← Backcountry today · Snow Report

🎿 Backcountry touring · Colorado

Red Mountain Pass: avalanche danger & snow

US-550 between Ouray and Silverton, with McMillan Peak, Red Mountain #3 and the notoriously weak San Juan snowpack.

This is not a safety call. The danger rating shown is a one-word summary copied from the official avalanche center once a day. Conditions change by the hour and vary by aspect and elevation. Before you go into avalanche terrain, read the full forecast from the official center, carry a beacon, shovel and probe, and travel with trained partners. Snowfall numbers are computer-model estimates, not measurements.

Avalanche danger today
Moderate
Colorado Avalanche Information Center · CAIC backcountry forecast area
Issued Nov 4, 11:30 PM MT · valid until Nov 5, 11:30 PM MT

Read the full forecast →

📏 Nearest SNOTEL

28"
snow depth

7.0 in snow water equivalent

NRCS SNOTEL Red Mountain Pass (11,060 ft, 0.8 km away), daily reading for Nov 3.

“Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.”
— Colorado Avalanche Information Center

Snow data as of Nov 4, 2026, 6:57 PM MT (model snowfall at about 11,129 ft).

Last 24 h
0.6"
Last 72 h
4.2"
Last 7 days
5.6"
Next 7 days
0.8"

7-day snow forecast

Wed 40.8"❄️ 30°/14°
Thu 50"☁️ 32°/12°
Fri 60"🌨️ 31°/13°
Sat 70"☀️ 35°/14°
Sun 80"☀️ 41°/25°
Mon 90"☁️ 44°/29°
Tue 100"☁️ 44°/30°

Daily snowfall (inches) and high/low (°F) from the Open-Meteo forecast model, local days.

Ski resortTouring zone: LowTouring zone: ModerateTouring zone: ConsiderableTouring zone: HighTouring zone: ExtremeTouring zone: No rating

Map pin is an approximate trailhead or pass location, not a route. Use a real map and the forecast center's zone map for trip planning.

Nearest ski resorts

💼 Work here

❄️ Ski & Snowboard Instructor jobs in Colorado · All guide jobs

More touring zones in Colorado

The Shoulder Season weekly

New ski, raft & bike guide jobs, hiring deadlines, river flows and snow. One free email every Monday.

Or subscribe at shoulderseason.beehiiv.com · Unsubscribe anytime.

— The Shoulder Season crew