Skeena Heliskiing

When skiing with Skeena, you’ll be put up in the Bear Claw Lodge, privately owned by the Allen Family. This high-end mountain lodge is one of the most luxuriously decorated accommodations one can find amongst heli skiing operators. Situated alongside the Kispiox River, this lodge features eight distinct rooms and can only accommodate up to 12 guests at a time, ensuring your experience here is friendly, and casual. 

Amenities at the Bear Claw Lodge include:

• Gourmet meals
• Whirlpool
• Outdoor sauna
• Games room
• Cross country skiing and snowshoeing
• Starlink Wi-Fi

 

Skeena Heliskiing’s tenure size is hard to believe. With over 2.3 million acres, it’s undoubtedly one of the largest heli skiing areas in the world. Skeena operates three A-Star helicopters and has over 280 different summits that they can land on, allowing for over 860 runs to be explored.

The Skeena Mountains are located far enough North that temperatures are cold, but close enough to the coast that lots of precipitation is created. This creates impeccable snow quality that’s light and fluffy and falls in copious amounts. Most of their skiing terrain can be found within 15 minutes from the lodge, and the closest run is just six. Combined with unlimited vertical, you’ll be skiing more than you would even at a ski resort. Features range from steep vertical descents to powdery bowls and expansive trees. Before every trip, skiers are broken into groups based on ability level. If you can ski at a strong intermediate level, there will be a spot for you.

All of Skeena Heliskiing’s packages feature 7 nights of accommodations with 6 days of skiing. If you’re looking for a relaxing week-long adventure, this operator is for you. Daily heli skiing is not available, meaning everyone that’s at the lodge for the week is dedicated to creating a meaningful experience. Four distinct packages are available:

• Classic Unlimited Vertical: Considered the “value option”, this package pairs you with other guests according to ability level. Three groups of four share one helicopter.
• Guaranteed 2 Group Unlimited Vertical: If you want a little more access to the helicopter, this package limits skiing to two groups of four per helicopter. 
• Private Helicopter: This package entails exclusive access. You and up to three other people get private access to one chopper.
• Private Lodge Buyout: For those seeking ultimate privacy, this package allows you to buyout the entire lodge and receive access to up to three helicopters. You do not need all 12 people to completely book the lodge.

Because of their unlimited vertical and the consistency of weather, down day cat skiing is not offered. If you’re unable to ski much on one day, you can easily make up for it on the next. Overall, Skeena Heliskiing is ideal for those that don’t want to be limited by a certain number of runs or vertical and appreciate high-end accommodations. NOTE: The ownership group of Skeena Heli Skiing and Skeena Cat Skiing  are the same Company. The cat skiing base camp is close to the Bear Claw lodge. That said, given a down day of heli skiing, if there is room, you would think that Skeena heli-skiers would get first priority on an empty seats.