Backcountry
onX Backcountry has released a major expansion of Beacon Guidebooks content for the 2025-26 ski season, adding hundreds of newly curated backcountry ski routes across Colorado and Washington, the company announced on January 21. The update, now available in the onX Backcountry app, significantly expands access to vetted route information in complex mountain terrain, pairing Beacon Guidebooks’ expert-authored ski descents with onX’s navigation and avalanche safety tools. According to the company, the additions are designed to help backcountry skiers and splitboarders plan trips more effectively and adapt to changing snowpack and weather conditions throughout the season.
Major Updates in Colorado
The most substantial expansion comes in Silverton, where more than 200 new descents have been added across 20 new zones. The Silverton content was authored by Beacon Guidebooks contributor Josh Kling and includes a wide range of terrain types.
New offerings include low-angle ski tours in ATES 1 (Simple) and ATES 2 (Challenging) terrain, providing lower-exposure options during periods of elevated avalanche danger. The guidebook also covers ATES 3 (Complex) and ATES 4 (Extreme) terrain, including technical spring couloirs and descents on 13,000- and 14,000-foot peaks.
In addition, the update introduces comprehensive route beta for every backcountry ski hut surrounding Red Mountain Pass, a heavily traveled zone for both guided and independent skiers. At Vail Pass, onX Backcountry added 26 new zones, 152 routes, and 98 descents. The expanded coverage includes non-motorized terrain, sled-skiing areas, hut trips, trailhead details, snow roads, and snowmobile access routes. Several low-angle routes in ATES 1 terrain were added, along with detailed coverage around regional backcountry huts.
New Spring Routes on Washington Volcanoes
In Washington, Beacon Guidebooks author Eric Schmidgall contributed 27 routes on Mount St. Helens and Mount Adams. The new content focuses on spring ski touring and includes a mix of long, mellow descents and steep couloirs. Routes are accompanied by ATES ratings, glacial hazard notes, and access recommendations, providing clarity for users navigating large, alpine volcano terrain where conditions can change rapidly.
Integrated Safety and Terrain Tools
onX Backcountry said the release aligns with recent improvements to its avalanche terrain data in these regions, including expanded ATES zone coverage and enhanced identification of low-angle terrain. The company has also updated its Slope Angle Shading layer to better highlight slopes between 12 and 24 degrees, helping users identify terrain that is less likely to avalanche while avoiding steeper, higher-risk slopes.
By integrating Beacon Guidebooks’ route beta directly into the app, users can combine expert-curated ski lines with real-time navigation, mapping, and avalanche tools, creating a digital planning resource that adapts to variable mountain conditions. A complete list of Beacon Guidebooks content available in onX Backcountry can be found on the company’s website.
