The Very Best Resort Ski Touring in Colorado

Skinning uphill is exploding in popularity across Colorado, partly as a way to beat the crowds at overstuffed resorts, but also for the exercise and good fun that is earning those turns. Ski touring and splitboarding are, of course, essential for getting into the backcountry, but with the abundance of commercial mountains in Colorado, there’s no requirement to ever leave the bounds of a resort to go touring. Controlled terrain provides convenience and relative safety, so you can keep skiing and stay fit all season, regardless of conditions in the backcountry. Then there is the advantage of getting on the runs before anybody else, to skip the lines, and to hound those fresh tracks on a powder day!

Uphill access can be complicated, however, because every mountain has different policies. Most Colorado resorts allow at least some options for uphill travel, usually confined to certain hours and routes. You have to know when and where you can ski both uphill and down at any given resort. A pass is usually required as well, but in most cases, this is an uphill-specific pass that is inexpensive or free.

Because not all mountains are created equal, we’ve compiled this guide to help you find the best uphill access in Colorado. All the mountains seen here offer excellent options for skiing on your own power, so you can be sure to earn quality turns for your efforts. Whether you’re looking for casual fitness laps on groomers, or shralping pow with no one else around, you can find your ideal resort tours here. Simply zoom to a mountain to see the routes we recommend. Tap on a run for more information, including links to the resort policies for uphill. Then it’s up to you to learn the code, get the gear, and get up that mountain!