Berthoud Pass Backcountry
Front Range, CO
Elevation Profile
Current Conditions
Bottom Line
Clean Low danger bulletin with no identified avalanche problems — this is a great late-season ski touring window. Sunday warms to 47°F so plan accordingly, but Friday and Saturday are straightforward.
39°/26°F · Mostly Sunny
Low (1/5)
31" depth
Normal flows · 5 gauges
No active fires within 50 miles
14h 34m daylight · Sunrise 5:44 AM · Sunset 8:18 PM
Full Briefing
Low danger across all elevations with zero identified problems. The CAIC bulletin is as clean as it gets — no persistent slabs, no wind slabs, no storm slab concerns. The snowpack is settling into late-season consolidation mode. Go find the good snow.
Snowpack at Berthoud is holding at 31 inches, which is reasonable for late May. Winds are light throughout the period — 9 to 14 mph Friday, building slightly to 15 to 18 mph Saturday, but staying westerly and below any meaningful wind slab loading threshold. No new precipitation loading to worry about either — the slight chance of snow showers Friday night and Sunday carry minimal accumulation potential at these probabilities and won't change the stability picture.
The one thing to manage is Sunday's warmup. High of 47°F with the freezing level likely pushing well above Berthoud Pass (11,307 ft) by midday means wet loose activity on solar aspects in the afternoon. Friday and Saturday are cold enough — highs of 37–39°F — that you can push later into the day without concern. Sunday, get your laps done on south and east aspects early, and transition to north-facing terrain or call it by noon. The 14.5 hours of daylight gives you a big window — use the morning.
Stream gauges in the dataset are all California-based and not relevant to your approach. Berthoud Pass is highway-accessible so no crossing concerns. Fires are clear within 50 miles. This is a go — enjoy it.
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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