When summer crowds fade and Trail Ridge Road closes for the season, a profound silence falls over Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP). The peaks are coated in white, icy couloirs form high above the tree line, and the park becomes the domain of a different kind of explorer.

Today, backcountry skiing in Rocky Mountain National Park is exploding in popularity. Modern gear allows us to access terrain that was once deemed impossible. But when you click into your bindings at the Bear Lake trailhead or skin up Hidden Valley, you aren’t just starting a ski tour—you are stepping into a rich history of human-powered adventure in the Colorado Rockies.

At Lost Goat Co., we believe that understanding the past deepens the adventure of the present. Here is a look at the history of skiing in RMNP, and why the best way to experience it today is with a professional guide.

The Era Before Lifts: The Pioneers

It’s easy to forget that before the mid-20th century, all skiing was backcountry skiing. If you wanted the vert, you had to earn it.

In the 1920s and 30s, long before high-speed quads existed, hardy locals in Estes Park were already exploring the lower elevations of the park on wooden planks with rudimentary leather bindings. These early adventurers laid the groundwork for what we now call ski touring.

The real inflection point for Colorado ski mountaineering came after World War II. The return of the famed 10th Mountain Division soldiers to Colorado brought a surge of technical knowledge, European alpinism techniques, and a deep love for high-altitude winter environments. These veterans looked at peaks like Longs Peak not just as climbing objectives, but as ski descents.

The Ghost Resort: Remembering Hidden Valley

For many modern backcountry skiers, Hidden Valley is the gateway drug to RMNP skiing. It offers accessible, low-angle glades that hold powder days after a storm. But for decades, this was a bustling, lift-served ski area right inside the National Park.

Operating from roughly 1955 to 1991, Hidden Valley had chairlifts and t-bars taking families up the slopes you now have to skin up. When the National Park Service decided to close the resort operations to return the area to a natural state, the lifts were removed.

Today, Hidden Valley serves as a fascinating bridge between history and modern touring. The old runs are still visible as perfectly spaced glades, providing some of the safest and most enjoyable introductory backcountry skiing in Colorado. It’s a place where you can literally ski through history.

The Modern Era: Pushing Into the Alpine

While Hidden Valley offers great powder touring, the true soul of RMNP ski mountaineering lies above the treeline.

The development of modern AT (Alpine Touring) gear—lightweight skis, reliable tech bindings, and stiff boots—opened up the high alpine to a wider audience. Suddenly, the intimidating faces visible from Estes Park were accessible as day trips.

Areas off Trail Ridge Road (accessible in winter only by human power), the dramatic couloirs of the Continental Divide, and the complex terrain around Tyndall Glacier became targets for ambitious skiers. This terrain is world-class, offering steep lines, technical descents, and views that rival the Alps.

Skining History Safely: Why You Need a Guide

The history of skiing in RMNP is inspiring, but the reality of the terrain is humbling. The pioneers who first skied these lines were experts in mountain survival, and the risks they faced—avalanches, sudden weather changes, and complex navigation—are exactly the same today.

RMNP is not a controlled ski resort. It is wild, complex, high-consequence glaciated terrain.

This is where history meets modern professionalism. To safely experience the best backcountry skiing Rocky Mountain National Park has to offer, hiring a guide is essential for most skiers.

At Lost Goat Co., our AMGA-trained guides are experts in local snowpack, terrain management, and risk mitigation. We know when the high alpine couloirs are stable, and we know when Hidden Valley is the best call for deep powder.

Make Your Own Tracks

You don't need to be a 10th Mountain Division veteran to experience the magic of winter in the Rockies. You just need the right partner.

If you want to leave the lift lines behind and step into the quiet history of the Colorado backcountry, let us lead the way. Whether you are looking for an introduction to uphill skiing or a big alpine objective, we have the local knowledge to make it happen safely.

Are you ready to experience the history of Colorado skiing firsthand?

[Plan Your Ski Trip Now]