Heli skiing Canada is a golden opportunity for adventurers of all sorts to experience the untouched wilderness of this incredible region. This ultimate winter escape combines the thrill of carving through pristine, powder-laden slopes with the unrivalled luxury of world-class ski lodges.
These lodges are the perfect place to soak up the beauty of the surrounding atmosphere and rest in between the strain of ski adventures on the slopes. In this article, we will explore seven of these incredible lodges, providing an overview of the accommodation, an introduction to the surrounding wilderness and highlighting the key heli-skiing experiences at your doorstep.
Heli Skiing Canada: Adamants Lodge
Lodge Overview
One of CMH’s most remote accommodations, the Adamants Lodge is accessible exclusively via helicopter. This well-appointed lodge can accommodate up to 32 guests in comfortable rooms.
Amenities include a sauna, steam room, outdoor hot tub, two guest computers, telephones, table tennis, a pool table, board games, a small shop, cross-country track, snowshoeing, and much more. The warm and friendly ambience of the lodge makes relaxing easy for you and the whole group as you rest in between runs.
Environment
The lodge is eponymous of the Adamants Mountain range in which it is situated; a chain of rugged, glaciated peaks located in the Selkirk mountains of British Columbia. Granite spires, steep valleys and massive ice fields characterise this dramatic landscape, veined and shaped by icy streams fed by snowmelt and driving rain. The wildlife here is hardy, being adapted to the harsh alpine climate, with flora including mosses, lichens and low-lying shrubs and fauna including mountain goats, marmots and the soaring golden eagle.
Ski Highlights
Situated deep in the Northern Selkirk mountains, the great advantage of a highly diverse terrain awaits you. Wide open glaciers, deep slopes and thrilling tree runs offer a great variety of choices for skiers. The prevalence of challenging terrain makes this region perfect for skiers in search of moderate to fast-paced skiing.
The Adamants region has 1073 square kilometres of skiable terrain and receives an average annual snowfall of 18 meters. As far as heli skiing Canada goes, this is a dream destination.
Heli Skiing Canada: Bighorn
Lodge Overview
Winner of the ‘World’s Best Ski Chalet’ for four years running, the Bighorn Lodge is a unique and luxurious accommodation spot. Not quite like any other ski lodge, this private chalet is based in Revelstoke, deemed the powder capital of the world, and comes with exceptional service and lodging standards. For those taking on the challenge of heli skiing Canada, the Bighorn Lodge is a great choice for accommodation.
Luxury amenities include a wellness area boasting a sauna, an outdoor hot tub, an indoor swimming pool, a small gym, a television, games consoles loaded with an expansive library, a guest computer, a private cinema and a gourmet culinary experience masterminded by an award-winning chef from Europe.
Environment
For enthusiastic heli skiers, the Monashee and Selkirk ranges await, with over 1,500 square kilometres of powdered snow creating impeccable slopes and skiing routes. Lower elevations are dominated by a thick, wet growth of dense cedar, fir and hemlock forest. On the higher elevations, prepare for rocky outcroppings dusted with wildflowers, where crystal clear mountain streams flow downwards from the white peaks, making for gorgeous and unforgettable surroundings.
Ski Highlights
With roughly 1597 square kilometres of deep powder to explore, you’ll soon find yourself in a heli skiing paradise. The sheer vastness of the range translates to a huge versatility of options, from big open snowballs to steep slopes and thrilling tree skiing, this spot really has it all. Access to a private helicopter offers an unparalleled level of freedom in exploring these diverse terrains, on top of incredibly short turnarounds in runs.
Heli Skiing Canada: Bobbie Burns Lodge
Lodge Overview
Although the Bobbie Burns Lodge is situated high up in the mountains, accessible only by helicopter, it’s still one of CMH’s closest lodges to Calgary, which makes transport times to the lodge far lower than other more remote locations. This has the happy effect of giving guests more time on their trip to enjoy the lodge and the slopes around it. Furthermore, the Bobbie Burns Lodge possesses one of CMH’s largest wine cellars, providing guests with a staggering range of tantalising options between time on the snow.
Environment
Nestled between the Purcell and Selkirk mountains, this lodge is surrounded by landscapes renowned for their rugged beauty, dramatic peaks and diverse ecosystem. The majority of the mountain’s terrain is made up of steep cliffs topped with large glaciers.
Beneath this line, you’ll find alpine meadows and lush forests, frequently interspersed with swift-flowing icy rivers. These bountiful landscapes are known to play habitat to incredible animals like grizzly and black bears, deer, and mountain lions. For the adventurer in us, the Bobbie Burns Lodge is a perfect getaway.
Ski Highlights
Heli skiing Canada is at its best in this sweeping expanse of powder-packed slopes. Spreading across 1700 square kilometres and seeing an annual snowfall of 15 meters, this incredible stretch of land is the perfect place for experts to challenge themselves with long glacial runs and excellent tree skiing. If you plan on braving these slopes, you should already be an advanced heli skier skilled at fast-paced skiing with proven experience taking on deep powdered snow and steep slopes.
Heli Skiing Canada: Bugaboos
Lodge Overview
The Bugaboos Lodge is certainly an important landmark in the world of heli skiing. After all, this is where the beautiful sport began; all the way back in the 1960s. Bugaboos Lodge was the first remote heli skiing lodge built by Hans Gmoser, and since then, has continued to offer world-class accommodation for powdered snow enthusiasts. But it’s not all just sentimental appeal pulling people here, Bugaboos Lodge is among the most beautiful lodges in the CMH range of accommodation spots, built specifically to capture the breath-taking views of the granite spires and rolling blue-white glaciers that fill the area.
Environment
The Bugaboos, a mountain range located within the Purcell mountains of British Columbia, is a vast stretch of pristine wilderness interspersed with jotting granite spires, spilling glaciers and rugged woods. It’s home to iconic sights like the Bugaboo Spire and Bugaboo Glacier, not to mention the alpine meadows that teem with bright wildflowers during the short summer months. Wildlife such as mountain goats, marmots, and ptarmigans thrive in this beautiful and rugged landscape.
Ski Highlights
Skiers are drawn to the Bugaboo’s 1017 square kilometres of diverse terrain and the broad selection of programs on offer. There are gentle slopes and open snowballs well suited to the pursuits of novices, as well as sheer drops and thrilling tree skiing, perfect for challenging experienced skiers.
Heli Skiing Canada: Cariboos
Lodge Overview
The Cariboos is a classic, fly-in, remote backcountry lodge with views of its expansive Northern tenure. It is a popular and cosy retreat with a compelling easy-going atmosphere. The lodge itself can sleep up to 42 guests in winter. For heli skiers, taking the time to enjoy a cold beer or cocktail while you breathe in the mountain views is the perfect way to wind down after a good run of skiing.
Environment
The Cariboo Mountains are a striking wilderness characterised by rugged peaks, expansive glaciers, and lush valleys. The lower elevations are cloaked in dense temperate rainforests of cedar, fir, and hemlock, providing habitat for diverse wildlife, including black bears, moose, and a variety of bird species.
As the terrain ascends, subalpine meadows burst with wildflowers in the summer, transitioning into rocky alpine zones with hardy mosses, lichens, and snowfields. The region is known for its pristine glacial lakes and rivers, such as those feeding the Cariboo and Fraser Rivers, which play a vital role in the area’s ecosystems. Renowned for its remote and unspoiled beauty, the Cariboos attract adventurers seeking solitude and a connection to nature in its purest form.
Ski Highlights
The Cariboos have arguably the most varied terrain of any of the CMH lodges, with an outstanding combination of extensive alpine runs and phenomenal tree skiing. Its northerly location means prime heli skiing conditions right up until the spring, giving you plenty of time to book a spot. The Cariboos have 1,489 sq. km of skiable terrain and an average snowfall of 14 metres. The remote lodge is also the only one of CMH’s accommodation spots that has tail guides available.
Heli Skiing Canada: Galena
Lodge Overview
Galena Lodge is a favourite destination among the bravest and most experienced in the world of heli skiing in Canada. It’s a rustic and rugged lodge situated so far up in the remote mountains that it’s only accessible by helicopter. Once guests reach this remote hideaway, they are greeted by an accommodation with a relaxed and friendly atmosphere that can sleep up to 44 guests.
Environment
The lodge sits deep in a sub-range of the Southwark Mountains, British Columbia, in an area known as the Badshot Range, this alpine region is known for its jagged peaks, steep slopes and rocky ridges that tower over rolling alpine meadows. The glaciers and snowfields that blanket the higher elevations of the mountain range constantly feed ice streams that cascade into the lower valleys in brilliant reflective ribbons. The area is lush with spruce, fir and cedar wood forests, whose shade provides the perfect refuge for mosses and mushrooms.
Ski Highlights
Super deep powder snow covers Galena’s 1080 square kilometres of skiable terrain, which is made of excellent pillow lines and steep tree skiing slopes. This area is certainly the domain of the industry’s most experienced skiers, totally unsuited to beginners. Those skilled and fit enough to tackle and overcome the challenges associated with these slopes are in for the time of their life.
Heli Skiing Canada: Monashees
Lodge Overview
The Monashees Lodge is CMH’s latest addition to their range of accommodations, offering guests the opportunity to submerge themselves in the natural beauty of the area. The lodge is built right on the banks of the beautiful Columbia River, showcasing incredible views of the surrounding lake and the snow-capped mountains. This lodge also happens to be CMH’s largest accommodation, which translates into a high guest capacity and a broad range of activities, including a relaxing and spacious rooftop hot tub.
Environment
Located next to the Columbia River, which flows through a picturesque environment, the landscape transitions from dense green forests to open mountainous terrain. The Monashees boasts incredible views of the lake and surrounding mountains, allowing you to fully take in the strength of the nature around you.
Ski Highlights
The Monashees’ 1712 square kilometres of powdered snow is perhaps the most difficult of all of CMH’s offerings. The challenging conditions are best suited for advanced and experienced heli skiers looking to push the boundaries while carefully moving through consistently steep tree runs. With deep powdered snow and an average annual snowfall of 20 metres, you can, for the most part, rely on the conditions meeting your desires as an experienced heli skier.
Conclusion
Heli skiing Canada offers a wealth of unparalleled experiences, lending luxurious and charming accommodations, breath-taking natural environments and landscapes, and diverse skiing opportunities suited to all experience levels. From the historic Bugaboos and remote Adamants Lodge to the challenging slopes of Galena, each lodge and region offers something extraordinary for skiers of various skill levels.
Jagged peaks, crystal clear lakes, soaring slopes, towering spires, deep woods and so much more are right in front of you when you go heli skiing. A world of adventure, luxury and beauty awaits those willing to explore the great Canadian outdoors via the extreme sport of helicopter skiing. At Pure Powder, we facilitate heli skiing trips for people across the globe. To get the most out of your heli skiing trip, give us a call today!
