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Moab Backcountry Skiing | Private Guided La Sal Mountains Tours | Clapper Adventures
La Sal Mountains · Moab, Utah · Dec – May

Powder
above the
red rock.

Private guided backcountry skiing and splitboarding in Moab's La Sal Mountains. Untracked snow, desert panoramas, and guides who know every slope — tailored entirely to your crew.

What Makes It Unique

Ski powder
while the desert
waits below.

The La Sal Mountains rise to over 12,000 feet from a 4,000-foot desert floor. The contrast is real and it's extraordinary — you're skinning through aspen groves with Arches and Canyonlands spread across the horizon. This is Moab's best-kept winter secret.

Desert-Alpine Contrast

Ski untracked snow while gazing down at the same red rock formations you hiked last summer. It's a landscape experience found nowhere else on Earth.

Locals-Only Stashes

North-facing slopes that hold powder for weeks, hidden valleys, aspect-specific lines — your guide knows where the goods are and how long they last.

Desert Microclimate Expertise

La Sal snow behaves differently than typical mountain snowpack. Our guides read conditions through a desert-specific lens — wind loading, aspect variation, and storm timing that resort forecasts won't tell you.

Fully Custom, Fully Private

No strangers, no fixed itineraries, no compromise. Every tour is built around your abilities, your goals, and what conditions are doing that day.

Backcountry skier skinning up the La Sal Mountains above Moab's red rock desert
La Sal Mountains backcountry skiing with Moab canyon views
Spring corn snow skiing in the La Sal Mountains Utah
Ski mountaineering on La Sal Mountains peaks near Moab
Trip Styles

Choose your
adventure style.

Skinning up Geyser Pass in the La Sal Mountains, Moab Utah

Geyser Pass Powder Tours

The most accessible entry point into La Sal backcountry skiing. Geyser Pass delivers reliable snowpack, moderate grades through aspen glades, open bowls with 360° views, and that jaw-dropping moment when the desert floor appears below your skis.

Skill Level Intermediate+
Vert Gain 1,000–2,000 ft
Duration Half or Full Day
Best For First-timers to La Sals
Open bowl skiing with stunning desert panoramas
Sheltered tree skiing on storm days
Excellent photography at every turn
Approachable for first-time ski tourers
Inquire About This Tour
Ski mountaineering on Mount Mellenthin in the La Sal Mountains

Mount Mellenthin Adventures

This is the La Sal Mountains at their most serious. Mellenthin tops 12,000 feet — serious vertical, technical route options, and summit views that span red rock country, the Colorado River, and three states. You earn every turn.

Skill Level Advanced–Expert
Vert Gain 2,500–4,000 ft
Duration Full Day
Best For Strong skiers, peak-baggers
Summit at 12,000+ ft with three-state panoramas
Technical route-finding through complex terrain
Expert-level avalanche assessment in alpine environment
Sustained vertical that delivers on the descent
Inquire About This Tour
Hidden powder stash in the La Sal Mountains near Moab

Secret Stash Tours

The best skiing in the La Sals doesn't appear in any guidebook. Your guide has spent years finding north-facing pockets that hold untracked powder for weeks, hidden valleys that rarely see another human set of tracks. This is where locals ski.

Skill Level Intermediate–Advanced
Group Return visitors welcome
Condition Powder-day dependent
Best For Powder seekers
Genuine solitude — no crowds, no tracks
Snow that stays fresh because almost nobody knows it's there
Routes built on years of local exploration
Perfect for repeat visitors who've already done the classics
Inquire About This Tour
Multi-day backcountry ski expedition in the La Sal Mountains

Multi-Day Ski Expeditions

Day tours don't reach the deepest terrain. Multi-day expeditions with strategic camping or hut-based access open remote valleys and peaks that most skiers will never see. Serious ski touring that creates stories worth telling for decades.

Skill Level Advanced–Expert
Duration 2–5 Days
Camp Backcountry camping
Best For Serious tourers
Access remote terrain impossible on day tours
Weather-window optimization for optimal conditions
Full backcountry immersion while the desert sits below
Logistics, meals, and safety — fully guided and managed
Inquire About This Tour
When to Go

La Sal skiing
runs December to May.

This isn't a short window. A good La Sal snow year stretches five months and offers something different in each one. Here's how to time your visit.

Early Season
December – January

First snow coverage and shorter days. Excellent for getting oriented in this terrain and catching early storms before anyone else does.

Shorter tours, less daylight
Great photography with fresh snow
Lower angle terrain while snowpack builds
Peak Season ★
February – March

Deepest snowpack, most stable weather windows, and optimal access to advanced terrain. This is when the La Sals show their full potential.

Best avalanche stability windows
Deep powder on sheltered aspects
Longer days, more terrain options
Peak Season ★
April

Longer days open bigger objectives. Stable freeze-thaw cycles create corn snow unique to low-latitude skiing — silky, fast, and endlessly satisfying.

Corn snow runs — spring skiing at its best
Peak summits become more accessible
Desert hiking below, skiing above on same day
Late Season
Early May

Snow lingers on north faces and high elevation bowls. The contrast of a green desert valley below and white peaks above is at its most dramatic.

Extended daylight for big days
High-elevation snowpack persists
Combine with desert hiking in same trip
Safety & Guides

Backcountry means
real risk.
We manage it.

The La Sal Mountains are genuinely remote terrain. Desert proximity creates complex snowpack patterns that differ from typical mountain environments. Our guides don't just lead trips — they assess conditions daily and make go/no-go calls that protect you.

All tours operate through fully permitted and insured outfitters. Avalanche safety equipment — transceiver, probe, and shovel — is required for every participant, every time. Rentals are available if you don't own gear.
AIARE-Certified Guides American Institute for Avalanche Research & Education trained, with La Sal-specific multi-season experience
Daily Conditions Assessment Local avalanche forecasts cross-referenced with real terrain observation before every departure
Wilderness Medical Training Cold injury prevention, emergency protocols, and satellite communication for remote terrain
Emergency Evacuation Planning Backup routes, communication tools, and protocols specific to La Sal's remote location
What Local Knowledge Gets You

Our guides live in Moab. They ski these mountains on their days off. That changes everything about how a trip runs.

Desert-Pattern Snow Reading Understanding how proximity to a 4,000 ft desert floor affects snowpack differently than standard alpine zones
Aspect & Timing Intelligence Knowing which slopes hold powder longest, which aspects are safe, and when to go based on storm timing
Real-Time Route Adaptation Pre-planned primary routes plus multiple backup options, adjusted on the fly as conditions dictate
Photography Eye Guides who understand the unique desert-mountain aesthetic and know where the best shots are
Technique Coaching Ski touring technique, skinning efficiency, and descent skills integrated naturally throughout the day
How to Book

Every trip
starts with a
conversation.

Backcountry skiing is condition-dependent and experience-dependent. We'll talk through your goals, your ski history, and what a perfect day in the La Sals looks like for your crew before recommending a route and date.

01

Send an Inquiry

Tell us your preferred dates, group size, and skiing background. The form on the right works great, or just call — we're Moab locals and we pick up.

02

We Talk Trip Details

A quick call or email exchange to match your abilities to the right terrain, confirm the season's conditions outlook, and discuss gear requirements.

03

Gear Up & Go

We'll send a packing list, coordinate gear rental if needed, and handle all logistics. Day-of, we meet at the trailhead and head into the La Sals.

04

Turn-by-Turn Decisions

Route decisions are made in real-time based on that morning's conditions, your energy, and what the mountain is telling us. Safety first, always.

Who It's For

Intermediate to expert skiers and splitboarders who are comfortable on groomed intermediate-to-advanced terrain, have reasonable fitness for uphill travel, and are ready to experience something genuinely different from resort skiing.

Plan Your La Sal Trip

Tell us about your crew and we'll be in touch within one business day.

Private & no-spam. We'll reply within one business day.

or call us directly
📞 435.260.7066
Common Questions

Things people
ask before
they book.

Backcountry skiing has real prerequisites and real risks. These are the questions we get most, answered plainly.

Call With Questions
You should be comfortable on intermediate-to-advanced groomed terrain and have reasonable fitness for sustained uphill travel. Touring technique — skinning, kick-turns, downhill in variable snow — is taught on the go. Your guide is patient. Previous backcountry experience is a plus but not required if you're a strong resort skier.
Absolutely. Every participant carries an avalanche transceiver, probe, and shovel — no exceptions. We treat this as a non-negotiable baseline, not a liability box-check. We can coordinate gear rental locally if you don't own a setup. Proper fit and how-to instruction is included before the approach begins.
Yes. We welcome skiers and splitboarders equally, and route choices are selected to work well for both setups. If your group is mixed, just mention it in your inquiry so we can plan terrain that plays well for everyone.
February and March typically offer the deepest snowpack and most reliable stability windows. April is outstanding for corn snow and longer days. A good snow year can deliver excellent skiing from mid-December all the way through early May. We'll advise on current conditions when you inquire.
Safety is the only variable that overrides everything else. We monitor conditions daily and always have backup terrain options and rescheduling plans. If the avalanche forecast or weather conditions exceed acceptable margins, we'll call it and find a better day or alternative plan together. No pressure, no grey-area calls.
Yes — we can point you toward local rental options for touring skis with AT bindings, climbing skins, and avalanche safety gear. Coordination and logistics are included when you book through us. We'll send full gear information once your trip is confirmed. Just let us know in your inquiry if you need rental guidance.
Expect 1,000–3,000+ feet of elevation gain depending on your tour, spread over several hours of sustained uphill. We set a sustainable pace and nobody gets left behind. General cardio fitness — think hiking with a pack — translates well. If you're concerned about fitness, mention it in your inquiry and we'll match terrain accordingly.
Ready for powder?

Your best
powder day
is up there.

Private guided backcountry skiing in the La Sal Mountains — tailored to your group, your abilities, and what the mountain is giving that day.

📞 435.260.7066

Fully permitted · AIARE-trained guides · Private tours · La Sal Mountains, Moab Utah

Clapper Adventures
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