Silverton Skiing & Snowboarding Resort Guide
The terrain at Silverton Mountain is the closest thing to backcountry skiing and snowboarding that can be experienced inbounds. With only one chairlift and guides required on most days, Silverton is a totally unique Colorado skiing and snowboarding experience. Served by a single chairlift, hiking, and a helicopter, Silverton has some of the steepest and most extreme terrain in Colorado. There is a limit to to the number of skiers and snowboarders allowed on the mountain everyday, and a huge selection of terrain to choose from, saving powder for days or weeks after storms. Billed as “all thrills, no frills,” Silverton Mountain is made for hardcore skiers and snowboarders.
With runs named Concussion, Gnar Couloir, and Nightmare Silverton Mountain’s terrain is big, steep and challenging. There is no grooming, and no beginner or intermediate terrain. What there is, however, is some of the steepest and best advanced and extreme skiing and snowboarding in Colorado. For most of the ski season, skiers and snowboarders are required to ski with one of Silverton’s professional guides. Groups of eight are paired with a guide based on ability, goals, and hiking speed. Skiers and snowboarders can expect to get in three to six runs in a day, which may not sound like a lot, but that is usually around 10,000’ vertical of some very high quality riding. The mountain itself is laid out along a ridge, with steep chutes, cliffs and bowls dropping off of the ridge. Hikes to skiing and snowboarding typically take anywhere from 15 to 60 minutes. The single chairlift serves 1,900’ of vertical drop, with 3,087’ of heli and hiking accessed vertical. Heli skiing and snowboarding can be booked all day, or by the single drop. The single heli drop is unique amongst heli skiing operations, giving riders the chance to get a taste of heli skiing at a relatively low cost.
Mountain Stats & Silverton Trail Map
| Skiable Acres | 1,819 | Heli & Hike Accessed Vertical | 3,087' |
| Heli & Hike Accessed Acres | 22,000+ | Total Lifts | 1 |
| Base Elevation | 10,400' | Average Annual Snowfall | 400"+ |
| Summit Elevation | 13,487' | Beginner & Intermediate Terrain | o% |
| Vertical Drop | 1,900' | Advanced & Expert Terrain | 100% |
Silverton is somewhat remote, situated in the southwestern corner of Colorado. Driving, Silverton is 7 hours from Denver. Durango is closer, only an 80 minute drive. Telluride is 120 minutes away. The remote location can have snowy and dangerous roads, so make sure to be prepared with a proper vehicle and to keep an eye on road conditions.
Travel Resources:
Road Conditions
Silverton is somewhat remote, situated in the southwestern corner of Colorado. Driving, Silverton is 7 hours from Denver. Durango is closer, only an 80 minute drive. Telluride is 120 minutes away. The remote location can have snowy and dangerous roads, so make sure to be prepared with a proper vehicle and to keep an eye on road conditions.
Road Conditions
The town of Silverton is located a 15 minute drive from Silverton Mountain. In tow, there are several lodging options for various budgets. The Triangle Motel has been called “the place to stay” when visiting Silverton Mountain. There are several other recommended hotels and lodges, too.
Silverton Mountain Lodging
Our Favorite Snowboards For Silverton
Local Food Picks
The town of Silverton has some surprisingly good eats for its small mountain town status. Although the options are not upscale like Vail or Aspen, skiers and snowboarders will certainly not go hungry. Kendall Mountain Cafe has some tasty breakfast options, the breakfast sandwiches are the popular pick. Avalanche Brewing is a great way to wrap up a big day of hiking for epic powder skiing and snowboarding. The Eureka Station is a nice spot for dinner as well, with a little bit more sophisticated menu than your typical ski town bar.Kendall Mountain Cafe
Avalanche Brewing
Eureka Station
Our Favorite Skis For Silverton
Where to Find Lift Tickets to Silverton?
Silverton lift tickets can be purchased online, and vary in price whether the skiing is guided or unguided. Unguided skiing and snowboarding is typically only offered in the early and late season. These lift tickets are among the cheapest lift tickets in Colorado. Guided lift tickets are comparable in price to the larger ski and snowboard areas in Colorado, like Vail and Aspen Snowmass. Private guides are an option for a higher price per person. Heli skiing and snowboarding is offered for a rate that is far cheaper than most heli ski and snowboard operations. The option to buy single drops is by far the cheapest way to get a small glimpse of the awesome skiing and snowboarding that heli skiing has to offer.Silverton Weather Information
SIlverton Mountain receives some of the most snow of any ski and snowboard resort in Colorado. At over 400” of snowfall on average, that is more than 33’ of powder. Combined with the limited number of skiers allowed on the mountain per day, and expert guides, Silverton gives skiers and snowboarders a great chance to score awesome powder riding, even long after a storm. While the weather is stormy, there is plenty of treed and gladed terrain to ski and snowboard. As storms clear, it becomes safe to ski the epic high alpine terrain that Silverton is known for.Silverton Ski Report
For a completely unique ski and snowboard experience for hardcore powder hounds, Silverton Mountain is paradise. Known for its deep snowpack and giant selection of terrain, Silverton has some of the steepest and deepest skiing & snowboarding in Colorado. With “all thrills, and no frills” Silverton is a great stop on a southern Colorado road trip, or destination in its own right. Cheap heli skiing and snowboarding and a great mountain town help to round out Silverton Mountain as a bucket list destination!
