• Difficulty: while backcountry experience is not strictly necessary, you will enjoy this type of tour with a little touring experience under your belt, knowledge of the equipment being key as well as fitness level; intermediate to advanced downhill ski ability and good fitness required
  • If you are a backcountry touring beginner, consider our Introduction to Backcountry Touring Course
• Meeting Time: Generally 8am
• Meeting Location: Big or Little Cottonwood Park and Ride Lot, Alta or Brighton, depending on objective. We may also meet in the Provo area mountains.

Specific tours vary per conditions and clients’ focuses, but we always aim to go to where the best snow can be found. On many of these tours, we begin in Little Cottonwood Canyon, ski down into Big Cottonwood, and eventually work our way back up and over into Little Cottonwood again. You’ll get into some fantastic, challenging terrain – so you can continue to grow your skills in one of the most stunning parts of the planet. These trips are also ran in the Southern Wasatch mountains.

Each day involves approximately 2,500 to 5,000 feet of climbing and skiing over the course of roughly seven hours. If you’re interested in a detailed summary of what a day backcountry skiing with Wasatch Mountain Guides is like, read here.

What We Provide

• IFMGA or AMGA certified guides
• Avalanche beacon, shovel, probe and pack (if needed)

What You Need

• Review the equipment list
• Lunch, water and snacks
• Lift Accessed Tours: cost of “single-ride lift ticket” is additional

Dates

• These are private guided days so simply contact us to schedule or use the “Book Trip” calendar.

Max Client to Guide Ratio

• 4:1
• We can book groups larger than four and will add an additional guide to the group, keeping max client to guide ratio 4:1.

There’s no fixed itinerary. Your guide picks the day’s objective the morning of, based on the Utah Avalanche Center forecast, overnight wind and loading, and your fitness and ability. What follows is the working menu — the terrain we return to season after season, and roughly what each day asks of you.

Difficulty uses the same technical and fitness scale as every other WMG trip. Each entry reads: objective — zone, then vert · aspect · level and fitness · typical window.

Introductory — first tours, short approaches, forgiving terrain

• Flagstaff Mountain — Little Cottonwood ~1,500 ft · N/NE · Introductory, moderate fitness · Dec–Mar
• Dog Lake & Mill D North — Big Cottonwood ~1,400 ft · N/E · Introductory, moderate fitness · Dec–Mar
• Days Fork — Big Cottonwood ~2,000 ft · N/NE · Introductory, moderate fitness · Dec–Mar
• Grizzly Gulch — Little Cottonwood / Alta ~1,600 ft · N/NE · Introductory, moderate fitness · Dec–Apr
• Butler Fork — Big Cottonwood ~1,800 ft · N/NE · Introductory, moderate fitness · Dec–Mar

Best for first-time tourers, visiting skiers with one day and no gear rhythm yet, and anyone rebuilding confidence after a season off. Short approaches mean more laps and more coaching per hour.

Intermediate — full days, real terrain management, classic Wasatch touring

• Cardiff Fork & Cardiac Bowl — Big Cottonwood ~2,800 ft · N/NE · Intermediate, high fitness · Jan–Apr
• Silver Fork — Big Cottonwood ~2,000 ft · N · Intermediate, moderate fitness · Dec–Mar
• USA Bowl — Guardsman / Big Cottonwood ~1,800 ft · N/NE · Intermediate, moderate fitness · Jan–Mar
• Reynolds Peak — Big Cottonwood ~2,200 ft · N/NE · Intermediate, high fitness · Jan–Apr
• White Pine — Little Cottonwood ~3,000 ft · N/NE · Intermediate, high fitness · Jan–Apr
• Gobblers Knob — Big Cottonwood ~3,000 ft · N/E · Intermediate, high fitness · Jan–Apr

This is the heart of the Wasatch and where most of our private days land: 2,500–5,000 feet of climbing over roughly seven hours, three to five laps, and enough terrain variety that the plan can change twice and the day still works.

Advanced — steep, committing, condition-dependent

• Mount Superior, South Ridge — Little Cottonwood ~3,000 ft · S climb → N descent · Advanced, high fitness · Feb–Apr
• Wolverine Cirque — Big/Little Cottonwood divide ~1,200 ft · N/NE · Advanced, high fitness · Feb–Apr
• Broads Fork & Twin Peaks — Big Cottonwood ~5,000 ft · N/NE · Advanced, very high fitness · Mar–May

These require you to ski steep, variable snow confidently with a pack on, and they go when the snowpack allows — not when the calendar says. If the forecast doesn’t support the objective, we ski something else and nobody argues about it.

Southern Wasatch & spring ski mountaineering

• Cascade Ridge — Provo ~5,000 ft · N/E · Intermediate, high fitness · Jan–Apr
• Provo Peak— Provo ~5,500 ft · W · Advanced, high fitness · Apr–Jun

Utah County has real terrain and a fraction of the traffic. If you’re based in Provo, Orem, or Lehi, we can meet you there instead of sending you up I-15 — see guided skiing in the Southern Wasatch. Spring is also when the big lines come in, and those days start well before dawn.

Don’t see your objective?

Bring it to us. If it’s in the Wasatch and it’s in condition, we’ve probably skied it — and if we haven’t, we’ll tell you that straight. Most private days start with a conversation about what you want out of the season, not a menu.

• Local knowledge of Wasatch snowpack, terrain, and conditions
• Real-time terrain selection based on avalanche forecasts
• Efficient access to classic and lesser-known lines
• Instruction, mentorship, or purely guided skiing—your choice
• Flexible start times, locations, and objectives
• This is your day, we’re customizing it to match your fitness and skill and to meet your vision and goals

• Expert Guides: Certified AMGA guides ensure risk management and skillful navigation through Utah’s Wasatch Mountains and beyond. We follow the AMGA’s Scope of Practice.
• Customizable Experiences: Tailored skiing and splitboarding adventures based on skill level, terrain preferences, and goals.
• Premier Locations: Access to pristine backcountry terrain, including iconic areas like the Wasatch Range and other select regions.
• Skills Training: Gain essential backcountry skills, such as avalanche safety, efficient route selection, and skinning techniques. We customize to your experience and goals.
• Comprehensive Equipment Support: Includes avalanche beacons, shovels, probes, and more if needed.
• Small Group Focus: Low guide-to-client ratios to ensure personalized guidance and a safe experience. We run private groups for the best experience possible.
• Diverse Season Calendar: Opportunities from early winter to late spring, including advanced ski mountaineering tours.
• Adventure for All Levels: Options ranging from introductory backcountry courses to high-stakes mountaineering tours.
• Booking Convenience: Clear pricing, flexible group size options, and an easy online booking process.
• Local Expertise: Deep knowledge of the Wasatch Range ensures a memorable and rewarding outdoor adventure.

Hiring a private ski guide includes customized trip planning, professional avalanche risk management, route and terrain selection, and on-the-ground decision making throughout the day. Your guide adapts the plan to current snow and weather conditions while matching the pace, objectives, and instructional focus to your goals.

Hiring a ski guide can be purely a guided day focused on skiing, or it can include instruction and mentorship. Many guests use private guiding to build backcountry skills, improve efficiency, or prepare for avalanche courses and bigger objectives. A guided backcountry ski tour could help you prepare for an avalanche course or a ski mountaineering mentorship program. 

Private ski guiding is ideal for individuals or small groups who want flexibility, personal attention, and terrain choices matched to their experience. This option works well for visiting skiers, locals short on time, or anyone seeking a higher-end, custom backcountry experience.

Prior backcountry experience is not required for all trips. Your guide will help select terrain appropriate to your background and may recommend preparatory instruction or avalanche education depending on conditions and goals.