Buffalo Mountain Backcountry Skiing
Buffalo Mountain is located in the White River National Forest. Buffalo Mountain is surrounded by the Eagle’s Nest Wilderness area and trail network. This section of trails gives backcountry enthusiasts in Summit County easy access to Buffalo Mountain.
Buffalo Mountain Parking and Access
The easiest way to gain access to this mountain is to travel up Ryan Gulch rd. from the town of Silverthorne. This road will wind it’s way up to the trail head where there is plenty of parking.
One of the trails that will take you right up to the eastern face of the mountain is called the Buffalo Cabin trail. The cabin is long-gone now, but you can see it’s remnants in the photo below.
Buffalo Mountain Skiing FAQ
Is this mountain steep enough for an avalanche to occur?
Yes, in fact you can see 2 avalanche slide paths running down the eastern face of Buffalo Mountain. The North Chutes have a steeper pitch and these chutes are definitely capable of sliding. The north-facing aspect helps to avoid facets in the snowpack, however this is still an avalanche zone with plenty of activity.
How long does it take to hike up Buffalo Mountain?
From the Ryan Gulch trail head area, it will take approximately 1/2 hour to reach the bottom of the main pitch. From here you can expect a hike of approximately 2-3 hours to the Summit of Buffalo Mountain.