Heli-Skiing & Cat-Skiing
Heli-skiing (Randy Lincks photo)
It’s no wonder the Kootenay Rockies region is the birthplace of heli-skiing and cat-skiing – its five spectacular mountain ranges are characterized by soaring peaks and deep champagne powder.
Heli-skiing here is all about choice. The Kootenay Rockies region has over ten heli-ski operators (more than any other BC region), including one that was named the “Best Heli-Ski Travel Adventure Company on Earth” in 2009 by National Geographic Adventure magazine.
There are many heli-skiing and cat-skiing operators near small mountain towns – Meadow Creek (near Kaslo), Fernie, Nelson, Rossland, Revelstoke and Golden – that offer a variety of ski packages and services, from high-end luxury accommodation and fine dining to basic room and board or remote lodges.
Spend days skiing fresh powder on a week-long excursion or head to a ski resort to experience single day heli-skiing. Want to hit the slopes every day? It's easy to add lift-skiing or backcountry touring to a heli-ski or cat-ski vacation.
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Snow and Terrain
The Monashee, Rocky, Selkirk, Purcell and Valhalla mountain ranges are the perfect playground for heli-skiers and cat-skiers. Granite spires, alpine glaciers, steep slopes and deep couloirs are blanketed with up to 15m/50ft of dry, champagne powder annually. Speed down glaciated plateaus, tackle bowls and chutes, and find perfect snow between old-growth trees on gladed runs.
Heli-Skiing & Cat-Skiing Operator Areas
The highest concentration of heli-ski operators is near Golden and Revelstoke, and ski resorts in this area offer single-day heli-skiing. A few operators based around Nelson fly to the towering peaks of the Selkirks and Purcells. Fernie, Rossland and Meadow Creek have plentiful cat-skiing opportunities, in addition to heli-skiing.
Heli-Ski & Cat-Ski Tours
Companies cater to all levels of skiers, preferences and budgets, and offer the same basic experience: access to deep powder and vast expanses of untouched terrain. The differences between the tours? Length of trip, size of groups, guides per group, accommodation, locations of lodges and the activities on “down days.”
On a multi-day excursion, spend day after day skiing alpine glaciers and thrilling tree-lined glades. Packages with unlimited descents are perfect for adventurous skiers looking for maximum vertical, while small-group skiing means less wait times, more guides per group and even more access to stunning terrain.
Short on time? Try single-day trips at Revelstoke Mountain Resort – the only place in the world to offer lift, heli-skiing and cat-skiing from one base – and Panorama Mountain Village.
Tours aren’t just limited to heli-skiing. On a heli-assisted ski touring trip, trek across snow-covered meadows and be flown back to a comforting lodge for a massage. “Sampler” packages can include cat-skiing and lift skiing, or time spent soaking aching muscles in one of the region’s natural hot springs.
Practical Points
- Heli-skiing and cat-skiing season in the Kootenay Rockies region is generally from December to April.
- All of BC’s heli-skiing and cat-skiing operators follow strict safety guidelines, and certified guides accompany skiers to help ensure a safe experience.
- Heli-skiing and cat-skiing is typically for intermediate to advanced skiers with good physical fitness. Each operator has different guidelines, but clients should be able to comfortably ski the more challenging runs at ski resorts.
- Clients are supplied with powder skis and poles, but must bring their own boots and clothing.
- Departures may be delayed due to inclement weather.
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15 Heli-Skiing & Cat-Skiing in Kootenay Rockies
11 - 15 of 15 Results
11
105 Meadow Creek Rd
Meadow Creek, British Columbia
V0G 1N0
Websitehttp://www.selkirkwilderness.com
Toll-free800-799-3499
Phone250-366-4424
24 guests are taken by snowcat to Selkirk Wilderness Skiing's beautiful lodge situated 762 m (2500 ft) above the valley floor, a spacious mountain hideaway offering panoramic views of the Selkirk & Purcell Mountains & all the luxuries of home. They will be transported in comfort to the surrounding peaks to sample spectacular open bowls, delightful glades or challenging chutes. The network of snowcat roads provides skiing and riding within an area of 40 sq km (25 sq mi) with runs up to 1219 vertical kms (4000 ft) & the short ride between runs is just enough time to relax & warm fingers & toes.
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12
987 Dogwood Dr
South Slocan, British Columbia
V0G 2G0
Websitehttp://www.snowwater.com
Toll-free866-722-7669
Phone250-359-7665
Located in the legendary Selkirk Mountains near Nelson, BC, Snowwater Heli Skiing offers a supreme powder holiday combined with unmatched service and a world class culinary experience. Our terrain expands three separate mountain ranges and we fly in small, cohesive groups in the fastest and most powerful machines in the industry. Snowwater also provides a failsafe SNOWCAT BACKUP Guarantee for all our guests.
We cater to only twelve guests, ensuring each person receives uncompromising service and optimal comfort at our private, mountain lodge. Let us show you a holiday experience that you will remember for a lifetime!
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13
Hwy 3A/6 Slocan Junction
South Slocan, British Columbia
V0G 2G0
Websitehttp://www.valhallapow.com
Toll-free866-722-7669
Phone250-359-7665
Welcome to British Columbia's premier big mountain snowcat skiing and riding destination!
Located deep in the heart of the legendary Selkirk Mountains, Valhalla Powdercats invites you to come and be professionally guided through a diverse and engaging mix of big mountain terrain. Our tenure is six times the size of Whistler and Blackcomb combined, offering seasoned skiers a hearty selection of high alpine bowls, steep, old-growth forests, and endless, untracked Kootenay powder all day long. Expect zero line ups, and the sweetest, deepest, white gold, you will ever have the good fortune to sink into.
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14
110 Duncan Dam Haul Rd
Meadow Creek, British Columbia
V0G 1N0
Websitehttp://www.whitegrizzly.com
Toll-free800-843-5557
Phone250-366-4306
Passionate about steep deep powder, White Grizzly offers safe & consistently challenging backcountry adventures in pristine wilderness & majestic landscape of the Selkirks. With 15 years of operations, we offer caring, personal service, a warm family atmosphere, & unparallelled powder vacations.
Our cat skiing operation is located in BC's premier snow corridor, our specialized service caters exclusively to small groups. Guests are experienced powder enthusiasts with the skills to appreciate our treed terrain.
If you're ready to discover the next level of powder skiing or snowboarding, let us show you what cat skiing can be, it doesn't get better than this!
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15
Panorama Mountain
Panorama Mountain Village, British Columbia
V0A 1T0
Websitehttp://www.panoramaresort.com
Toll-free800-663-2929
Phone250-342-6941
Known for one of North America's biggest verticals, long cruisers, uncrowded slopes & backcountry-style skiing, Panorama Mountain Village in the Canadian Rockies has it all: downhill skiing, Nordic, heli-skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, spa, dining options & a great range of on-mountain lodging. In the summer, Panorama Resort offers award-winning golf at the Greywolf Golf Course, ranked #2 course in BC by ScoreGolf in 2011. Getting to Panorama is easy. Minutes from the Kootenay Rockies town of Invermere, Panorama is also close to Calgary & the famous mountain town of Banff.
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| Annual Snowfall |
SkiTotalRuns |
Types of runs |
| 480 cm |
120 |
 25% 55% 20% |