Slide beyond the lifts into the steep, volcanic folds of the San Juans with an AMGA-certified guide. Powder glades, alpine bowls, and real-time snowpack decisions create a day that’s equal parts education and exhilaration.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
Dawn slides across the San Juan Mountains and the snow answers, whispering under skins as the slope tilts toward the sky. In the hush above Telluride, spruce hold their breath and the wind tests the ridgeline, shouldering past cornices and curling spindrift like smoke. An AMGA-certified guide checks the snowpack—layers talk in clean shears and grainy breaks—before pointing to a shaded bowl that waits like a promise. The day begins with simple rhythm: glide, plant, breathe. The mountain sets the pace and you follow.
Difficulty
challenging
Duration
6–8 hours
Fitness Level
Strong aerobic base recommended; able to skin 2,000–3,500 vertical feet at altitude and ski variable snow confidently.
Wildlife
History
Telluride’s mining era built many of today’s access routes, and the nearby 1891 Ames Hydroelectric Plant delivered the world’s first long-distance AC power.
Conservation
Winter is a hard season for wildlife—give elk and deer wide space and avoid lingering near known winter range. Travel lightly, pack out everything, and stick to established parking to prevent road damage.
Reserve your spot on the Guided Backcountry Skiing - Telluride today and enjoy a trusted, highly rated experience designed to help you make the most of your adventure.
Start early for colder snow
Begin at first light to take advantage of firm skin tracks and safer, colder surfaces on solar aspects.
Hydrate at altitude
At 8,700–12,500 feet, dehydration sneaks up fast—aim for 2–3 liters plus electrolytes.
Be beacon-ready
Know how to turn on, check, and wear your transceiver; practice a quick signal search before you tour.
Dial your transitions
Keep gloves on, skins organized, and layers managed to save time and stay warm at windy ridgelines.
AT Skis or Splitboard with Climbing Skins
Tour-capable setup is required for efficient uphill travel and dependable downhill performance.
winter
Avalanche Kit (Beacon, Shovel, Probe)
Provided by the guide, but bring your own if preferred; you must know how to use it.
winter
Insulating and Shell Layers
A moisture-wicking base, warm midlayer, and waterproof shell keep you comfortable through changing conditions.
winter
Goggles with Low-Light Lens
Flat light is common in storms; a yellow or rose lens boosts contrast in glades and bowls.
winter