Colorado is one of the world’s top ski destinations. The multi-billion dollar ski industry is a major economic driver in the state. Countless people make their living directly and indirectly from the ski industry. If you want to make a living in the ski industry, Colorado is one of the best places you can live, thus the reason why there are so many skiers that call the Centennial State their home.
As the CO lift lines get longer, more people are keen to earn their turns by heading into the endless backcountry of Colorado. From the Front Range to the San Juans and everything in between there is plenty of incredible, high elevation skiing to be had. There are often turns to be had year round! Whatever type of backcountry skier you aspire to be, Colorado will appeal to you.
Meadow skippers can find mellow pow runs, ski mountaineers can challenge themselves on the 13ers and 14ers, lift access chargers can escape into the backcountry through the gates, and if you want to get away from it all you can tap into the country’s most extensive hut system. It’s all backcountry skiing and it’s all right there in Colorado.
If you’re looking for inspiration for your next skiing adventure, these guidebooks highlight some of the best backcountry skiing in Colorado:
- Making Turns In Colorado’s Front Range Volume 1: South Of Interstate 70 by Fritz Sperry
- Making Turns In Colorado’s Front Range Volume 2: North Of Interstate 70 Including Indian Peaks by Fritz Sperry
- Backcountry Skiing and Ski Mountaineering In Rocky Mountain National Park by Mark Kelly
- Making Turns In the Tenmile/Mosquito Range – A Backcountry Ski and Snowboard Guide – by Fritz Sperry
- Powder Ghost Towns: Epic Backcountry Runs in Colorado’s Lost Ski Resorts – by Peter Bronski
- Backcountry Skiing Berthoud Pass – by Jordan Lipp
Colorado Flag - Backcountry Skiing and Snowshoeing in Grand County, Colorado – by Deborah Carr and Lou Ladrigan
- Climbing and Skiing Colorado’s Mountains: 50 Select Ski Descents (Backcountry Skiing Series) – by Ben Conners and Brian Miller
- Colorado Tenth Mountain Huts and Trails: The Official Guide to America’s Largest Backcountry Ski Hut System – by Lou Dawson
- Colorado High Routes: Aspen-Vail-Crested Butte Ski Tours Including The Tenth Mountain Trail – by Lou Dawson
- Dawson’s Guide To Colorado Backcountry Skiing Volume 1 – by Lou Dawson
- Ski The 14ers – by Chris Davenport
- Silverton Backcountry Atlas – Off-Piste Ski Atlas
- Backcountry Skiing Crested Butte Colorado – Off-Piste Ski Atlas
- Front Range Descents: Spring and Summer Skiing and Snowboarding In Colorado’s Front Range by Ron Haddad and Eileen Faughey
- Indian Peak Descents: Ski Mountaineering & Snowboarding in Colorado’s Indian Peaks – Ron Haddad
- Colorado: Hut to Hut : A Guide to Skiing and Biking Colorado’s Backcountry – Brian Litz
- Skiing Colorado’s Backcountry: Northern Mountains – Trails and Tours – by Brian Litz
- Colorado Hut to Hut, Volume 1 – by Brian Litz
- Colorado Hut to Hut, Volume 2 – by Brian Litz
If you’re new to the Colorado backcountry scene, there is plenty of beta out there to help you tap into the best backcountry skiing in Colorado. Grab a topo map, check out Google Earth, get a backcountry partner and start exploring. Between the outstanding backcountry skiing blogs that are based in Colorado, the backcountry skiing guidebooks listed above, and your own sense of exploration you’ll soon find that there is more than a lifetime of backcountry skiing potential in Colorado.
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Always enjoy the mountains responsibly and be respectful of your fellow backcountry travelers. Please be safe when you hit up the best backcountry skiing in Colorado.
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