Silverton Heli Skiing Colorado Review

Silverton Heli Skiing is a no-frills and bare bones heli skiing operation at Silverton Mountain in Colorado. The heli skiing can make an adjunct to the Silverton Mountain lift accessed skiing. 

There has been an avalanche of media hype about Silverton Mountain, and many powderhounds are making the pilgrimage to ski the steep challenging terrain and dry Rockies powder. However with the lift accessed skiing virgin powder is not guaranteed, and sometimes all that’s left is chowder. Depending upon your perspective, another downside is that more time and energy is spent going up the mountain instead of down.

Then along came a helicopter and Silverton Mountain had a solution for powderhounds. You can choose to do a single heli lift or splash out on a full day with Silverton Heli Skiing.
 

Where is Silverton Heli Skiing Located?

Silverton Heli Skiing is based at Silverton Mountain in the San Juan Mountains, about 6 miles from the town of Silverton. The heli ski operation is located in what we like to call the “powderhounds corner of Colorado”, a skiing mecca in southwest Colorado.

Silverton is about 50 miles north of Durango and 30 minutes from Purgatory Ski Resort. For travel information, see the travel to Silverton page.

Heli Skiing Packages

Silverton is one of only two heli ski operations in North America that offer single runs. This package is perfect for ski bums on a budget who want to sample the joys of heli skiing. The only problem is that heli skiing is addictive, and you’ll want to go again and again. Thank goodness for plastic fantastic!

The single run option is intended to be combined with the lift accessed skiing at Silverton Mountain, so you have to also purchase a lift ticket. This package is only operational Thursdays to Sunday from 11am throughout the winter season (except holidays).

Silverton also offers a 6 run package as well as heli access ski touring and private charters.

Silverton Accommodation

There is no lodging at the Silverton Mountain ski area, but there is inexpensive Silverton hotel and motel accommodation in the nearby historic town.

Heli Ski Terrain

This is big mountain skiing within thousands of acres of pristine snow, with runs up to 1,000 metres (3,000 feet) of thigh pleasuring vertical. Terrain includes wicked chutes, open bowls and some tree skiing. Everything is reasonably steep and with a degree of avalanche control work undertaken, the likelihood of being able to access the high angle slopes is heightened.

Silverton is renowned for its quality and quantity of snow, and it stays in great condition in part thanks to the soaring elevations. At these giddy heights you might need to take Diamox (or Viagra as suggested by Silverton Mountain!) or other preventative measure to combat any altitude sickness.

How Good is the Heli Skiing at Silverton Mountain?

It’s worth going heli skiing just for the helicopter ride to absorb the magnificent views and get snap happy, but then you also get to descend and ride the untracked powder. Sweet!

Heli skiing at the gnarly Silverton Mountain has a certain appeal because it sounds pretty cool. However if you’re going to make the investment in powder happiness, you may not get the best bang for your buck at Silverton. For more information see our Silverton Heli Skiing review.