How to book snowcat skiing reservations

We have moved - We are no longer located in with Backcountry Experience. We have moved into an office at the base of DMR. Our new space is located 300 feet past the entrance (if heading north) to DMR in the Lodge at Purgatory. The address is 49617 US highway 550. We also have an information desk in the activities center located on the plaza at DMR.

Please note: Snowcat skiing guests meet in our office at the base of DMR. If you are staying at DMR, we will provide a shuttle from the Plaza to our office.

If you are passing by on highway 550 your way to Silverton Mountain or to backcountry ski off Red Mountain, stop in and visit us. We often can accommodate last-minute drop ins. If you are skiing at Durango Mountain Resort, stop by the activities center on the plaza for snowcat skiing information.

Snowcat Skiing Reservations

1.800.208.1780/970.749.8625

We do not split the snowcat skiing group based on abilities. The San Juan Ski Company is renowned for its tree skiing. If you are not comfortable skiing powder in trees, we suggest you get a group together and rent a private snowcat. Read more about ability here

We need “six to fly”. If you are a booking a single seat and there are no other bookings on that day, you might be asked to ski another day. If we cannot accommodate you and we need to cancel your trip, your deposit will be refunded in full. We suggest that if you are a single person or couple, that you book your trip on days that we already have bookings.

To check availability, please visit our calendars in the sidebar. We only run one snowcat a day. We show two calendars - private and single seat availability. Once we have met our minimum or determined that we will meet our minimum on a certain day, the private snowcat is taken out of inventory and that date will not be available on the private snowcat calendar. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if this is confusing or if you need confirmation on an availability.

The simplest way to book a cat skiing trip is through our online booking service. You can book your seats immediately. It is fast, available 24/7, and your payment is secure. However, before booking online, please take a moment to read the suggestions/limitations below and our policies on refunds and cancellations.

* If you are booking less than 4 seats online on a day that we do not have any other bookings, please be aware that your reservation is pending until the minimum has been met. We suggest that if your party is less than four, you call our reservation line or email us and we can work out details.

* Some specials and gift certificates cannot be discounted online. The private cat special - book a private cat and get one free seat to use at a later date - can be purchased online. However, please let us know who gets the free seat. The free seat must be reserved in advance.

* Gift Certificates cannot be purchased online. Buy a gift certificate and save $35. Gift certificates must be paid in full. Seat can be used any time during the season. Advance reservations required. To book online, please visit our book online page. If you have any questions or are a small party, we suggest you contact us to book your reservation. Our reservation/information line is open daily 7:00 a.m. through 7:30 p.m.

Phone: 1.800.208.1780

email:[email protected]

We are often out of the office and on the snowcat, so please leave a message and we will get back to you promptly.

We accept all major credit cards.

2012/2013 rates

$350 per seat + tax

$3,500 + tax for the entire cat (12 seats)

Rates include powder skis or snowboards, avalanche safety gear (BCA Tracker beacon, shovel, and shovel pack), lunch, snack, water bottle and water, and one-ride lift ticket.Tax is 10 percent.

Deposit and cancellation policy

A nonrefundable deposit of $175 is required to confirm and reserve your seat and a $1,750 deposit for a private cat. The remaining balance is due the morning of your trip. If you cancel within seven days of the departure date, we reserve the right to charge the balance to the credit card we have on file. Please understand our cancellation policy and respect our mutual commitment. We are reserving seats on our snowcats for you and your group, turning away potential guests on the day of your reservation. Deposits for private cats must be paid for on one credit card and the remaining balance must be paid for on one credit card or by cash or check. No refunds (for guests who paid in full) will be given for cancellations within 7 days of a scheduled trip. Please understand our cancellation policy and respect our mutual commitment. We are reserving seats on our snowcats for you and your group, turning away potential guests on the day of your reservation.

Refund policy

In the rare case that your snowcat skiing trip must be cancelled due to circumstances outside of your own (e.g. mechanical, weather, poor skiing conditions or minimum group size not met) we will work with you to reschedule for no extra fees. If rescheduling is not possible, you will be reimbursed the total amount of your purchase. We do not provide refunds for health-related issues or cancellations due to family emergencies or injuries. We reserve the right to cancel a package at any time and full refunds will be given in full. We also guarantee powder. If we cannot deliver the “goods,” we will cancel and refund your trip. (We like to ski powder as much as you do.) In the unlikely event that the trip is cut short due to circumstances outside of your own (e.g. mechanical, weather, injury) we will prorate the day based on the # of runs that were completed. Any refund will be applied as a credit towards another snowcat trip. We cannot be held responsible for any client’s personal inconvenience or travel expenses.

Upon making a reservation with the San Juan Ski Company, all guests agree to theses terms and conditions:

All guests are required to sign a Release of Liability, Waiver of Claims, Assumption of Risks and Indemnity Agreement before being allowed to ski or snowboard with us. By signing this document, guests will waive certain legal rights, including the right to sue.

* The San Juan Ski Company has no control or responsibility for the weather.

* Alcohol or non-prescription drugs are not permitted while skiing or snowboarding.

* For safety reasons, guests who are uncooperative or lack the ability to ski the terrain may be asked sit out runs.

* All prices are US dollars. We require a nonrefundable $175 deposit per seat. The remaining balance is due the morning of your scheduled trip.

* We suggest you read our Release of Liability here