Colorado Guided Hiking and Mountain Biking Tours

Colorado Backcountry is a PREMIER GUIDE SERVICE offering the best in adventure travel. Located in Crested Butte, Colorado, we specialize in custom Colorado hiking and mountain bi king tours. We cater to adventurous and inquisitive people of all ages. Join us for a rigorous day of mountain biking, a stroll through the wildflowers, an evening picnic, or an all inclusive dream vacation to Crested Butte.

Colorado Backcountry offers outstanding guiding services, but what really sets us apart is our ability to fine-tune the perfect CUSTOM ITINERARY. We’ll set up your hikes or rides with the right blend of mileage, pace, scenery, and environment. Tell us your interests and we can provide interpretive talks on geology, local history, ecology, wildlife, botany, or land management. We’ll get to know your tastes and from there we can book the right bed & breakfast, hotel, lodge or vacation rental, or we can set you up at the right restaurant. By choosing Colorado Backcountry, you’ll get to tap into over a decade of local knowledge to make the most of your vacation!

Even if you don’t want to hire a guide, our BACKCOUNTRY SERVICES can help you maximize your
time and effort.

Our ROUTE PLANNING & CONSULTING services are available for hiking, biking, or multi-sport adventures. We’ll provide all the details you need to run the show yourself including digital maps, GPS waypoints, camping options, scenic points, water sources, trailhead logistics, and permit information.

SHERPA SERVICE may be just what you need if you’ve got your own game plan, don’t need a guide, but need some logistical support. We can take care of shuttles, establish a base camp, prepare meals, or simply hump gear. An example of this service is managing llamas, scouting routes, cooking, and hauling gear for Colorado’s most well know photographer - John Fielder.

About US...
Ben and Janae Pritchett have lived in the Gunnison Valley for a decade and are the owners of Colorado Backcountry.

A professional mountain guide, Ben has spent countless hours on foot, skis, and bike exploring the mountains around Crested Butte. Since graduating from
Western State College in 2000 with a degree in wildlife biology, Ben has been guiding clients throughout Colorado’s most scenic country. His knowledge of the
local geology, flora and fauna are the result of 11 years of dedicated study and observation. Combing his technical guiding background with a passion for education, natural history and adventure, Ben can provide an experience unrivaled by any other guide in the Elk Mountains. In addition to private guiding, Ben has applied his knowledge and experience to finding Colorado’s most scenic hidden gems for photographer John Fielder, avalanche work for the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, the Crested Butte Avalanche Center, the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education, the Crested Butte Ski Patrol and the Elk Mountain Grand Traverse, research and management projects for the Colorado Division of Wildlife, the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service and the Crested Butte Land Trust, & team leader for the Crested Butte Search and Rescue.

Janae has lived in Crested Butte since graduating in 1998 from Yale University with degrees in geology and environmental science.
Whether guiding or recreating, she has spent most of her time doing what she loves most - playing in the mountains. Her days are divided between mountain biking, running, hiking, skiing, and snowboarding. For the past three years she has been ranked in the top 5 professional women in the U.S. in the Xterra Triathlon Series. When not competing,she is a dedicated math teacher. By guiding trips, she is able to combine the two things she loves the most: being in the outdoors and helping people get excited about new experiences.