Backcountry Places to Explore

Summit County, Colorado

By Bob Berwyn

Besides being home to four world-class alpine resorts, Summit County harbors some of the state's best backcountry ski touring, much of it easily accessible from area highways.

Montezuma

The backcountry around Montezuma, for example, boasts countless routes, ranging from bucolic G-rated family excursions to spine-tingling, gut-wrenching and consciousness-raising extreme lines that can leave even the most ambitious backcountry enthusiast begging for mercy. To get to the cross country ski trails in the Montezuma area from the Silverthorne I-70 exit, head east (toward Keystone) on Highway 6. Go past all the Keystone Resort exits until you see a turn to the right marked Montezuma Road.

Peru Creek

The road up along Peru Creek is an early season favorite for moderate touring, with a thick forest on the lower part of the route guarding the snow cover. Later, the valley opens up to a classic Colorado vista, as stands of spruce give way to wide swaths of alpine tundra and craggy peaks high above. The Peru Creek trailhead is about two miles up Montezuma Road on the left.

Deer Creek

Higher up along Montezuma Road, past its namesake town, ski tourers and snowshoers also frequent the route along Deer Creek to gain access to stunning vistas and fresh powder snow. The wide open meadows in the valley floor are ideal for young children just getting their snow legs. This route is often quite busy on weekends, and, believe it or not, there have been conflicts between skiers and snowshoers who can't seem to stay out of each other's tracks (and hair). To get to the Deer Creek trailhead, go through the town of Montezuma (slow down and watch out for horse-drawn sleighs) and continue for another couple of miles to the plowed parking lot where the road ends in the winter.


Be considerate out there, people. If you see a narrow track that's been set by skiers, leave that track for skiers. It makes for a much more pleasant ski experience, and it's easy enough for snowshoers to develop an alternate track adjacent to the skiloype (Scandinavian for XC ski trail). Have a great season, everyone.