Heli Skiing British Columbia
Heli skiing British Columbia is an experience unlike any other. This unique region is highlighted by creative terrain that sets it apart from other landscapes, resulting in skiing trips that push the envelope of the sport.
If you’re looking for some of the deepest powder lines and steepest glade runs in the world, British Columbia heli skiing is where it’s at. Here, you’ll find terrain that challenges even the most experienced of extreme skiers, while still having an ample selection of moderate runs for those less daring.
As the heli skiing capital of the world, British Columbia, Canada is populated with a fine selection of world-renowned heli skiing operators to facilitate your lust for adventure. No matter the length of your trip or the size of your wallet, you’ll be guaranteed to find a company that aligns with what you’re looking for.
Heli Skiing Operations in British Columbia
There is an extensive list of heli ski lodges British Columbia has to offer and selecting the right one is dependent on which mountain range you’d like to ski in, the number of days you’re planning for, as well as your total budget.
British Columbia heli skiing packages range from one-day excursions to multi-day, all-inclusive vacation retreats. Whether you’re just looking for a couple of high adrenaline alpine runs accessible only by a chopper, or you need world-class amenities on top of the adventure, you’ll have no problem finding heli skiing operations in British Columbia that’ll align with your lifestyle. Most operators also offer private group sessions if the general, semi-private packages don’t work for you.
All the high-end lodges BC is known for have an amazing array of comforts that’ll make your journey a trip to remember. From impeccably prepared fine dining menu items to relaxing spa treatments to assist in your recovery, your trip will be complemented by a refreshing amount of luxurious amenities.
Heli Skiing British Columbia Operator Directory
*Consult operators directly for current pricing and packages.
Coastal Mountain Range
- Bella Coola Heli Sports
Package Options: 4, 5, or 7-night options, as well as private tours in six separate destinations.
Terrain/Mountain Range: Various mountains in the Coastal Range
Price Range: $9,680-$17,480 for their basic Classic Vert multi-day packages. - Great Bear Heli Skiing - New in 2022!
Package Options: 6 days, 30,000 VM guarantee.
Terrain/Mountain Range: Central Coastal Range
Price Range: Approx. $18,000. - Last Frontier Heli Skiing
Package Options: 4, 5, or 7 days in two separate destinations.
Terrain/Mountain Range: Skeena and Coastal Mountains
Price Range: $8,400 - $17,100, depending on peak season. - Northern Escape Heli-skiing
Package Options: 3, 4, 5, or 7 days in three separate destinations.
Terrain/Mountain Range: Skeena and Kitimat ranges.
Price Range: $5,999 - $14,999 for their classic package. - Skeena Heliskiing
Package Options: Multi-day, unlimited vertical, semi-private, private.
Terrain/Mountain Range: Skeena and Coastal Ranges
Price Range: $15,800 and up. - Tyax Heli Skiing
Package Options: 3-7 days.
Terrain/Mountain Range: Coastal and Chilcotin Mountains
Price Range: $8,900 - $18,900 - Whistler B.C. Heli Skiing Operators
Somewhat like Revelstoke B.C., Whistler is a very popular international destination for skiers and travelers.
Terrain/Mountain Range: Coastal Mountain Range surrounding Whistler.
With such a gravitational pull for skiing recreation, there are three well-known operatorators which have tenure near the renowned resort of Whistler Backcomb B.C. - Yukon Heliski
Package Options: unclear. Consult operator directly.
Terrain/Mountain Range: Various ranges in Coastal Mountain Range surrounding Whistler
Columbia Mountain Range
- CMH Heli Skiing - Canadian Mountain Holidays
CMH is literally the Grandfather of heli skiing.
If you're interested in "all things heli skiing," you better spend some time on these pages!
With twelve different destinations, there's too much to cover, so just click the link! - Great Canadian Heli Skiing
Package Options: 2 to 10 days/nights, as well as private groups.
Terrain/Mountain Range: Selkirk and Purcell Mountains.
Price Range: $5,064 - $31,688, depending on peak season and room occupancy. - Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing
Package Options: 3, 5, or 7 days in four different destinations.
Terrain/Mountain Range: Various ranges in the Columbia Mountains
Price Range: $5,790 - $16,611 - RK Heliski
Package Options: 3 run, 5 run, 1 day, 3 day+ semi-private, private platinum (Bell 212 & A-Star)
Terrain/Mountain Range: Purcell Mountains
Price Range: $1,125 - $17,250, depending on package. - Revelstoke Operators
Revelstoke is not a heliskiing operator, it is a hip little ski town on the Columbia River...
...and is "the epicenter for heliskiing" in BC.
In the winter, if you're anywhere in town, you'll hear that familiar sound of helicopter rotors all day long!
"Revy" IS HELI-STOKE, and it is home-base for several industry icon operators with tenure in the Monashees and Selkirk Mountains.
It is a MUST visit for all heli-skiers! - Silvertip Lodge
Package Options: 3-7 days.
Terrain/Mountain Range: Cariboo Mountains
Price Range: $7,520 - $16,100 - Snowwater Heliskiing
Package Options: 1, 3, 4 days.
Terrain/Mountain Range: West Kootenays
Price Range: - Stellar Heli Skiing
Package Options: 1-7 day trips.
Terrain/Mountain Range: Selkirk and Purcell Mountains.
Price Range: Starting at $5,255 for 2-day packages.
Rocky Mountain Range
- Bearpaw Heli Skiing
Package Options: 5 Days/6 Nights
Terrain/Mountain Range: McGregor, Dezaiko, Missinchinka, and the Rocky Mountain ranges.
Price Range: $14,190 - Crescent Spur Heli Skiing
Package Options: 3, 5, and 6 day semi-private/private.
Terrain/Mountain Range: Cariboo and Northern Rockies
Price Range: $5,300 - $14,200, depending on peak season.
Revelstoke Based Heli Skiing Operators
As the hub for worldwide heli skiing, Revelstoke has long been considered the mecca for the sport. Despite operating exclusively in the Columbia Mountains, these Revelstoke heli skiing operators deserve their own section for their dedication to heli skiing excellence.
Facts & FAQ
British Columbia is a massive province in Canada that stretches from the most Southwestern portion of the country all the way up to the bottom of Alaska, butting up against the Yukon and Northwest Territories. It’s an extremely rugged region geographically, with major mountain ranges bordering the province.
When you’re out heli skiing British Columbia, you’ll be finding yourself in three primary mountain ranges:
- Coastal Mountain Range: Stretching from Vancouver all the way up to the northernmost corner of British Columbia, this range borders the Pacific Ocean and is home to a variety of British Columbia heli skiing operators.
- Columbia Mountain Range: In the Southeastern portion of British Columbia lies the Columbia Mountain Range, which itself is comprised of many smaller sub-ranges. Here you’ll find the legendary Selkirk, Monashee, Purcell, and Cariboo ranges. Most of the heli ski lodges British Columbia has will be found here. The Columbia Mountains harbor some of the best terrain in the region, with a diversity of styles to fit any experience level.
- Rocky Mountains: The largest mountain range in North America, the Rockies make their appearance in British Columbia along the Eastern border. While most British Columbia heli skiing companies are found in other ranges, a few utilize portions of this range in their tenure.
Heli skiing British Columbia means one major thing: powder-drenched tree lines. While almost all heli skiing involves acres of glacial runs, you’ll find that BC is comprised mostly of glades. The region boasts an impressive amount of alpine woodlands, with some regions even being considered rainforests. Skiers will find themselves barreling through evenly spaced groves of trees, all at a consistent slope.
While heli skiing British Columbia may mean lots of tree dodging, you’ll still find the classic glacial runs at the top of the peaks. When the helicopter drops you off, you’ll descend steep chutes and wide-open bowls atop massive mountains. Some mountain ranges, like the Monashees, feature an assortment of pillows that advanced skiers can bounce down.
Above all else, you’ll find an insane selection of terrain that challenges skiers throughout the run, keeping them on their toes as the landscape changes. It’s this diversity that makes the heli skiing British Columbia price well worth it.
British Columbia gets more snowfall than any other region of Canada, both in quantity and frequency. The sub-tropical storms that develop off the coast find their way into the mainland, get trapped in the mountain ranges, and unload.
Heli skiing British Columbia Canada means lots of deep, dry powder days. It’s likely that on a typical multi-day trip, you’ll experience multiple storms and plenty of fresh lines. The heli skiing operations in British Columbia are more than equipped to handle this onslaught of snow and will prioritize getting you up there, even in the thick of it.
Due to the nature of the storms, most of the snow found atop the glaciers is extremely light, airy, and dry. This results in some of the best conditions imaginable. As you descend to lower elevations and enter the glades, this snow will get slightly denser, with pockets of powder stashes found throughout.
The British Columbia heli skiing season matches most ski resorts in the area. By late November and early December, there is generally enough snowfall to begin offering excursions, although terrain availability may be limited. The prices reflect these limitations, however, and you’ll be able to book packages for cheaper during the early season.
According to most British Columbia heli skiing reviews, the best time to book a trip is during peak season – anytime from January through March. By this time of the year, a significant amount of storms has likely occurred and there is plenty of snowpack found throughout the mountain ranges. The best heli skiing in British Columbia is no doubt during these months.
You will, however, have ample competition booking a slot during these months. As such, you’ll need to be making your reservation a season ahead at least.
Surprisingly, the British Columbia heli skiing season doesn’t stop in late March and April. Generally, the operators begin to slow down and offer limited services, much like the early season. As with the early season, you’ll also find more affordable prices and increased availability.
Despite popular belief, you don’t need to be an expert for heli skiing British Columbia Canada. Nearly all the main packages offered by the companies feature strong intermediate, blue runs. You should be completely confident on your skis, however, capable of making a variety of maneuvers and turns. If you’re an expert skier, you’ll easily find lines that are designed for only the most competent members of the group.
If you’re looking for more advanced terrain when heli skiing British Columbia, check with your operator to see if they offer expert-only outings. Many of the lodges offer packages designed for more advanced skiers who are seeking the most extreme terrain. You will pay more for these tours, as there are fewer people funding the helicopter expenses, but you’ll be rewarded with some of the best heli skiing British Columbia has to offer.
While most British Columbia heli skiing is remote and will require quite the trek to access, there are a variety of major metropolitan areas spread throughout BC that have airports. If flying from outside of British Columbia, you’ll likely need to take a connecting flight or two to access these mountain towns. In addition, expect to pay for an array of ground transportation including shuttles, taxis, or Uber.
Generally, most British Columbia heli skiing can be accessed by two primary airports:
- Vancouver (YVR): From Vancouver, you can access most of the operators that work out of the Coastal Mountain range. You can also access some of the more remote heli skiing locations from here by connecting to smaller regional airports like Prince George Aiport (YXS) and Bella Coola Aiport (YBD).
- Kelowna International Airport (YLW): The closest airport to Revelstoke and the greater Columbia Mountain range (including the Selkirk, Monashee, and Cariboo Mountains), you can either fly directly into here or connect to it via Vancouver. If traveling to Revelstoke, you can take the stoke shuttle that makes multiple trips to and from the airport 7 days a week.
Book a Trip to Go Heli Skiing in British Columbia Today!
With three monolithic mountain ranges, piles of powder, and challenging, ever-changing landscapes, British Columbia heli skiing is a bucket list item for intermediate and expert skiers alike. The region is sprinkled with an impressive list of operators that each offer a diversified portfolio of packages and all-inclusive options.
Whether you want to trek to the far reaches of the Columbia Mountain range and score endless laps over a week-long excursion, or just take a few helicopter-assisted runs down at Whistler, there’s a package out there designed just for you.
Follow the links to any of the above-listed heli skiing operators, book your trip, and start packing your skis for the adventure of a lifetime!
BRADY
08/09/23
Brady is an avid skiing & backcountry enthusiast, aging "big wave" surfer and is totally addicted to heli skiing!
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