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Sam's Knob and Big Burn Uphill

Aspen

Snowmass uphill route with a huge amount of vertical, and lots of great options for descent.

Resort Ski Touring Difficult

Distance
5.9 km
Ascent
1.1 km
Descent
8 m
Low Point
2.5 km
High Point
3.6 km
Gradient
22˚
Sam's Knob and Big Burn Uphill Map

If you want big vertical on a ski tour at Snowmass, this is the route to take. In total it gains more than 3500 feet, surpassing 11,800 in elevation at the top of Big Burn. Because it’s open to uphill travel during operating hours, you can head up whenever you like and take your time if need be. Some crushers will of course hammer this out all before breakfast, but the daytime access provides the rest of us a chance to work up to that level.

Description

This is also just a good-quality ski tour within the bounds of the resort. In addition to the panoramic views from Bonzai Ridge on the way up, you can find top-notch skiing on the way down. Sneaky’s is one of the more unique intermediate runs at Snowmass, and some other really good blues drop from the top of Big Burn. If you want to get some tree skiing, Sneaky’s Glades and Powerline Glades have some of the best on the mountain. Even if you only take this route as far as Sam’s Knob, there’s a wealth of intermediate and advanced terrain you can ski down from there. All of those options make Sam’s Knob/Big Burn uphill the hands-down best route for earning your turns at Snowmass.

Aspen Snowmass allows uphill from 5am-10:30pm with an uphill pass. Be sure to check the uphill policy for more information and how to get a pass before you go.

Difficulty

Difficult

Remoteness

1 out of 4

Close to help in case of emergency.

Best time to visit

between December and April

Similar routes nearby

Guidebooks in this area