Berthoud Pass Backcountry
Front Range, CO
Elevation Profile
Current Conditions
Bottom Line
Clean Low danger bulletin with no identified problems — this is a good day to be out. Saturday brings a legit storm cycle (70-83% precip chance, snow showers likely) that will reload the snowpack and bump danger, so plan your biggest objectives for Thursday-Friday and be conservative Saturday.
33°/18°F · Chance Snow Showers
Low (1/5)
52" depth
Elevated flows · 5 gauges
No active fires within 50 miles
13h 35m daylight · Sunrise 6:15 AM · Sunset 7:49 PM
Full Briefing
Avalanche conditions are about as good as it gets right now. Low danger at every elevation band, zero identified problems in the CAIC bulletin. The snowpack is settling and stable. Go where you want, ski what you want — terrain selection today is about quality, not safety management.
Weather is the variable to watch. Today's winds are running 23-29 mph from the west, which is enough to move snow and create minor wind effect on exposed ridgelines above treeline — think sastrugi and scoured crust on west-facing rolls, slightly deeper pockets in east-facing terrain. Nothing that changes the danger picture, but it'll affect ski quality. Highs are staying well below freezing through Friday (29-35°F), so wet loose is not a concern on any aspect. Cold and consolidated is the story.
Saturday changes things. The forecast jumps to 70% precip chance Saturday with 83% Saturday night — this is a real storm, not a flurry. Depending on how much snow loads over 24-48 hours, you should expect the Sunday bulletin to reflect storm slab development, especially on lee aspects where this week's west wind has already been scouring and depositing. The SNOTEL depth at Berthoud-adjacent stations (Long Lake sits at 97 inches with a falling trend — that's settlement, not melt, given temps staying well below freezing) gives you a solid base to absorb new snow, but fresh loading on a settled surface can still produce reactive storm slabs. Plan your committing objectives for Thursday and Friday. If you're still out Saturday, stick to mellower angles and watch for recent activity as the storm builds.
With 13.5 hours of daylight and sunrise at 6:15 AM, you have a huge weather window Thursday and Friday. Get an alpine start to catch the best snow on north and east aspects before any afternoon wind effect, and you'll be back at the car with time to spare. Stream crossing data in the raw feed is from California gauges — not relevant here, disregard.
Waypoints
Berthoud Pass Summit Lot
Park at the summit of Berthoud Pass. Plowed lot on the west side.
11,319 ft
Continental Divide Ridge
Ridgeline along the Continental Divide. Choose your descent line from here.
12,500 ft
Current Creek Drainage
Mid-slope in the Current Creek drainage. Gladed terrain with excellent tree skiing.
11,483 ft
Highway Return
Reach US-40 below the pass. Short hitchhike or car shuttle back to summit.
11,319 ft
Route Details
Distance
3.5 mi
Elevation Gain
2,100 ft
Elevation Loss
2,100 ft
Max Elevation
12,500 ft
Estimated Days
0.5
Trailhead
Berthoud Pass Summit
Best Season
Season runs November through May. Best stability mid-winter.
About This Route
Berthoud Pass on US-40 west of Denver is Colorado's most accessible backcountry skiing destination. At 11,315 feet, the pass sits at treeline, offering both gladed tree skiing and open alpine terrain. The east side features steep chutes and exposed alpine bowls, while the west side has more moderate tree skiing. Current Creek, First Creek, and Second Creek are all popular drainages. The standard circuit skins up from the pass, tours along the Continental Divide, and descends back to the highway. The Colorado Avalanche Information Center covers this zone extensively. Snow quality can be variable due to Colorado's shallow snowpack, but when conditions align, Berthoud delivers world-class skiing just 60 miles from Denver.
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