Your Cart is Empty
Mon - Sat 10AM to 6 PM - Sunday 12PM-5PM
The mighty San Juan Mountains fill your windshield every time you turn north on Main. These fearsome, jagged peaks have some of the best and most accessible backcountry in America. That said, if you are a beginner backcountry skier or are new to the area, it may not always be obvious where to go. This guide gives you a quick overview on mostly gentle, mostly safe places to backcountry ski in theDurango area.
For nice lines in a highly aesthetic setting, it’s hard to beat Lizard Head Pass, which is north of Dolorest and just shy of Telluride. To get to know the area, park at either the Cross Mountain or Lizard Head Peak Overlook trailheads and head northwest.
Molas Pass offers some of the most visually stunning ski terrain anywhere, but its open terrain means that winds can ruin the good snow. For a nice walk with good views, head west from the Little Molas Lake parking area. For better snow and denser trees, look at the slopes just to the west of Andrews Lake.
Red Mountain Pass has some of the best ski terrain you can find in Colorado, though much of it is off-limits to beginners. That said, by knowing your limits and carefully assessing your options, you can find suitable lines on both sides of the pass. In either case, follow gated roads and take your pick of line.
This spot is popular–for good reason–but there’s enough room to spread out. From the summit of Wolf Creek Pass, just before the ski area entrance, find a large lot on the north side of the road. Park here and follow an old road headed north. After less than a mile, gentle powder-filled terrain comes into view. Keep going for longer and slightly steeper lines.
You are almost guaranteed to have this place to yourself–as long as you are on skis. North of Chama, this high pass has areas popular with snowmobiles, but the slopes of Neff Mountain rarely see snow machine traffic. Proceed about 1.5 miles past the Cumbres Pass Railroad Station to a parking lot on the right, cross the highway, and choose your line among the aspens.
When the snow is new and the days are cold, this can be a great spot to stretch your abilities. Found just north of the Cascade Village condos and visible from Lift 1 at Purg, this is a connected series of gentle runs. Park in the large lot right at the switch back, cross the highway, and skin up–not along the creek but toward the aspen due north. Because of the southern exposure and low elevation, you need to hit this right after a storm in mid winter.
Ready for a road trip? Blue Mountain is a former ski area in the mountains above Monticello, Utah. This area operated as a shoestring enterprise until 1990, when costs rose and crowds remained sparse. While the lifts have been removed, the trails remain generally open. To get here, take Abajo Drive west from Monticello to the junction with Ski Lift Road, which is not plowed. Park here and ski about 1 mile to the old base. The bottom is a big open gentle meadow, while steeper slopes can be found above. The higher you go, the better the views get.
Backcountry skiing in the San Juan Mountains exposes a whole new world of snowy adventure, but getting into the sport is not cheap. From special skis, boots, and bindings to necessary avalanche equipment, things can get pricey. That’s why buyingused ski gear in Durango makes so much sense. Stop by Durango Outdoor Exchange, which is stocked with plenty of gear to kick off your adventure, and staffed by enthusiastic skiers who can help you get what you need.
For many hikers, summiting one of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks is a lifetime achievement. Others make it their entire personality, working for years and even decades to climb all of them. Some make a goal of climbing them all in a single season while others try to ski them all.
The problem with climbing 14ers for many people is that they are difficult–and we’re not just talking about the thin air. Of the 58 in Colorado, about one-third entrail considerable exposure and require skilled route-finding and ascent/descent skills. About half have either moderate or considerable challenges. Just eight are considered “easy.”
Hikers looking to summit a 14er near Durango will find four that rank generally as easy or the easy end of moderate. They are all in the same two canyons and can be climbed by someone with decent fitness, good shoes, and a penchant for waking up early. The roads to access all these peaks are part of the Alpine Loop and can be driven from Silverton in a four-wheel drive such as a Tacoma, but are generally not in all-wheel drives like Subarus.
Ready? Here goes!
If you do anyovernight backpacking, or even long distance hiking, there’s a good chance that at some point you may need to go Number Two.
Because of heavy land use and impacts to natural resources (not to mention water sources), this is not always as simple as doing your business and covering it with a rock or a handful of pine needles.
In fact, depending on where you go, you may be required to carry an approved pooping system even if you swear on your loaded lower intestine that you will hold it in no matter what.
Here’s a quick run down on backcountry toilet systems.
