As the winter season arrives and more snow starts to fall around Colorado, it’s important to make sure you have the proper education when it comes to snow and avalanche safety if you’re planning to venture out into the backcountry.

For starters, it’s important to note that not all ‘avalanche training’ is the same. Classes range from catering to novices to experts, and everyone in between. It’s recommended that you directly contact an organization that offers training to get personalized advice on what class will fit your specific safety needs.

Here are some places to get avalanche awareness training around Colorado:

1. Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC)

CAIC offers free online “Avalanche Aware” courses, as well as free public events like CAIC Days. Forecasters and educators travel around Colorado to host public events on avalanche awareness and mountain safety, highlighting local conditions, snowpack discussions, and practical tips. Find more information about these events here.

2. Colorado Mountain School

The Colorado Mountain School teaches a variety of avalanche training courses following the American Avalanche Institute (AAI) recreational curriculum. CMS offers recreational avalanche courses in Estes Park, Frisco, and Gould. Find more information on dates, times, and more here.

3. Colorado Mountain Club

The Colorado Mountain Club offers American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) courses and Avalanche Terrain Awareness courses. Check out the CMC’s courses here.

4. Irwin Guides

This organization based in Crested Butte offers AIARE level one and two courses, as well as refresher courses with certified instructors. Irwin Guides also provides a range of winter activities including backcountry skiing and snowshoeing, ice climbing, and cross country skiing.

5. Pikes Peak Alpine School

The Pikes Peak Alpine School offers a variety of avalanche education courses, including AIARE 1 and 2, AIARE 1 + (lift accessed backcountry), AIARE Rescue, and an Avalanche Awareness Field Course.

6. Colorado Adventure Guides

Colorado Adventure Guides offers expert avalanche and backcountry education across Summit County and areas including Eagle County, Clear Creek County, and Grand County. The organization has access to thousands of acres of ridgelines, slopes, and valleys, so it’s able to choose the best terrain and snow conditions for all courses. Locations include the Silverthorne basecamp, a ski resort, or even a hut.

7. Apex Mountain School

The Apex Mountain School offers a variety of AIARE-certified avalanche education courses, including AIARE Level 1 and Companion Rescue to AIARE Level 2 Colorado.

8. Skyward Mountaineering

Skyward Mountaineering offers AIARE avalanche courses in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains. The Level 1 and Level 2 avalanche courses are offered in Ouray and Silverton.

9. Friends of Berthoud Pass

Friends of Berthoud Pass offers over 20 classroom avalanche awareness presentations every year. FOBP also offers two full day on snow sessions. All of the courses are free and open to the public. FOBP follows standards set by the AIARE and American Avalanche Association.

10. American Avalanche Institute

The American Avalanche Institute offers certified Level 1 courses in Summit County. Check out more information here.

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