- Think you have what it takes to complete the Elk Mountain Grand Traverse – a 40-mile overnight ski race from Crested Butte to Aspen?
- Red Lady and Snodgrass Mountain are excellent backcountry ski areas both a quick jaunt from town.
- Crested Butte's professional mountain guides keep skiers in the goods and out of trouble.
Overview
Surrounded on three sides by untamed mountains, the Crested Butte backcountry begs to be skied. Follow the call for epic powder turns.
Where to go backcountry skiing
Red Lady is Crested Butte's most famous and accessible backcountry ski area. Only five minutes from town, throwing down early morning laps on Red Lady is a Crested Butte rite of passage.
The skiing is so good on Snodgrass Mountain that Crested Butte Mountain Resort has tried for years to include it in its footprint. Someday there will be lifts here, so ski it now while it's still wild snow.
Mount Baldy enjoys a long season sometimes starting as early as October. The 30-degree north and 40-degree east faces are best. The mountain is accessed via Schofield Pass Road.
Guided Tours
Check out Crested Butte's backcountry ski guides. These folks know the best stashes and where to lay the perfect skin track. A full day group tour for three starts at $150 each.
