Heli-Ski and Snowboard Terrain in Terrace, BC

Backcountry Skiing at its Finest

From Northern Escape Heli-Skiing's Vimeo Channel

Our location midway between Central BC and Alaska offers the best of both worlds. Our far north latitude and proximity to powerful Pacific storms bring plenty of powder to our mountains, more than just about anywhere else on the planet. And unlike further north, we have terrific tree skiing that we can access in all weather, thanks to our snowcat skiing backup. Our alpine zones feature immense glaciers, deep bowls and steep couloirs. Many of our ski runs are over 2,000 vertical meters (over a vertical mile) from high mountain peaks to valley bottoms of old-growth cedar forests with deep pillows. The Skeena and Kitimat Mountain Ranges offer wild, big mountain adventure skiing and boarding at their finest.

Northern Escape has one of the world's largest heli-skiing tenures.

Tenure size 3,373 square Km (337,300 Hectares) or 833,571 Acres
Our Cat Skiing area is 23.35 square Km (2,335 Hectares) or 5,769 Acres

For perspective, we're over 30 times larger than the largest ski resort area in the world (Les 3 Vallées, French Alps) and 100 times larger than BC's own famous Whistler/Blackcomb. It's almost comical to mention, but Whistler/Blackcomb is similar in size to our Catski Zone we use for "backup" if the weather grounds the helicopters.

Where is the Best Heli-Skiing in the World?

If you’ve ever wondered why 90% of the world’s heli-skiing operators are based here,
check out our 4 reasons why Heli-skiing in BC, Canada, is a must for everyone’s bucket lists.

Terrain

They say size doesn’t matter, but in the case of heli-skiing, it does. Canada’s sheer scale makes it the perfect place to use a helicopter to access skiing, which otherwise would be impossible to get to. On top of this, the variety of terrain in Canada is unrivalled; you can expect endless pillow lines, giant alpine bowls, massive glacial runs as well as amazing tree runs. So, it is safe to say, in terms of skiable terrain – BC has it all.

If you’ve never been to British Columbia, now’s the time to go. Not only is the powder here incredible, but the area is 30 times the size of France’s Les 3 Vallées, making it one of the world’s biggest skiing paradises.

Snow Quality

Canada has an abundance of snow, which is why it is regarded as one of the best ski destinations in the world. Many areas see reported annual snowfall of 12-15 meters.

However, the devil is in the details; not all Canadian mountain ranges in western Canada are created equal for skiing.

The Rocky Mountains, for example, are further east, and as such, most of the precipitation has already fallen by the time the systems reach there, so they have a lower (relative) snowpack. In contrast, there are the Coastal Mountains to the west (home to the well-known resort Whistler) where there are big snowfalls from systems straight off the Pacific, however, these can often lead to heavier snow. The magic really happens in the Northwest of BC, near Terrace and the interior Columbia Mountains, which have the best of both worlds, namely heaps of light, dry, snow.

Tree Skiing

If you’ve only skied open alpine runs, you’re missing out! The tree skiing in the interior ranges of western Canada is unique and a blast. The trees are where the powder tends to be the deepest and stays perfect for longer, as the snow is less affected by the wind and sun. The huge bonus of skiing in the glades is all the terrain features, such as pillows, steeps and the trees themselves that really make things interesting. So when it’s not sunny, and you can’t ski the big glaciers up in the Alpine, you can still ride in these beautiful majestic forests. The trees provide protection from inclement weather and better visibility for pilots and skiers, massively reducing the risk of the dreaded ‘down day’. This is, without doubt, the reason why the Northwest and Interior ranges of British Columbia have the most reliable Heli-skiing in the world.

Choice of Heli-Ski Operations

You are spoiled with choices when it comes to Heli-skiing in BC, Canada, because about 90% of all the heli operators in the world are based here. Each lodge offers something a little different in terms of ski terrain, level of accommodation, dining, and group size so whether you’re an expert looking for a faster program or a newcomer to the sport looking for an introduction to powder, you’ll find a place here that suits you!

We’ve tried our best to cover all the details you need to know about heli-skiing in BC, and we hope this article has helped you. Start planning your ultimate ski vacation today!

What the pros say

"What an epic trip! The staff are first class, the food….the food… the food is unbelievable. The guides are so professional, fun and knowledgeable. The best, deepest snow I have ever ridden. My only recommendation is bringing a snorkel…"

Robert A., Vancouver, BC

"The helicopters are small and fast and you can have the place to yourself. I’ve been 15 times."

John C, Bozeman, MT

"The terrain is immense and access is easy. There are other places with great terrain, but you need a 7hr bus ride to get there."

Mike K, Colorado

"Great Heliskiing, DEEEP Powder, Huge Terrain, Wicked tree skiing, Awesome food."

Bernt B, Norway

"Northern Escape Heli Skiing delivers time and time again. These folks are the best of the best and I have skied with many of the others."

Andy B., Vail, CO

"Northern Escape’s wide variety of terrain, professional staff, and top-notch infrastructure provided an outstanding small group skiing experience. Despite a week straight of storms with over a meter of nonstop accumulation, Northern Escape kept us moving through safe and fun snow without a hitch. Our crew was able to stay productive every day of our visit and it made for some of the most memorable storm skiing I could have ever imagined."

Andrew Marshall, Photo Editor / The Ski Journal

"Northern Escape was one of the best experiences of my life. It has Alaska style alpine terrain, but there are also trees to ski when it snows."

Janelle Yip, Pro Skier

"NEH is the hidden Gem of the north. The alpine makes you feel like you’re in Alaska, but the tree skiing and pillows reminds you that you’re still in BC. Being close to the west coast coupled with being up North ensures that you’ll get heaps of good quality snow."

Mark Abma, Pro Skier

"When you’re skiing the deepest snow of your life, the quality of terrain plays an integral role. John and Yvan guided us into the right terrain for the conditions run after run–the perfect steepness to maintain speed and plenty of features to have fun on. There’s no shortage of stormy-day tree lines and when the sun peeks out the alpine really delivers that remote, wild, northern perfection. I’m hooked."

Feet Banks, Editor / Mountain Life, Coast Mountains

"Throughout the storm cycle, I sampled some of the best gladed backcountry terrain I’ve ever experienced. And when the clouds finally parted and the chopper could access the upper elevations – WOW! Rollers to jump off and waves to slash. Big open bowls to shred."

Alex Silgalis, Founder / Local Freshies

First Descents

At Northern Escape, we have over 300 established skiing and boarding runs in 9 different heli-ski zones. Our area is so big, we’re always finding new lines to ride. First descents (with naming rights) are common in such a vast, unexplored wilderness. Our big mountain ski terrain attracts weekend warriors and professional skiers and snowboarders alike and has been featured in top ski journals and in videos by the likes of Matchstick Productions.

9 Unique Heli-Skiing and Boarding Zones

Whatever the weather conditions or the abilities and desires of your group, our powerful Koala helicopters will take you to world class heli-skiing and boarding. (And if it’s really storming, we’ll transition to our snowcat skiing backup). Here are a few of our favourite spots.

My Town Region: Alpine skiing and tree runs with loads of variety.
Fjordland Zone: Land of the big glaciers.
First Nations Ski Area: Rugged peaks and long descents.
Wild West Zone: Big alpine runs for bluebird days.
South Shore Zone: Epic tree skiing.
North Shore Zone: Our biggest descent of over 6,000 vertical feet.
Promised Land: Steep trees and big pillows. Our classics and guest favourites.
Shroud Zone: 50% alpine skiing and 50% of nothing-but-fun tree skiing!
HQ Zone: 80% alpine, 20% tree, home headquarters for big alpine runs

And, with our Unlimited Vertical, you’ll be able to experience even more unique ski zones for BC’s best heli-skiing.

To find out more about how you can ski one of the largest heli-skiing locations in the world, or to book a heli-ski package with Northern Escape Heli-Skiing, please contact us online, send us an email, or call us Toll Free at 1-866-619-3184

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Guide to Heli-Skiing in BC

Planning your First Heli-Ski Vacation
Tips for Skiing and Boarding in Deep Powder
Safety and Equipment
Choosing a Heli-Ski Operator
When and Where to Go

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The Terrain