Duke Bradford, head guide for Keystone Adventure Tours, believes the coolest thing about Independence Bowl is that it catches so much snow. It's a powder stash because it's one of the snowiest and one of the steepest parts of Keystone. "We like to say you get free refills on a windy day." he says with a laugh.
He adds, "Most of the terrain faces north and northeast so it doesn’t get a lot of wind or sun. And, some really steep sections in Independence Bowl that are right around 35 degrees, so, you get a great combo of good soft snow and steep terrain.
Favorite Lines
"Independence Bowl has four chutes: Revolution, Midnight Ride, Patriot and Liberty. My favorite line is to go top to bottom on Patriot. It’s a good 60 to 70 turns with great rhythm. It starts off steep at the top and mellows out at the bottom giving you something shy of 1,000 vertical feet. Then again, the trees between Patriot and Midnight Ride are pretty sweet, too. It’s an old-growth tree stand, so the trees are spread out, and it has a great, long pitch. You can go top-to-bottom and duck into the trees with a good speed and find some unbelievably, I mean unbelievably, deep snow in there.
"When the conditions are good, Two Of By Sea run in Independence Bowl – the Southwest facing above treeline, wide open bowl– is good. It’s the longest pitch in Indy Bowl, and when we’re skiing (or riding) it, it’s some of the best around. It’s a perfect pitch for nice, solid turns. Not super steep, but not flat and it’s all above treeline with the most amazing, beautiful views. You can get 50 or so turns on about a 25-degree slope.
Guided Snowcat Tours Available
"Indy Bowl is like your own private mountain – but with experienced guides to show you the best snow, the best lines and to pick you up so you skip the hiking. Of course, if you’d like to hike into Independence Bowl, it’s all yours, too. And, it’s worth the 30-40 minute hike. But, better to check out Keystone Adventure Tours – our guided snowcat program. We’d love to show you around."
Contact for more information
For more information about the resort and Independence Bowl visit
Keystone Resort.
Patrollers & Locals Disclose the Best Inbounds Extreme Skiing & Snowboarding at Their Resorts
Click on Top Resorts With Inbounds Backcountry Ski & Snowboard Terrain to find more places for expert skiers and snowboarders to enjoy backcountry-style terrain inbounds at ski resorts. If you’re not sure what backcountry skiing and riding are outside ski resort boundaries, visit What is Backcountry Skiing and Snowboarding. If you’re going to ski, snowboard, snowmobile or do any other sports in the backcountry when snow covers the mountains, read Surviving an Avalanche, which lists online and other sources where you can learn from experts about the odds of, and skills needed, to help keep yourself out of avalanche-prone areas and tips that may help you if caught in an avalanche.
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