Silverton Powdercats
Silverton Powdercats Cat Skiing ColoradoSilverton Powdercats was formerly called El Diablo Snowcat Skiing. El Diablo translates to “the devil” and considering that there is absolutely nothing hellish about this cat ski operation, it was re-named in 2009. This guided backcountry skiing operation is now called Silverton Powdercats and it’s heaven for any powderhound.
Skiing at
Silverton Mountain is pretty good, but Silverton Powdercats has many advantages over Silverton Mountain. At Silverton Mountain, hikes of 30 to 45 minutes are generally required, which can be arduous at elevations of 13,000 plus feet; oxygen anyone?! For those who don’t want to spend time and energy hiking up a mountain and would prefer to spend more time going downhill, cat skiing at Silverton Powdercats is the perfect alternative.
Similarly skiing at the nearby ski resorts of
Durango (Purgatory) and
Telluride sure beats a day at work, but the experience pales into insignificance in comparison to cat skiing where there are fresh tracks galore.
Where is Silverton Powdercats Located?
Silverton Powdercats is off the beaten track somewhat, but this is what makes the experience special. Amongst the San Juan Mountains, this cat ski operation is located amongst the ski mecca region of southwest Colorado, dubbed the Powderhounds Corner of Colorado. Silverton Powdercats is a 10 minute drive (6 miles / 9.6km) south of the town of Silverton, 20 minutes north of
Durango Mountain Resort, and about 1.5-2 hours from
Telluride ski resort.
The cat ski operation is on highway 550 atop Molas Pass, and the access road from either direction is windy and sometimes challenging in snowy conditions. Occasionally the pass is closed.
There are three regional airports in the area: Durango-La Plata County Airport; Montrose Airport and Telluride Regional Airport. Flights primarily originate from Denver, but there are also flights from other cities such as NYC, Atlanta, Phoenix and Salt Lake City.
Cat Skiing and Boarding Packages
The Powdercats offer single day trips for only $300 per person which includes lunch and use of an avalanche beacon. They also offer an early week special, with cat skiing from Monday to Wednesday (when Silverton Mountain is closed) costing only $250. Perfect for the ski bum on a budget!
And better still, the accommodation in the nearby town of Silverton is inexpensive, and the quiet mountain town provides a unique Colorado experience that isn’t “resortified”. There might not be a lot of nightlife or dining options, but getting away from it all is part of the experience.
Cat Ski Terrain
Thousands of acres of the backcountry wilderness are on offer, where the chance of crossing others tracks is kept to a minimum. There is lots of mellow terrain for powderhounds on the “L” plates as well as more challenging terrain for experienced powderhounds. The terrain includes chutes, tree skiing and bowls, and unlike many other cat ski operations, much of the terrain is only sparsely populated with trees or above the tree line. A standard day with Silverton Powdercats includes about 9-14 runs, so you’ll finish the day feeling very satisfied.
More Reasons to Cat Ski or Board with Silverton Powdercats
In close proximity to other ski areas and really close to
Silverton Mountain, Silverton Powdercats provides the opportunity to combine some lift accessed skiing with cat skiing. You can mix and match the skiing depending upon your budget, although with super cheap
Silverton hotels, your holiday can have more of a bias towards cat skiing – sweet!
See our
Silverton Powdercats review for more information.
Bookings & Information RequestsIf you have any questions or would like to enquire about a specific date
click here.