Last Frontier Heliskiing Bell 2 Lodge Review

Bell 2 Heliskiing Village - Photo courtesy of Last Frontier Heliskiing

The Last Frontier Bell 2 Lodge is a remote destination, luxury heliskiing "village," as you can see from the photos. Their two operations and locations, Bell 2 & Ripley Creek are very different from one another.

Bell 2 is a fully developed resort facility, set up in village-like environment, with multiple private log cabins surrounding a common lodge. Bell 2 can accommodate up to 36 guests, making it one of the largest heliskiing lodges in the industry. This large amount of guests makes the atmosphere feel very communal and energetic with a significant social aspect.

On arrival night, from my porch, the moon sets on the ridge! I had perfect proximity to the spa & a view!

While staying here, there are a few amenities that you can expect to enhance your experience. All the log chalets feature a wood-burning fireplace for a rustic ambiance. Don't underestimate how nice the heated floors are in your cabin! You really don't need footwear on while inside!

The main lodge is where you’ll share all your meals with your fellow heli-skiers. As expected in all destination heliskiing operations, Bell 2 boast an excellent gourmet culinary team.

In the middle of the village sits an outdoor hot tub for post-skiing relaxation. A sauna is adjacent to the tub, and a fitness center next to that where you can enjoy a 30 minute morning stretch class. There is a pool table in the lounge next to the bar. Just try playing pool with other skiers from across the globe who don't speak much English...it's a whole lotta fun! I actually learned am Italian way to play "pool" that still makes NO SENSE to me!

After après ski and before dinner, I typically grabbed a beer from the bar and brought it to the spa. The social aspect of the spa was always enjoyable - skiers from all over the globe!

"BRO! Was that DEEP or WHAT? Cheers man...what an amazing day!" - Photo: Last Frontier

Bell 2 Double Queen Log Chalet - Photo courtesy of Last Frontier Heliskiing

The bar right before a dozen thirsty heli-skiers arrive! - photo: Last Frontier

Miachael Brackenhofer heliguide - Last Frontier

Out of their two locations, the Last Frontier Bell 2 lodge can accommodate intermediate heli-skiers. This isn’t to say that advanced and experts aren’t welcome, but there is a much larger selection of low-angle terrain suitable for skiers and riders just getting up to speed with deep powder backcountry skiing. The week I visited, I met several first-time heli-skiers - no problem.

Open the map of Last Frontier’s massive tenure. (The FILE IS AS BIG as the terrain, so the file takes forever to load! Wait for it!) See see how the Bell 2 Lodge sits directly in the center of it all. The lodge's location makes the terrain availability almost endless! It rests within the Skeena Mountains which are home to numerous landscapes like peaks, bowls, and glades. Early-season skiing normally entails tree skiing, whereas late-season incorporates more of the alpine.

Prior to the week I visited, it had not snowed in THREE WEEKS. However, it remained COLD through that drought, so the powder wasn't deep, BUT IT WAS FRESH...A LOT!

I enjoyed the blue bird Day 1 in the alpine! - BRADY

As mentioned in this review, on day one, we skied over 30,000 vertical feet, mostly alpine. It is on those days when you can truly appreciate the magnitude of their tenure...it's ENDLESS...

On Day 3 of my trip, one of our foursome temporarily injured his ankle. So...after lunch, in the aircraft, it was just the lead guide Nick, myself, the tail guide Bretton (Brett)...and one of the staff cooks, who later hopped in. Essentially, it felt like it was just two guides and me! And several times, it was just ME!

Last Frontier Guides Brett & Nick prep for 8 afternoon speed laps with just me!

At this point in the trip I assume I had built some confidence in Nick & Brett's eyes, with regard to my heli-skiing acumen. For the uninitiated, that's a process between guides and their gusts where they progressively assess your skills and mountain awareness. This is an important process, and led to what happened next...  So what transpired that afternoon was pretty epic! With tons of experience in that area, Nick kept CRUSHING the corridor openings through the trees in the caribou area of the tenure / terrain. He even skied a few lines he had never been down before. We did eight laps that afternoon, and I WAS NOT going to be the one to call it a day! I was STOKED...skiing hard and in the groove! Nick finally call it after about 27,000 feet. 🙂

NOTICE the SOLO adventure I'm taking on this run! No one in sight for all six minutes! Even the end, finding the pick-up was an adventure through the bush!

Wait for this video to "warm-up." It takes 20-30 seconds before the middle part of the video SPEEDS UP...and then I'm just in nirvana, following Nicks line...without ANY sight of Nick or Brett. IT WAS PLENTY SAFE...but THIS is what I LOVE...endless, untracked tree skiing all alone! It was EPIC...HEAVENLY...transformational! (At the end of the run, when we all finally got back together, Brett said to me, "If you didn't love that, you better try a different sport!"

Face shot in low angle terrain! - photo Last Frontier

Looks like fun, eh? DEEP in the TREES... - photo courtesty of Last Frontier

If I recall from my communication over the years with Last Frontier, one the whole, they average 0.50 of "no-fly" days out of five total days.

"Down Days" are an unfortunate reality of heliskiing. You just can't fly every day of the season. And sometimes, they can be a welcome rest!

Bell 2 has a long list of activities to choose from, including:

• Skeet Shooting
• Avalanche Safety Education
• Polar Plunge (in the river!)
• Fat Bike Adventures through the woods
• And MUCH More...

With only seven total hours of skiing in two days that season, to prepare for my February trip, I impressed myself by skiing over 30,000 vertical feet on our first day! I racked up 74,128 feet in my first three days, Monday - Wednesday.

I was EXHAUSTED Wednesday night, and I welcomed the rest. But I made the mistake of choosing the most physically DEMANDING activity!

FAT BIKING in deep snow...oh boy...prepare yourself...THIS AINT EASY!

Fat Bikes in powder. An exhausting and futile effort!

All packages include the use of an A-Star helicopter with three other skiers. This small group formation is what distinguishes Last Frontier. Despite this, standard packages will still require you to share the helicopter with three other groups, so wait times should be expected. Package options at Last Frontier Bell2 include:

Your Taxi is here! Photo courtesy of Last Frontier Heliskiing

• 4 Day
• 5 Day
• 7 Day
• Safari 7-Day (includes both Bell 2 and Ripley Creek) Limited availability.

Included in all packages is the appropriate avalanche gear, accommodations, and down-day activities. Unfortunately, cat skiing is not available in the event of a no-fly day.

Last Frontier Bell 2 Lodge is so well appointed. After 30 years, they have it dialed in...all the way down to the Nespresso machines in your room! I loved that - used it daily!

Other notable necessities & amenities include:

The Faction 126s were this heli-skier's choice for visits to both locations

Last Frontier Bell 2 has a great ski shop. They have 5 different Faction ski choices.

# 1: It has an outstanding ski shop with capable ski techs.

# 2: It has some really cool swag & gear. I bought a goose down dark green puffer at their Ripley Creek location a few years ago, and I wear it ALL winter!

#3: It has a coffee bar & snack shop that you may never know existed, if you skied as hard as I did! (Trust me, you won't be underfed here!)

#4: FUNNY STORY...I think it was after Monday's HUGE 30,000 vertical foot day when I was in the spa. I put my room key in my robe and hung it on the vertical support post with several others. I was the last one out of the spa, and I noticed someone had switched robes - they took mine! I went hunting for my robe in the sauna anti-room and had no luck. Naturally I had someone else's robe as I meandered around the village to the concierge desk, which is nearly always occupied! The person at the desk said, "You look like you're missing a key! What cabin are you in?" Each room has a name, and each cabin has a theme. You'll have to go to check it out! Thankfully, she gave me another key, and I returned to my cabin and room!

A rare occurrence...the unoccupied concierge desk.

If you find this place (behind the gift shop), you're not skiing (or drinking at the bar) enough!

Super cool swag & gear!

My heliskiing experience will never match some that I have encountered on my travels because I started in my 50s. Bell 2 lodge was my ninth trip at six different operator locations in three separate countries. I would say that I have some perspective...

Enjoy the party Thursday night because you gotta go home after your runs tomorrow!

Bell 2 Lodge has a special attractive magic to it and certainly presents its own personality!

It's intimate...but its large enough to have a very vibrant, social feel to it. Going solo...I like that, and I made some friends.

NOTE: As remote as it is, Apple maps has Bell II and Bell 2 Lodge on its radar! I like this, because you can easy show friends where "Bell 2" is and "Bell II" - a "Community" in Kitmat-Stikine British Columbia. Take a look on your phone!

Again, this goes without saying, but I will stress it once again, Bell 2 is a very remote, very well appointed, high-end "heliskiing village," with an unparalleled tenure (terrain.) And that's WHY you go!

A DISTINCTION: Last Frontier has worked diligently over the decades to attract skiers and boarders from every corner of the globe! Some operators with lengthy histories can't match Bell 2's strong global reach, which they exercise well to fill their village each week! It's nice to get out and meet others from around the world who are also members of the "heli-skiing tribe." On my trip in February of 2025, guests arrived from everywhere, including:

• Australia
• Chile
• France
• The Dolomites in Italy
• Poland
• Spain
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom
• U.S. East Coast
• U.S. Denver, CO
• U.S. Park City, UT
• U.S. West Coast

So, it's safe to say, it was truly a "melting-pot" of skiers and boarders in the spa, around the bar, the lounge, the pool table and in the aircraft! It was a refreshing experience, and I met a several friends that I stay in touch with.

It's more of a rarity than the norm to find that broad of an international blend of skiers at other heliskiing operator locations. I often go solo on these trips, and I really enjoy meeting interesting people from around the planet!

And the last night, they throw a "Fire & Ice" party! They shut down the lounge bar and set up a bar & music outside, within a carved out snow and ice space,. It's very festive and includes a fireworks show!