Curious after watching the Olympics? Here’s where to practice uphill skiing at resorts
Anyone introduced to the sport of skimo at the 2026 Winter Olympics was likely left feeling a little confused. Afterall, what did these Lycra-clad runners on skinny skis sprinting up a track and wobbling down another in 2 and a half minutes have to do with ski mountaineering?
The sport originated thousands of years ago in Europe by necessity when hunters used long skis to travel and explore over mountain passes, placing animal skins on the bottoms of their skis for traction when climbing. Military units used similar gear to patrol the Alps in the late 1800s, sometimes engaging in speed competitions, which were likely the prototypes for the format of the Olympic skimo debut this February. However, ski mountaineering’s recreational routes are mostly traced to individuals who loved the outdoors and used skis and boards with uphill capabilities (free heels and skins) to tour through remote, beautiful areas of the high peaks.
Both high-speed, competitive skimo and classic, longer form ski mountaineering surged in popularity during the Covid-19 pandemic, when resorts closed for downhill skiing and riding. While many ski areas across the world offer uphill access on their slopes—typically on one or two designated runs and before or after lift operating hours—there are a few places where the uphill-curious can get a feel of the sport during the day, learning the techniques of climbing and descending on alpine touring gear or splitboards in a safe, controlled environment.
Copper Mountain, Colorado
Copper Mountain leads the charge of America’s resort-bound ski touring options. Uphill enthusiasts have Ski Patroller Shauna Bocksch to thank for this. Not only does Copper’s uphill access include daytime hours, but offers six well-designed trails exclusively for uphill travel as well as two more on resort slopes that are open before and after the lift operating hours. An Uphill Pass is required, free to Ikon and Copper Mountain Passholders and $79 for the season for non-passholders. The eight uphill routes are helpfully ranked in difficulty, with five easy, two intermediate and one (trail No. 7) expert. They vary in distance from just under a mile to 2.55 miles and range in elevation gain from 646 to 2,210 vertical feet. Most of the routes that are opened during resort operating hours meander through forests, over less-frequented slopes and away from chairlifts. Uphillers quickly forget they are inside resort boundaries.
“People love Copper because of the variety and number of uphill routes we offer,” Bocksch says, while checking on signage on Copper’s uphill routes. “I’m skiing Route 4 in March and haven’t seen a soul. You really get that feeling of solitude, but if you need help or want to get back to a lift, it’s really accessible.”
Several trails can be combined to allow uphillers to travel through the woods from the base of the ski area to above treeline on Union Ridge (gaining more than 2,400 vertical feet). There, the reward is sweeping views of surrounding peaks and oftentimes untouched snow to ski down, not to mention the distinctive sensation of being in the backcountry.
“It really does feel like the backcountry up there,” Bocksch says. “Yet you’re in a place where you don’t have to worry about avalanche hazards or unconsolidated snow coming down. I’ll do a survey every couple of years to get feedback and a lot of people say they love using the trails when they drop their kids off at ski school or ski club. I ran into a couple yesterday who come every Saturday or Sunday and skin up all season long. It’s creating a culture of being on the mountain in a fun ski environment, but not relying on chairlifts.”
Copper’s demographic of uphillers ranges from skimo competitors (the resort hosts an uphill race series), local cardio enthusiasts getting a quick workout, seasoned ski mountaineers who don’t want to gear up for backcountry travel and beginners who just want to see what it’s all about.
“It’s different for everyone,” Bocksch says. “We have a lot of early-morning or after-work folks who are more skimo-driven and go up the trails where you can get more bang for your buck. I also see a lot of people just getting into skinning and want to practice with their gear in a safe environment, so they have confidence when they go out on a hut trip or into the backcountry.”
Aspen-Snowmass, Colorado
Another rare paradise for people wanting to earn their turns is that all four ski areas at Aspen-Snowmass allow uphilling. However, Aspen Mountain’s uphill access is strictly before and after lift operating hours on one designated route. This one’s a doozy, though: climbing from the base of the mountain to the top, gaining more than 3,000 vertical feet. A similar route is available at Aspen Highlands. This upper route gains a lung-busting 3,635 vertical feet, but uphillers must reach Merry-Go-Restaurant by 8:30 a.m.
Highlands offers a lower route that is open for uphilling all day. It meanders through pine trees inbetween and alongside resort slopes before topping out at Merry-Go-Round restaurant after nearly 2,000 feet of climbing.
Snowmass is the hub of skimo activity, with five routes open for uphilling all day. Elk Camp is the quickest option, gaining more than 1,300 vertical feet, starting in Snowmass Village and skirting the forest under the gondola to end at Elk Camp Restaurant. The toughest route is Sam’s Knob, starting on the far side of resort boundaries at Campground and zigzagging up to Sam’s Restaurant, gaining nearly 2,200 vertical feet.
Buttermilk also offers three uphill routes open all day. They all end at the top of the resort, conveniently with refreshments available at The Cliffhouse Restaurant. Most routes involve staying to the left or right of resort slopes. The exception is the Main Buttermilk route (gaining 1,842 vertical feet), which offers a longer Alternative Wild Route with a section that stays away from downhill traffic in the woods. Buttermilk is also the community hub for uphillers, many of whom partake in an uphill breakfast club and Moonlight Dinners every month.
Uphillers on any of Aspen-Snowmass’ four mountains must purchase an Uphill Pass which is $74 for the season.
Sesto, Italy
Across the sprawling terrain of Dolomiti Superski, which covers more than 750 miles of slopes across 12 ski resorts, uphilling is mostly prohibited within the system’s boundaries. However, one of these resorts—3 Zinnen in the town of Sesto–is home to the newly designed South Tyrol Ski Touring Trail.
Beginning near the base station of 3 Zinnen’s cable car, the trail begins through thick pine trees, winding up through the woods to powdery meadows with jaw-dropping views of the jagged Dolomites. Equipped with an avalanche training center and marked all along the way with helpful signage in three languages (German, Italian and English) filled with tips on kick-turning, risk management and terrain dangers as well as information on local flora and fauna, the trail measures about 2.7 miles and climbs for about 1,600 vertical feet. Uphillers then land on the slopes of 3 Zinnen, conveniently near one of the Dolomites’ famed rifugios (Prati di Croda Rossa) where they can indulge in a hearty lunch or snack before skiing down the groomed terrain.
Crans-Montana, Switzerland
Crans-Montana wins for European resorts embracing skimo. Named for Randonnée (French for “excursion” or “ski touring”), the resort boasts its very own Ski Rando Park, home to 16 dedicated ski touring trails–more than 25 miles–for all levels, open during resort operating hours. Options include three beginner routes, the easiest (Rookies) measuring just over a mile and climbing just more than 600 vertical feet. There are a range of loops building in distance and steepness leading up to the mother tour, La X’treme. This route is one to start early, combining three trails to explore the entire park, covering more than 15 miles and climbing nearly 8,000 vertical feet.
Sugarbush, Vermont
A gem among the East Coast’s uphill offerings, Sugarbush is open to uphilling on two peaks. Lincoln Peak is the place for early morning or evening uphills on designated slopes before and after resort operating hours. Mt. Ellen is where the glorious ski mountaineering experience comes into play. It is home to a secluded route that weaves in and out of the woods on a singletrack that feels protected and serene, only crossing the downhill slopes a couple of times. It spits uphillers out on the slopes at Glen House at the top of Green Mountain Express chairlift, climbing about 1,300 vertical feet. All Sugarbush uphillers on either peak must have an Uphill Travel Pass.
Pico Mountain, Vermont
Alongside Killington, which is open to uphill before and after lift-operating hours, Pico Mountain allows uphilling on several slopes 24/7. Part of the Uphill New England Pass, the season ticket to uphilling across 24 East Coast ski areas, Pico and Killington also offer uphill passes free to season pass holders. Everyone traveling uphill must wear an armband. As with most ski areas in New England, uphillers traveling during resort operating hours should expect downhill traffic coming at you. The exception here is Pico Summit Glade Route, which hugs the ski area’s boundaries and is rarely frequented by downhillers.
Whether you were inspired by the speed and endurance of the Olympic athletes or simply want to experience the serenity of the mountains without relying on a chairlift, the options for in-bounds uphill skiing have never been better. From the extensive, dedicated daytime trails at Crans-Montana and Copper Mountain to the scenic routes of the Dolomites and New England, resorts worldwide are increasingly embracing the uphill movement. Grabbing an uphill pass and a pair of skins is the perfect way to safely build your backcountry skills, get a serious workout, and earn your turns from a rewarding new perspective.
