When you think of extreme ski resorts in the United States, you might think of Jackson Hole, Palisades Tahoe, Big Sky, or elsewhere. You might not think of Colorado’s Silverton Mountain despite its truly unbelievable terrain and near-backcountry conditions.
Silverton Mountain has a single lift which serves almost 2,000 feet to the top of a ridge line. From there, skiers and snowboarders typically hike to their desired terrain. Beacon, shovels, and probes are required to hit this mountain and you might be required to hire a guide depending on the time of year. Hiking can last anywhere from 5-45 minutes, depending on where you’re trying to go (though there’s plenty of terrain right off the lift as well).
Ski vlogger Rise & Alpine was invited to join Patagonia in a day skiing on this mountain, and he does a good job showing how wild it really is.
The town of Silverton alone is easily worth the visit. It’s definitely one of the coolest towns in the state, has some killer restaurants and museums, and plenty of unbelievable hiking/backcountry skiing nearby (assuming you have the training necessary to head into the backcountry and/or are willing to hire a guide).
