Backcountry Skiing from Salt Lake City

Private guided backcountry skiing and splitboarding in Utah's Wasatch Mountains.

Fly into Salt Lake City and ski the Wasatch backcountry with a private guide — Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons, December to May.

Flying in to ski Salt Lake City?

One Guided Day Beyond the Resorts.

From Salt Lake City International Airport, each of the four Cottonwood Canyon resorts is less than an hour’s drive. The canyons begin at the edge of the city.

If you are coming for a week at Alta, Snowbird, Brighton or Solitude, a guided backcountry day lets you ski the terrain beyond the resort boundaries, chosen that morning for the conditions.

If you are in town for work, one free day in winter is enough.

Snowbird about 32 miles · about 35 minutes
Alta about 33 miles · about 40 minutes
Solitude about 34 miles · about 40 minutes
Brighton about 36 miles · about 45 minutes

Approximate drive times from Salt Lake City International Airport, as published by Visit Salt Lake. Storms, traffic and canyon road restrictions can add time.

Private guiding · December–May

Ski the Wasatch with Guides Who Know These Mountains.

The Wasatch Mountains rise directly above Salt Lake City, putting an extraordinary range of backcountry skiing within easy reach: deep powder in sheltered forests, open bowls, long descents, high alpine terrain, spring corn, and ambitious ski-mountaineering objectives.

But the best Wasatch experience is not about chasing a famous line or following a fixed itinerary. It is about finding the right terrain for the day—and for your group.

WMG guides read the mountains in real time, weighing recent snowfall, wind, temperature, sun exposure, avalanche conditions, snow quality, and current traffic to identify where the skiing will be safest, most enjoyable, and best suited to your goals.

You are not buying a predetermined run. You are getting a private day built around the conditions we actually have and the experience you want.

Where we ski

Big Cottonwood. Little Cottonwood. The Southern Wasatch.

We do not promise one specific drainage or ski line in advance. The right location depends on the snow, weather, avalanche conditions, and the people skiing that day.

Big Cottonwood Canyon

An exceptional variety of touring terrain: sheltered tree skiing, powder laps, moderate touring, open bowls, longer tours, steeper terrain and spring corn. The variety of aspects, elevations, and terrain allows us to adapt the day rather than forcing a single objective.

Little Cottonwood Canyon

Access to some of the classic backcountry ski terrain of the Wasatch, from moderate touring to steep and complex alpine terrain. For experienced skiers and appropriate conditions, it also provides access to some of the larger ski objectives in the range. The famous line is not automatically the right line.

Southern Wasatch

There are days when the better skiing is farther south. When conditions warrant, we may travel to selected terrain in the Southern Wasatch, including areas above the Provo side of the range.

Choose your day

Guided Backcountry Skiing from Salt Lake City

Guided backcountry powder skiing in the Wasatch above Salt Lake City

Most people start here

Backcountry Skiing and Splitboarding

Full day · Wasatch, Utah · 1–4 Guests

A guided day in the Wasatch, with terrain chosen that morning for the conditions. Skiers and splitboarders welcome.

From $280 per person · full day

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Lift-access backcountry skiing from Alta, Utah

Skiing the resorts this week?

Lift Access Backcountry Skiing & Riding

6+ hours · Utah · 1–3 standard (contact us for 4+)

Ski Alta or Brighton with a guide who uses the lifts to reach the backcountry beyond them — more vertical, less skinning. One day is enough.

From $250 per person · full day

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Ski mountaineering descent in Little Cottonwood Canyon, Utah

Steep classic lines

Ski Mountaineering Classic Lines

8–12 hours · Wasatch, Utah · 1–2 clients per guide

Steep couloirs, ice axe and crampons, occasional rappel entrances.

Prior approval required.

From $400 per person · full day

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Learn the backcountry

Courses in the Wasatch

If your goal is to make your own decisions in avalanche terrain, a course is the better program. Start wherever your experience already is.

Backcountry skills course in the Wasatch, Utah

Skills

Backcountry Essentials

2 days · Wasatch, Utah · Up to 4 per guide

Two field days and an evening session — transceiver rescue, terrain, tour planning. The step before Avalanche Level 1.

$550 per person

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Avalanche Level 1 field day in the Wasatch, Utah

Avalanche education

Avalanche Level 1

2 field days · Wasatch, Utah · 2–4 clients per guide

The certification course: two field days, an online module and an evening seminar.

$615 per person

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Winter camp during an avalanche course in the Wasatch, Utah

Avalanche education + camping

Avalanche Level 1 with Winter Camping

3 days, 2 nights · Wasatch, Utah · 2–4 clients per guide

The same certification, with three field days and two nights out in the snow.

$1,150 per person

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Backcountry ski mentorship tour in the Wasatch, Utah

Across a season

Backcountry Ski Mentorship

6 field days · Wasatch, Utah · 2–4 clients. Guides rotate across the weekends.

Six field days across three weekends, ending with a tour you plan and lead while your guide watches.

$2,000 per person

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What to expect

What a Guided Day Looks Like

A Wasatch backcountry day starts before we reach the trailhead. Your guide reviews the weather, avalanche forecast, recent observations, and expected conditions, then confirms the meeting time and location with you — sometimes not until the day before, because conditions determine where we ski.

Meeting. Most full-day tours begin at approximately 8:00 AM, usually near Big Cottonwood Canyon or Little Cottonwood Canyon. Common meeting points include Park & Ride locations near the canyon entrances. For lift-assisted tours, we may meet directly at Alta or Brighton.

The uphill. A typical day may include uphill sections of one to two hours at a time, with transitions and ski descents between climbs. You do not need to race uphill.

The skiing. Powder, sheltered trees, open bowls, firm winter snow, wind-affected snow, spring corn. We cannot promise powder, but we will work with the conditions we have to find the best skiing appropriate for the group.

Getting there. Winter travel in the Cottonwood Canyons can be affected by snowstorms, traffic, road restrictions, avalanche mitigation and parking limits. If you have a flight or another firm afternoon deadline, tell us beforehand so we can plan the day accordingly.

Your questions

Backcountry Skiing in Salt Lake City: Questions

Do I need backcountry experience?

No. You do need solid resort skiing or riding skills and should be comfortable in ungroomed snow. If this is your first touring day, your guide will help you with the basic equipment and uphill systems.

How good of a skier or rider do I need to be?

You should be an advanced-intermediate or stronger skier or rider. If you regularly ski or ride ungroomed black-diamond terrain at the resort and can make controlled turns in variable snow, you are probably ready. If you mostly stay on groomed runs, this program may not be the right fit yet.

How fit do I need to be?

You should have reasonable aerobic fitness. Expect repeated uphill sections, often one to two hours at a time, carrying a light pack. You do not need to be fast, but you should be comfortable moving steadily for a full mountain day.

Do I need my own touring equipment?

No. Touring skis, touring boots, splitboards and other equipment can be rented locally. Reserve equipment early during weekends, holidays and busy snow periods.

Do I need my own avalanche gear?

Everyone must carry a digital avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe. WMG can provide avalanche rescue equipment if arranged in advance.

Can I splitboard?

Yes. Splitboarders are welcome. You need a proper splitboard touring setup with skins, compatible bindings, boots and collapsible poles.

Will the snow be powder?

Sometimes. Other days may bring wind-affected snow, firm winter conditions, tracked snow or spring corn. We look for the best available skiing, but we do not promise powder.

Can we use the lifts?

Sometimes. Lift-assisted touring may be possible from Alta or Brighton when access and conditions make sense. Lift tickets are not included in the guiding rate.

I don’t have a car in Salt Lake City. Can I still book?

Transportation to the meeting location is normally the client’s responsibility. If you are visiting Salt Lake City without a vehicle, let us know when you send your trip request and we can help you understand the available transportation options.

Is this an avalanche course?

No. A guided ski day is not a substitute for formal avalanche education. If your main goal is to learn how to make independent avalanche decisions, an avalanche course is the better program.

How do I book?

Start by sending us a trip request with your preferred date, number of guests, ski or splitboard, skiing or riding ability, previous touring experience, general fitness, rental needs and what you want from the day. We confirm availability and then send you the Wasatch Mountain Guides registration and payment link.

Beyond the Wasatch

Travel to Ski

Most North American skiers hang up their boots in April. October in Chile puts you on four volcanoes with genuine vertical and spring corn snow, right before your home season opens.

Ski descent on Mount Baker, Washington

Washington

Mount Baker Ski Descent

3 days · Mount Baker, Washington · 3 skiers per guide

Up to about 7,000 vertical feet from the summit of a glaciated volcano when the snow reaches the trailhead.

$1,400 per person

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Skiing a volcano in northern Patagonia, Chile

Patagonia, Chile

Patagonia Volcanoes Ski Expedition

8 Days · Patagonia, Chile · Maximum 6 · never more than 4 per guide

Ski or ride four volcanoes in northern Patagonia in 8 days.

$5,500 per person

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All Skiing Adventures → Utah Adventures — The Wasatch & Moab →

Our Utah partner

Operated by Wasatch Mountain Guides

Utah guiding programs featured by Benegas Brothers Expeditions are operated by Wasatch Mountain Guides (WMG), a separate guiding company co-owned by BBE co-founder Willie Benegas. BBE helps you explore the experiences and connect with WMG. WMG provides the guiding services and handles reservations, payments, required releases and applicable booking terms.

You plan the day with us. Once the trip is confirmed, we send you the Wasatch Mountain Guides registration and payment link — that is where you complete the required trip registration, acceptance-of-risk documents, and payment.

Your Day. Your Group. Current Conditions.

Tell us what you are looking for

Powder, your first backcountry tour, a relaxed day in the mountains, more vertical, new Wasatch terrain or a larger ski objective. Send your dates and group, and we will help determine what makes sense for your group and the conditions.

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