Sentinel
A North-west facing tree chute
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 403 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 191 m
Berthoud Pass, Colorado Backcountry Skiing Map
A comprehensive map of all the backcountry ski lines on Berthoud Pass.
Freeride Skiing, Ski Touring Easy, Moderate, Difficult, Severe, Extreme
Description
Berthoud Pass between I-70 and the major ski resort of Winter Park was itself once home to a small ski area. Situated right on top of the 11,307-foot mountain pass and rising high into the alpine, the small ski area received 500 inches of snow annually. First opened in 1937, the lifts shut down in 2001, and the entire resort was removed by 2005. (Source)
The lifts and base lodge have all been dismantled and the forest service is seeking to return Berthoud Pass to its natural environment, but the old ski runs still remain. Add in all of the epic above treeline bowls, steep chutes, and rugged cliff bands, and Berthoud Pass’s 500 inches of snow per year now draw in backcountry skiers from up and down Colorado’s Front Range. The area is now one of the most popular backcountry skiing destinations in the state, and maybe even the country.
Just because Berthoud is popular doesn’t mean it’s safe. This area can be very avalanche prone, so don’t relax your guard just because you see other people on the skin track. Make your own avy danger decisions, and ski within your ability and comfort zones.
This guidebook functions as a comprehensive map of essentially all of the backcountry ski lines on Berthoud Pass. If you’re looking for a shorter list of recommendations to narrow your search, check out “The Best Backcountry Ski Lines on Berthoud Pass” guidebook instead.
Sources: https://www.elevationoutdoors.com/snowsports/berthoud-survival-guide/ https://rootsrated.com/boulder-co/backcountry-skiing/berthoud-pass-backcountry-skiing https://boc123.com/berthoudpass/berthoudpass.cfm
Routes included
High Trail Cliffs
A large, steep opening in the trees with multiple rock outcroppings
Severe Ski Touring
- Distance
- 664 m
- Ascent
- 18 m
- Descent
- 211 m
Stanley Headwall
A large cirque with a variety of short, steep descent options
Severe Ski Touring
- Distance
- 2.3 km
- Ascent
- 71 m
- Descent
- 365 m
Stanley East Face
An alpine face with good pitch
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 1.1 km
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 447 m
Stanley Slide Path
A long run down a slide-path
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 1.7 km
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 829 m
Shop Chutes
North facing tree skiing
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 353 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 112 m
Hell's Half Acre
No-hike-necessary tree skiing on Hell's Half Acre.
Moderate Freeride Skiing
- Distance
- 296 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 80 m
Hanging Meadow
North-west facing tree skiing with good pitch
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 458 m
- Ascent
- 11 m
- Descent
- 182 m
High Trail Trees
NW facing tree skiing with good pitch
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 492 m
- Ascent
- 18 m
- Descent
- 168 m
Colorado Mines Peak
Long, easy access alpine.
Moderate Ski Touring
- Distance
- 863 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 261 m
Floral Park
Tree skiing
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 1.1 km
- Ascent
- 3 m
- Descent
- 288 m
No Name
An aesthetic eastern aspect alpine line
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 1.6 km
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 372 m
Southeast Russell
A steep face with cliffs and an icefall
Severe Ski Touring
- Distance
- 889 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 311 m
The 90's - Outlaw
450 feet of fun, consistent pitch with a small rock feature
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 375 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 143 m
Pumphouse
Some south facing glades
Difficult Freeride Skiing
- Distance
- 3.2 km
- Ascent
- 406 m
- Descent
- 608 m
The Meadows
Gentle Terrain to access the 80's, 90's, Hourglass Cliffs, Nelson's and Sam's
Easy Ski Touring
- Distance
- 618 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 179 m
The 90's - Launching Pad
500 feet of consistent pitch with fun cliffs and trees
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 222 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 86 m
The 90's - 90's
450 feet of pure fun, consistent pitch with a small rock feature
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 282 m
- Ascent
- 4 m
- Descent
- 138 m
Rock Garden
Small features and fun terrain
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 377 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 139 m
10 Little Indians
Short, steep, rocky chutes often guarded by cornices
Severe Ski Touring
- Distance
- 9.8 km
- Ascent
- 1.6 km
- Descent
- 1.6 km
Current Creek Bench
Wide open alpine
Moderate Ski Touring
- Distance
- 1.2 km
- Ascent
- 40 m
- Descent
- 145 m
Rush 3
Rush 3: Steep cliffs with billy goating or big air potential
Severe Ski Touring
- Distance
- 208 m
- Ascent
- 3 m
- Descent
- 105 m
North Chute 1
The most popular Berthoud Pass alpine line
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 623 m
- Ascent
- 4 m
- Descent
- 177 m
Rush 2
Rush 2: Steep cliffs with billy goating or big air potential
Severe Ski Touring
- Distance
- 198 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 103 m
Rush Chute
Short, steep and narrow to get the adrenaline pumping.
Severe Ski Touring
- Distance
- 199 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 106 m
The Plunge
350 vertical feet of consistent, fun pitch.
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 323 m
- Ascent
- 4 m
- Descent
- 113 m
Approach Route to Upper West Wether Station
The standard approach for anything on the west side.
Easy Ski Touring
- Distance
- 2 km
- Ascent
- 303 m
- Descent
- 12 m
Perfect Trees / Tea Cup Bowl
Tree skiing in a small bowl
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 1 km
- Ascent
- 1 m
- Descent
- 271 m
Wyskis
Mellow tree skiing.
Moderate Freeride Skiing
- Distance
- 589 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 130 m
Sam's
A wind scoured shot through trees
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 177 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 77 m
Nelson's
Wind scoured shot through trees
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 234 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 94 m
Oatmeal Bowl
A south facing alpine bowl
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 820 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 216 m
Skull Bite
A rocky, north aspect chute
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 621 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 175 m
Hourglass Cliffs - 100's
Rocky chute near Berthoud Pass.
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 387 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 172 m
Great Divide West
Following the skin track back down.
Easy Freeride Skiing
- Distance
- 407 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 100 m
North Chute
A NW facing tree chute
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 413 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 192 m
Hourglass Cliffs - Lobster Trap
Another rocky chute near Berthoud Pass.
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 145 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 83 m
North Chute 2
Slightly steeper and narrower than North Chute 1
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 295 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 134 m
Nitro Cliffs
A short, steep face with a big cliff.
Severe Ski Touring
- Distance
- 374 m
- Ascent
- 3 m
- Descent
- 125 m
Aqueduct Trail
Access to north aspect lines in the Current Creek drainage
Easy Ski Touring
- Distance
- 724 m
- Ascent
- 28 m
- Descent
- 29 m
Jim's Glade
Some tight tree skiing
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 542 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 166 m
Hidden Knob
A low-angle, wide chute
Moderate Ski Touring
- Distance
- 411 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 137 m
Swiss Horn
A variety of cliffs and pillows in the trees
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 887 m
- Ascent
- 120 m
- Descent
- 182 m
Cactus Rock
A variety of small cliffs
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 160 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 63 m
Upper 110's
Glade skiing
Moderate Ski Touring
- Distance
- 1.3 km
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 274 m
Middle 110's
Mellow Glade Skiing
Moderate Ski Touring
- Distance
- 1.1 km
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 246 m
The Morgue
Steep line with cliffs.
Severe Ski Touring
- Distance
- 122 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 64 m
Lower 110's
Glades with some cliffs
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 868 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 213 m
Telegraph
A low-angle cut through the trees
Moderate Freeride Skiing
- Distance
- 761 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 192 m
East Side
Wide open, easy access skiing
Moderate Ski Touring
- Distance
- 1 km
- Ascent
- 3 m
- Descent
- 110 m
Y Chute
The skier's right rock chute off Hidden Knoll
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 341 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 150 m
Gaffney's
An icon of Berthoud Pass
Severe Ski Touring
- Distance
- 236 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 109 m
Great Divide
The most obvious route down when looking at the west side from the very top of the pass.
Easy Ski Touring
- Distance
- 726 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 170 m
The 90's - The Flume
500 feet of consistent pitch with a fun cliff option
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 414 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 146 m
The 80's
300 feet of cliffs and good pitch
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 237 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 72 m
Lift Gully
A classic Berthoud Pass route.
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 394 m
- Ascent
- 4 m
- Descent
- 120 m
Skier's Left of Triple Rock
Short and steeper tree skiing.
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 235 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 94 m
Triple Rock
A classic Berthoud Pass cliff.
Extreme Ski Touring
- Distance
- 157 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 55 m
Hoop Creek
No-hike-necessary tree skiing thanks to a shuttle on Berthoud Pass.
Moderate Freeride Skiing
- Distance
- 811 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 175 m
Nitro Chute
A highly featured west side route.
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 235 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 104 m
North Chute 3
The narrowest of the North Chutes
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 325 m
- Ascent
- 1 m
- Descent
- 139 m
The 90's - Vigilante
450 feet of fun, consistent pitch.
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 269 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 139 m
Bobsled
The route in or out of Current Creek
Easy Ski Touring
- Distance
- 902 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 108 m
No Name Cirque
A steep alpine cirque with small cliffs
Severe Ski Touring
- Distance
- 606 m
- Ascent
- 21 m
- Descent
- 11 m
The Roll
A great scouting route with the potential for deep turns.
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 820 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 180 m
X Chute
Rock chute off of Hidden Knoll
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 397 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 170 m
The Halfpipe
One of the easiest ways down from Hidden Knoll
Moderate Ski Touring
- Distance
- 533 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 130 m
Z Chute
The center rock chute off Hidden Knoll
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 380 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 187 m
Y Chute Right
A steep, rocky pitch off Hidden Knoll
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 201 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 112 m
Hidden Knoll South Chutes
Short, south facing pitches
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 431 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 150 m
Current Creek Bowl
Wide open alpine
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 2.5 km
- Ascent
- 41 m
- Descent
- 384 m
No Name Bench
Skiing from the eastern ridge of No Name
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 1.4 km
- Ascent
- 4 m
- Descent
- 349 m
Hourglass Cliffs - Weibel's Wobble
A tree-d slope into a rocky outcropping
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 134 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 41 m
Hourglass Cliffs - Hourglass
A rock Chute
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 105 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 57 m
Moonlight Bowl
A north facing alpine bowl
Moderate Ski Touring
- Distance
- 572 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 208 m
Postage Stamp
A southerly alpine line
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 1.6 km
- Ascent
- 14 m
- Descent
- 335 m
X Chute Left
The mellowest Route through the XYZ area
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 387 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 125 m
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