Guided Backcountry Skiing on Red Mountain Pass: Ouray’s San Juan Powder Playground

Ouray•challenging

Difficulty

challenging

Duration

6–8 hours

Fitness Level

Good cardio and leg endurance; comfortable skinning 2,000–3,500 vertical feet at 10,000–12,000 feet elevation.

Overview

Chase fresh San Juan powder with AMGA-certified or trained guides on Red Mountain Pass, just above Ouray. This full-day backcountry tour blends safety instruction, tailored terrain, and rich mining-country history for a smart, unforgettable ski day.

Guided Backcountry Skiing on Red Mountain Pass: Ouray’s San Juan Powder Playground

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Date

Thu, Oct 30

Travelers

Dawn slips over Ouray like frost on glass, and the Million Dollar Highway starts to stir. Headlights ribbon up toward Red Mountain Pass, where the San Juans flex their volcanic shoulders and the wind needles your cheeks awake. Skins whisper on cold snow, the valley quiet except for your breath, the soft tick of bindings, and a guide’s calm voice cutting through the stillness. The mountains dare you forward—powder tucked in glades, bowls yawning wide, ridgelines guarding views all the way to the Needles.

Adventure Photos

Guided Backcountry Skiing on Red Mountain Pass: Ouray’s San Juan Powder Playground photo 1

Adventure Tips

Read the CAIC forecast with your guide

Discuss avalanche problems, aspects, and elevation bands during the morning plan to match terrain to conditions.

Layer for high-output uphill

Breathable base layers and a light midlayer keep you dry while skinning; add an insulated piece for transitions and descents.

Aim for steady pacing at altitude

Sip water often and snack every 45–60 minutes to avoid energy slumps during 2,000–3,500 feet of gain.

Winter tires for US 550

Storms hit fast on the pass; carry chains when required and allow extra time for weather or control work closures.

Local Insights

Wildlife

White-tailed ptarmigan
Red fox

History

Ouray’s mining boom in the 1880s pushed routes over Red Mountain Pass; the Million Dollar Highway was expanded under road-builder Otto Mears to move ore between Ouray and Silverton.

Conservation

Travel on consolidated snow to protect alpine vegetation. Give wintering wildlife wide berth, keep group noise low, and carpool to reduce roadside parking impacts on US 550.