills or test themselves.
Itinerary: For this guided ski tour, we depart Boulder, Denver, or Estes Park in the early morning and travel through the town of Estes Park or Allenspark into Rocky Mountain National Park. We then spend the day skiing in the best spots based on the desires of the groups and the weather / snow conditions.
Custom Guided Backcountry Snowshoe Itinerary
Colorado is a wintery wonderland of powdery trails, frozen lakes, iced over waterfalls, and spectacular vistas. Our custom snowshoeing tours are bound to get you into the backcountry in a way like you’ve never seen before. Explore Colorado through its backcountry huts, it’s hidden trails, and it’s sublime summits, seen only through the eyes of our native Colorado guides. We’ll set you up with the equipment and the knowledge to snowshoe either the mellower trails through the rolling hills or tougher trails spanning a vast and difficult alpine environment. Our snowshoe trips will help prepare you for winter travel and learn to survive in cold environments.
Whether it’s an educational or leisure trip, Colorado Wilderness Rides and Guides will customize the experience to your particular goals. Snowshoes allow us to get deep into the backcountry and explore the hidden areas we can’t get in by hiking. We’ll be able to learn about how to plan a winter backcountry trek, nutrition, energy management, winter camping, proper weather forecasting or navigation in the mountains. Colorado Wilderness Rides and Guides will ensure a full education and a way for you to meet your goals, whether it’s wilderness survival or you want to see a side of Colorado that few others get to see. Call Colorado Wilderness Rides and Guides and plan your custom snowshoeing trip today!
Itinerary: For this guided snowshoe tour, we depart Boulder, Denver, or Estes Park in the early morning and travel through the town of Estes Park or Allenspark into Rocky Mountain National Park. We then spend approximately 4-6 hours snowshoeing to the best spots based on the desires of the groups and the weather / snow conditions. Denver departures should plan on taking an extra 2-hours roundtrip in transportation.
Call 720-242-9828 or email info@cwrag.com to book a 100% customized Guided Backcountry Ski or Snowshoe Adventure in Colorado!
What's Included In Our Rates?
The services of a professional Ski or Snowshoe Guide
Round-trip transportation between your Boulder or Estes Park hotel or our office and the fishing location for groups of 6 or less
Avalanche gear (beacon, probe, shovel) if requested
Bottled water and snacks (lunch is also included during full-day trips)
Education about the local and natural history (including a library of Rocky Mountain flora and fauna)
Group CB, medical kit, & emergency support.
What's NOT Included In Our Rates?
Gratuities for your guide (while it is up to your discretion, the recommended gratuity is 15-20%)
Special Notes: Snowshoes, AT ski touring skis or Tele skis, skins, and boots can be rented from Crystals Ski Shop for $50 per day. When on a guided trip, we supple avalanche rescue gear (beacon, shovel, and probe). On a side note: Crystals also rent beacon, probe, shovel for $30 per day. The whole package for all gear (ski and safety) is $65 per day for future reference. PH: 303-449-7669.
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