How To: A Viewer’s Guide to Seeing the Northern Lights In Canada

Wondering where you can see the Northern Lights? Or how to see the Aurora Borealis? Well here’s an insider’s guide of top tips on how to increase your chances of seeing the Northern Lights in Canada.

The Northern Lights (also known as the Aurora Borealis) is a magical natural phenomenon of colourful lights, which dance across the night sky. Witnessing the Aurora Borealis is breathtaking, and for many people, a once in a lifetime experience.

Seeing the Northern Lights in Canada however, needn’t be down to luck. If this bewitching spectacle is on your bucket list, read our 7 Top Tips on how to improve your chances of watching the best show on earth!

Northern Light viewing in Canada’s North.

1- Head up North

They’re called The Northern Lights for a reason. Now, we’re not going to get all science-y on you and tell you why they can be seen from some places and not others (that’s what Google is for), but the general gist of it is: the further North you go, the more likely you are to catch them.  And we mean north, like Yukon, Northwest Territories or Alaska!

65-72°N is known as ‘The Aurora Zone’ and is where aurora borealis activity is most often seen. Most of that zone however (66.3° and up), is in the Arctic circle, making it pretty hard to access, unless you have a private jet. So, your best bet is to just get as far north as you possibly can. You can regularly see the Northern Lights in Alaska, Iceland, Greenland and some Scandinavian countries too, but for anyone based in mainland North America, we recommend visiting Canada to see the Aurora Borealis. With its vast open skies and relatively easy access (with direct flights to Whitehorse), we love watching The Northern Lights in the Yukon.

The Yukon is where to see the northern lights in Canada.

2- Brave the winter

The Aurora Borealis is active all year round, but you can only see it when the sky is dark. Seasonally, it could be spotted any time from August through to April, but the best chance to see it is when the nights are long and the skies are darker: i.e. winter. Typically, early winter (December - January) tends to be a good time of the year for Northern Lights viewing in Canada.

Wondering how to see the northern lights in Canada? Head north!

3- Tune in with the moon

The Northern Lights don’t always transform the entire sky into a sea of dancing demons. Sometimes, during periods of quiet aurora activity, you might just catch some swirls of light, fluttering across the horizon. 

It’s during these quieter phases of auroral activity that having a truly dark sky really helps you to see the magic. A big, bright moon adds much more light to the sky than you might think. So although the Northern Lights can be seen under a full moon, it’s a good idea to make the most of the really dark nights during the New Moon phase for your aurora borealis viewing.

Northern lights viewing in Canada with the aurora borealis on the horizon.

4- Watch the forecast

Much like we can forecast the weather, some clever people have come up with a way to predict aurora borealis activity. They can tell you not only the likelihood of activity happening on a given day, but also where you might be able to see it from. Check out websites and apps like:

NOAA Aurora Forecast
Canadian Space Weather Forecast
Aurora Forecast
Auroral Oval
Aurora Alerts

Please note: there are no long-range forecasts for Northern Lights viewing. All of these models are good for short-term conditions (1-3 days). There is no way to forecast many months in advance!

A northern lights viewing tour in Yukon, Canada.

5- Chase the darkness

We’re back to that darkness thing again. This time though, it’s about getting away from artificial light. If you’re up north, in the winter, and it’s dark, your next step is to leave the city or anywhere with light pollution. Get yourself out into the mountains or the countryside, where there are no other light sources to distract your eyes from the northern lights.

While you can see aurora borealis activity from inner-city areas, you’re much less likely to witness the full enchanting spectacle. Plus, being out in the wilderness adds that extra element of feeling really ‘at one’ with nature. And that’s the kind of awe-inspiring experience we’re all hoping for, right?

Yukon is where to see the northern lights in Canada.

6- Bring a compass, or a local

The Northern Lights tend to appear in the northern part of the sky first. It would really suck if you’d hiked all the way up a mountain, then sat facing towards the south and, unbeknownst to you, the northern lights merrily danced away behind your head. Bring a compass with you (or download a free one onto your phone) and make sure you set yourself up looking in the right direction!

The other option, is to find yourself a local and get them to take you to their secret spots. If you don’t back yourself to make knowledgeable friends in the bar, consider booking a guide. Guides are not only an awesome way to make the most of your trip, but they’ll transport you to the best viewing locations and make sure you’re looking the right way! There are many northern lights tours in Northern Canada, and we run our own too!

Watching the aurora borealis in Canada on a northern lights viewing trip.

7- Stay a while

The Aurora Borealis tends to be seen most often around midnight, or between the hours of 10pm-3am. It’s a good idea to plan on being outside for that whole time (or at least be in a location when you can regularly check what the sky is doing). Just make sure you wrap up incredibly warm (it can get down to below -40°C in some of these northerly spots!) and bring yourself some blankets, hot drinks and snacks. Sometimes it’s cloudy at 9pm, but then the skies clear at 2am and reveal a dazzling display. As the old adage goes: good things come to those who wait.

Along the same vein: even if you’ve followed all of our top tips listed above, don’t expect the northern lights to appear on your very first night of looking. Aurora borealis activity comes in waves. Sometimes it will be visible every night for weeks. Sometimes it just doesn’t show up. Trips lasting more than a couple of nights will give you a longer window of opportunity. So don’t rush the experience: relax and stay a while. Plus, there are plenty of things to do in all of these epic northerly locations. You could spend your daylight hours snowshoeing, dogsledding (aka mushing), ice skating, relaxing in hot springs or curled up next to a roaring fire. I mean, you might as well make the most of this once in a lifetime northern lights viewing trip, right?

Think we missed something in our Aurora Borealis Viewing Guide? Tell us your top tips and relive your favourite Northern Lights memories in the comments below!

Check out our guide to hiking in the Yukon here!

join a northern lights viewing tour in yukon

Yukon Northern Lights Viewing Adventure

Whitehorse | 3+ Days | Guided
Experience the northern lights in full glory with a fully guided tour in the Yukon this winter! Daily aurora viewing excursions, guided snowshoeing, wildlife viewing and more!

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About the author- Bex Dawkes

Bex may not have grown up in the mountains but if you saw her gallivanting around the Kootenays you’d think she was a local as grizzled as any! Among hucking herself off pillows and paddling through remote ocean passages, she manages to find time to keep the adventure travel world informed and capture jaw dropping beauty on her camera. She’s easiest to track down at a local brewery and, if you’re lucky enough, you may just be able to explore with her on some of our tours too!

The Best Backcountry Ski Lodges in Canada

The Best Backcountry Ski Lodges In Canada

Planning a backcountry skiing trip in Canada is an exciting process with tons of different opportunities for the perfect backcountry ski adventure! One of the best types of backcountry ski trips is a backcountry hut based trip.

Planning a backcountry hut ski trip in Canada is perfect for a variety of reasons, mostly revolving around staying in the area you want to ski and spending less time travelling to and from the goods each day. You can check out our guide to the best resorts for powder skiing and freeride in Canada here.

There are a variety of backcountry lodges, cabins and huts available around Western Canada, each offering its own level of comfort and amenities. Some are dorm style, some offer separate rooms, some are catered and some are self catered. Some backcountry ski lodges are only accessible by helicopter, while others can be accessed by snowmobile or even by ski touring in and out.

Since there are so many backcountry lodges and ski cabins in British Columbia and Alberta, we have put this guide together to help make it easier to plan your backcountry skiing trip in Canada!

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The Best Backcountry ski lodges and huts in british columbia

Here is our list of the best backcountry ski touring lodges in BC and Alberta. This is a list of lodges that are run by individuals for profit and don’t include the backcountry ski huts and chalets offered by the Alpine Club of Canada and various other mountain clubs. Naturally we didn’t list the secret shelters that people have built for themselves and their friends in their sacred powder stashes. If you think we missed a backcountry ski lodge, please let us know!

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icefall lodge

Icefall Lodge is situated near Golden, British Columbia and with its “skiing first, business second” motto, it is one of the best backcountry ski lodges in British Columbia. With over 50,000 acres of skiable terrain, there is plenty to choose from.

Icefall Lodge expanded some years ago with a series of new huts, which allow you to plan a ski traverse, or stay in the Icefall Lodge or Snowfall lodge as a basecamp for your ski touring/ splitboarding trip in BC.

Trip Duration: 1 week trips in Icefall Lodge
Typical Cost: $2600 for a week, including return heli transfer, for a guided and catered trip.

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sorcerer lodge

Sorcerer Lodge is a backcountry ski and snowboard lodge located at the north end of Glacier National Park in BC. The ski lodge sits above Wizard Lake and features views of Nordic Glacier. Sorcerer Lodge is a smaller ski touring lodge, with a capacity of 8 guests, making for a small group experience.

Sorcerer Lodge offers guided backcountry skiing and catering on all individual bookings. This backcountry lodge is a short helicopter ride from Golden, British Columbia.

Trip Duration: 7 night/ 8 days- shorter trips available
Typical Cost: $3400 for a 7 night guided and catered trip with flights included.

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Battle abbey

Battle Abbey is a really cool backcountry ski lodge in British Columbia. They have over 10,000 acres of skiable terrain, consisting of intermediate to advanced ski area in the selkirk mountains of BC.

Battle Abbey ski hut is located a short helicopter flight SW of Golden, BC in the Selkirk Mountains.

Trip Duration: 5 days
Typical Cost: $2865 for 5 day guided and catered package, including flights.

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boulder hut

Boulder Hut is one of the original backcountry ski touring lodges in British Columbia. Located deep in the Purcell mountain range near Kimberly, Boulder Hut offers 15,000 acres of backcountry ski and snowboard terrain for intermediate and advanced skiers.

Boulder Hut offers a full and half week guided and catered package in their Canadian backcountry ski lodge.

Trip Duration: 1 week, 1/2 week trips available
Typical Cost: $2800 for a week, including return heli transfer, for a guided and catered trip.

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sol mountain lodge

Sol Mountain Lodge is a premier ski touring lodge near Revelstoke in British Columbia. Sol offers 30,000 acres of guided ski touring with terrain ranging from open shoulders, to steep chutes, bowls and trees. The ski lodge is located deep in the Monashee Mountain Range, which is known for plentiful and fluffy powder skiing conditions each winter.

Sol Mountain Lodge offer varying trip lengths, on a guided and catered trip style. The lodge is a short helicopter flight from Revelstoke.

Trip Duration: 5-7 nights
Typical Cost: $2950 for 6 night, including return heli transfer, for a guided and catered trip.

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Purcell Mountain Lodge

Purcell Mountain Lodge is a backcountry skiing lodge located near Golden, British Columbia. The lodge is situated at the base of Bald Mountain, near Glacier National Park.

The lodge is remarkably comfortable with all the features you could hope for from a luxurious mountain home. Chef’s create daily inspired creations for you to feast on, and there is a cash bar with local wines and craft beers for you to enjoy while you relax at the end of a guided ski tour.

Purcell Mountain Lodge offers a 4 or 5 day backcountry ski package. All trip packages to Purcell Mountain Lodge are guided and catered.

Trip Duration: 4 or 5 days
Typical Cost: $2400 for a 5 day trip, including return heli transfer, for a guided and catered trip.

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campbell icefield chalet

Campbell Icefield Chalet is one of the top ski chalets in BC. This ski chalet is located on the Western slope of the Rockies, near Golden BC. The lodge is a short helicopter flight from Golden.
Skiers can enjoy 5000 hectares of backcountry ski terrain, surrounding the lodge, as well as plenty of mountaineering or snowshoeing options.

The Campbell Icefield Chalet allows you to create your own package, with guided or self guided options, plus catered or self-catered options.

Trip Duration: 1 week trips
Typical Cost: $3000- $7500 for 10-15 guests self guided and catered. (unclear if this includes flights or not).

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mistaya backcountry lodge

Mistaya Lodge is a backcountry ski lodge in the Canadian Rockies. The lodge is family owned and operated by a passionate family of skiers and hikers.

Mistaya Lodge offers a week long guided and catered ski experience in the Rockies. The lodge is located up the Wild Cat Creek Basin, a 20 minute flight NE of Golden, BC.

Trip Duration: 1 week trips
Typical Cost: $3600 for a week, including return heli transfer, for a guided and catered trip.

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mallard mountain lodge

Mallard Mountain lodge is a a ski and snowboard touring lodge tucked in the Rockies near Valemont, British Columbia. The lodge typically hosts 6-8 skiers and snowboarders, so there is plenty of room to breathe and you don’t have to worry about anyone ever poaching your line!

They offer a variety of backcountry ski trip lodge options, from all inclusive, to self catered and guided.

Trip Duration: 1 week trips
Typical Cost: $3975 for a week, including return heli transfer, for a guided and catered trip.

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amiskwi ski lodge

Amiskwi Lodge is located in the Rockies, NW of Field BC, and NE of Golden, BC. The backcountry lodge is the perfect basecamp for a variety of ski touring and backcountry snowboarding missions. This backcountry ski cabin can sleep approximately 14 guests and offers entirely self catered and guided ski trips in BC.

Amiskwi Lodge is accessible by helicopter only, with flights from Golden.

Trip Duration: 7 days
Typical Cost: $1180 for a week, including return heli transfer. (self guided and catered)

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burnie glacier chalet

Burnie Glacier Chalet is a backountry ski and mountaineering lodge thatclaims to be the furthest NW ski lodge in BC. The lodge is located in the Howson Mountain Range, east of Terrace, bC.

Burnie Glacier Chalet sleeps 11 guests with 2 guides and a cook in a cozy, post and beam timber frame lodge.

Being located so close to Burnie Glacier means easy access to several world class ski zones and a variety of mountaineering and climbing opportunities in the summer.

Trip Duration: 1 week
Typical Cost: $3000 for a week, including return heli transfer, for a guided and catered trip.

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blanket glacier chalet

Blanket Glacier Chalet is a backcountry ski cabin located near Revelstoke, British Columbia. The lodge is accessible via a short helicopter ride and sits right at the start of some pretty epic alpine terrain.

The chalet is a small and rustic a-frame, with a lot of character and a wood fired sauna to relax in after a day of guided skiing.

Backcountry skiing at Blanket Glacier is a epic opportunity to explore an endless amount of surrounding peaks, headwalls, chutes and trees that are all around Blanket Glacier. This is an incredible place to backcountry ski in Canada and is a backcountry ski lodge that offers a lot of fun.

Trip Duration: 4 or 5 day trips
Typical Cost: $2000/ 5 days, including return heli transfer, for a guided and catered trip.

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callaghan country wilderness ski touring lodge

Callaghan Country Wilderness Lodge has some really cool options to choose from on your backcountry ski trip, which is what makes it one of the best ski touring lodges in Canada.

You can choose between flying in, getting in with a snowmobile, or ski touring the 13 km to get to the lodge.

You can build your own package as well, opting for an all inclusive and guided ski touring package, or pay on a nightly rate that includes all meals.

Try a completely self-propelled adventure, or go for a fully guided week to have everything taken care of for you.

Callaghan Country Wilderness Lodge is located just SW of Whistler, in the coast mountains of British Columbia, which means they get tons of snow (albeit heavier snow than the interior).

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Golden Alpine Holidays- backcountry ski lodges

Golden Alpine Holidays form a group of backcountry lodges and ski touring cabins near Golden, BC. Golden Alpine Holidays run 4 separate backcountry ski lodges, all within the Northern end of the Selkirk Mountains and the Esplanade Range. This is just West of Kinbasket Lake and on the edge of the Columbia Mountains. The area is renown for very deep snow, that is dry and super light and fluffy.

Their 4 lodges are:

Sentry Lodge: featured in several ski movies, the terrain around Sentry is an incredible mix of steep trees, pillows and alpine terrain. Come see for yourself!
Sunrise Lodge: The original of the GAH lodges. Sunrise Lodge is at the northern end of the Esplanade Range and features a perfect variety of tree skiing and alpine terrain.
Vista Lodge: Near Vista Lake and providing access to the alpine zones off Cherub Glacier. Vista Backcountry Lodge is famous for its spring skiing.
Meadow Lodge: The perfect base for some of the best pillow lines and steepest and longest alpine runs in the Esplanade Range.

Trip Duration: 1 week trips
Typical Cost: $2800 for a week, including return heli transfer, for a guided and catered trip.

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Dezaiko Lodge

Dezaiko Lodge is a backcountry ski and snowboard lodge that is located roughly 80 km east of Prince George. That puts them at the 54 degrees N latitude, which means lots of cold and fluffy snow for you!

“Dezaiko” means big mountains, and you will see why the lodge is called that when you get here. The backcountry lodge is open for 7 day all inclusive guided ski trips each winter.

Oh yea, they also claim to have the best tree skiing here. Want to find out for yourself?

Trip Duration: 1 week trips
Typical Cost: $2600 for a week, including return heli transfer, for a guided and catered trip.

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hilda backcountry ski touring hut

Hilda Hut is a backcountry ski hut owned by Valkyr Adventures, who also run Valkyr Lodge below. Hilda hut is suitable for slightly more advanced skiers than the Valkyr Lodge, with access to some steeper terrain that the Selkirks are best known for.

Hilda Hut has space for 12 skiers and snowboarders, with 6 double bedrooms. There is a sauna, as well as a games table and two woodstoves. You can use the electricity provided by the lodge’s micro-hydro plant.

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Mount assiniboine ski lodge

Mount Assiniboine Lodge is a backcountry ski and wilderness lodge tucked deep in the Rockies near Banff. The lodge is situated in Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park, near Og and Magog Lakes and Mount Assiniboine.

Mount Assiniboine Lodge offers a fully guided and catered ski touring experience, with helicopter access to get to the lodge. The ski terrain is mixed between alpine and tree skiing, and the scenery is the highlight of the experience here.

Trip Duration: 2-4 nights
Typical Cost: $350 per night for a guided and catered trip and roughly $450 for flights.

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Valkyr backcountry lodge

Valkyr Lodge is a backcountry ski lodge located in the backcountry of the Selkirk Mountains. The Valkyr Mountain Range is known for the rugged peaks, alpine lakes and rolling alpine meadows. The lodge sits at 2210 meters in elevation and offers over 4000 hectares of backcountry skiing terrain.

Some of the highlights are skiing Naumulten Mountain, Mount Rollins and Mount McBride.

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powder creek lodge

18,000 acres of epic skiing in the Purcell Mountains of British Columbia make Powder Creek Lodge one of the best backcountry ski lodges in Canada.

The lodge is a short helicopter ride from Kaslo, BC, which is near Nelson. There is a huge amount of gnarly alpine terrain, as well as softer tree ski options throughout their tenure.

You can book individually in their guided/ catered weeks, and some weeks are possible to book the entire lodge for a self guided group that is still catered.

Trip Duration: 1 week trips
Typical Cost: $2850 for a week, including return heli transfer, for a guided and catered trip.

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talus ski lodge

Talus Lodge is sort of in the mmiddle of nowhere in BC, which is what makes it so special. West of Alberta, South of Mount Assiniboine, and SE of Radium is how you would describe the location of this backcountry lodge.

Talus Lodge sits in the Rockies, with space for 12 guests. The easiest way to get here is by helicopter, although you can also opt to ski tour in to the lodge. The lodge itself is one of the nicest on this list, with lovely views and a larger and more open floor plan than most backcountry lodges seem to have.

Trip Duration: 1 week trips
Typical Cost: $2600 for a week, including return heli transfer, for a guided and catered trip.

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valhalla mountain lodge

Valhalla Mountain Lodge was one of the original backcountry ski lodges in British Columbia. They offer epic ski touring in 10 backcountry basins with enough terrain for you to ski your heart out.

The lodge is rustic and cozy, complete with a cedar log sauna.

You can book the entire lodge, which comes with a custodian, and you can add guiding and catering or do your own thing.

The entire lodge goes for roughly $25,000 for ten people for a week, with guiding and catering included.

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valhalla mountain touring lodge

Valhalla Mountain Touring offer an amazing ski touring and splitboarding experience just north of Valhalla Provincial Park in British Columbia.

The lodge is home to 7 bedrooms, and the lodge can accommodate 12 guests. The lodge can be accessed with their own snow cat, which is an hour ride away from the staging area.

Valhalla Mountain Touring is home to 19,000 acres of epic ski terrain and they are no strangers to the infamous “cold smoke” of the Kootenays.

Trip Duration: 1 week trips
Typical Cost: $2700 for a week, including return heli transfer, for a guided and catered trip.

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wells gray adventures- backcountry ski cabins

Wells Gray Adventures have three amazing cabins nestled in the heart of Wells Gray Provincial Park. The cabins are: Trophy Cabin, Fight Meadows and Discovery Cabin.

Discovery Cabin is the best cabin for backcountry skiing, since the terrain accessible from here is much more advanced than at Fight Meadows.

Trophy Cabin is also a great backcountry ski hut, with access to shorter steep runs and some longer runs that are slightly further away.

You can use a helicopter to access both these cabins, and you can actually ski out from Discovery Cabin.

Planning a backcountry ski trip here is easy with their build your own package options. You can rent a cabin for roughly $650 per night for up to 8 guests, and can choose to add a guided to your package. It is also possible to book a guided and catered option at Wells Gray Adventures.

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ymir ski touring lodge

Ymir Ski Touring Lodge is an interesting and quirky backcountry touring accommodation near Nelson, BC.

The lodge is at the treeline, tucked away in the mountains behind Whitewater Ski Resort. The lodge is accessible by a short helicopter ride from Nelson.

It is not clear what the offering from Ymir Ski Touring Lodge is, but you should get in touch with them to plan an amazing ski touring trip near Nelson.

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Where Will Your Next Backcountry Ski or Snowboard Trip Take You?

Bottom line is that all these huts are there for you and offer an incredible experience. We encourage you not to get too hooked on just one lodge and to try several and explore more terrain. Finding new zones and exploring new areas is the magic of backcountry skiing.

Remember that these lodges all fill early, so make sure you plan and reserve your trip far in advance.

Happy pow hunting!

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Our backcountry Ski & Snowboard Trips

Kicking Horse Intro To Backcountry course

Spend 5 days honing your big mountain skills and backcountry skiing with professional guides to learn from and a fun group of like minded people to hang out with.

Revelstoke Guided Backcountry Package

Bring your crew and strap on your pow sticks for a few hard charging days of guided backcountry skiing in one of the best places to powder ski in the world. Period.

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About the author

ALEX ROSS- LEAD GUIDE/ FOUNDER

Let’s just say Alex didn’t want to work a real job when he grew up. He had his heart set on avoiding any kind of accounting, human resources, compliance, marketing and business administration, in order to be free for his dream job as a ski guide. Now he guides people on skis, but mostly does accounting, human resources, compliance, marketing and business administration work!

Canada's Best Backcountry Ski and Snowboard Guides

Canada’s Best Backcountry Ski and Snowboard Guides

Helping connect you to the best ski guides and snowboard guides in british columbia and alberta.

Backcountry skiing and snowboarding is epic in Canada and for good reason. Huge, steep mountains, topped with over 40 feet of annual snowfall make for some unforgettable backcountry ski trips in the winter.

Ski touring and splitboarding can be intimidating activities to dive into, so going with a qualified backcountry ski guide or backcountry snowboard guide can be the difference between a stressful day and one of the best ski trips of your life.

We’ve made it easy for you to find and plan your trip with the best ski guides and snowboard guides in Canada with this list below. Each of the backcountry ski companies on this list are in some of the best places to backcountry ski in Canada and are some of the top ski operators in Canada.

What makes the best backcountry ski guides in canada?

location, location, location

Yes, the age old motto applies to backcountry skiing as well. We have picked out these backcountry ski operators based on the quality of their operations, and also where they are located to ensure that you have the ultimate skiing experience. We’re looking for locations with epic powder and mountains that command respect. Not so much convenient airports and glitzy shops nearby. Here are some of the best ski resorts in Canada for powder skiing.

experienced professional guides

There is a huge difference between a ski or snowboard guide that can keep the group moving efficiently and have an adaptable plan that delivers the goods and a guide that is behind the curve, resulting in less powder slashes for you. The backcountry ski guides on this list are highly skilled and able to keep your ski trip moving smoothly.

safety

Safety should definitely be a top priority when going ski touring in British Columbia. These ski guides are highly trained and have developed a professional plan and operation that is designed to keep you safe.

innovative backcountry ski experiences

While the common day of ski touring in BC is usually departing from a resort base with your guide, or meeting at a trailhead, many of these backcountry ski companies in Canada have really unique and innovative experiences available to you. Perhaps try a 3 day adventure, staying in expedition tents in the backcountry, or take a quick heli ride to a remote and untracked tenure, or stay in a cabin as a basecamp while you explore the ski zones in all directions. Most of the ski guides on this page offer a variety of custom day guiding as well as guided hut trips and ski touring traverses.

Backcountry ski and snowboard guiding companies in canada

Adrenaline Descents

golden, british columbia

Adrenaline Descents is a backcountry ski company based in Golden, British Columbia. They have some of the best ski guides in Golden and know the Kicking Horse sidecountry ski touring routes like the back of their hands.

They can also do custom guiding on hut trips in BC and can guide you through Rogers Pass and the Canadian Rockies.

Adrenaline Descents truly unique backcountry ski experience is their multiday ski guiding, whichis based in a remote expedition camp in the mountains near Golden. Take a sled up into a remote valley and do 2-3 days of guided skiing while staying in warm tents, staying cozy by the wood stove. This is such a great way to get away from the bustle and immerse yourself in a backcountry skiing experience.

Flow Guiding Service

golden, british columbia

Flow Guiding Service, based in Golden BC are true local experts at finding you those epic lines the Dogtooth Range are known for. You can hire Flow Guiding Service to take you out for a day adventure, or help you plan and go on a guided hut ski trip in BC as well.

Flow Guiding Service are not just backcountry ski guides, but also expert abckcountry skiing instructors. They offer a full range of AST courses to help you hone your own safety skills and knowledge in the backcountry.

revelstoke backcountry guides

revelstoke, british columbia

Revelstoke Backcountry Guides are the best backcountry ski company in Revelstoke, British Columbia. They have a range of offerings, each tailored to maximize your day and provide a top notch guided ski touring experience near Revelstoke Mountain Resort.

Hire Revelstoke Backcountry Guides for a day of ski touring in the Revelstoke Mountain Resort sidecountry, made easier with their exclusive early lift access to get you to the goods earlier.

You can also head out for a bigger day of ski touring and splitboarding in Rogers Pass with them, exploring some of the best backcountry ski routes in Canada’s ski touring capital!

If neither of those are epic enough, they offer a really badass day of heli -accessed ski touring in their own tenure near Revelstoke. This is the ultimate way to escape the masses, and well.. everyone for that matter, skiing far in the backcountry in a powdery untracked world.

high country ski guides

golden, british columbia

High Country Ski Guides are one of the top ski guiding companies based in Golden, British Columbia. While Ian, their lead guide, is not out guiding powder hungry skiers around, he is ensuring avalanche safety for the highways and mountain operations, so you can be assured, he knows what he is doing.

High Country Ski Guides offer guided day touring as well as a variety of hut based mutliday ski touring trips. Join them on a guided ski trip to Icefall Lodge or Golden Alpine Holidays, where you spend an amazing several days exploring the best backcountry powder stashes with some of Canada’s best ski guides.

capow

revelstoke, british columbia

Capow is pretty epic as far as backcountry ski and snowboard guiding companies in BC go. The most notable thing they do differently is bring a fun and relaxed tone to backcountry skiing in Canada.

Join them for some basecamp stays at Blanket Glacier Chalet, complete with guided ski touring and splitboarding each day and a sauna to get rowdy (or relax) in. Staying in the “Eh Frame” means you get to stay in the alpine and enjoy your time exploring the gems, rather than slogging each day to get up high.

They also offer a female ski touring week to help women get more into backcountry skiing. If you are planning on learning more about avalanche terrain and safe travel in the backcountry, their BL-AST course would be a great choice for you.

Mount Assiniboine Lodge

canmore, alberta

Ski touring from Mount Assiniboine Lodge is definitely worthy of being on every backcountry skiers bucketlist. The views are unmistakable; Mt Assiniboine is like the Matterhorn of the Canadian Rockies, and the ski terrain is extensive.

To experience ski touring at Mount Assiniboine Lodge you can take a helicopter from Canmore to get bumped to the lodge location in Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park. Get settled into their rustic, yet elegant lodge, enjoying some fine cuisine and all the luxuries of a backcountry ski lodge.

The Mt Assiniboine Lodge ski guides are experts and know the area like the back of their hand. You can join them for guided ski touring in the area, or opt to explore on your own. Ambitious skiers could even tour to the lodge or back out. Just make sure you know what you are getting yourself into!

canadian adventure company

valemont, british columbia

Canadian Adventure Company is based in the Canadian Rockies at Mallard Mountain Lodge. Their lodge is right smack in the middle of nowhere, so this is a great place to socially distance yourself, and be sure to not find any crowds or tracked out snow.

Mallard Mountain Lodge is accessed by helicopter from Valemont, BC. The snow is cold, fluffy Rockies snow, and lots of it. The terrain is a perfect mix of rolling alpine terrain and intense, steep mountains.

You can customize your trip, creating a fully catered package, or a self-catered package to suit your desires. You can also join their expert Canadian ski guides, or venture out on your own self-guided ski touring days.

kootenay backcountry guides

nelson, british columbia

The powder skiing around Nelson is epic and so is the ski touring! Make sure you get the most of it by joining Kootenay Backcountry Guides for a fully guided day ski touring near Nelson.

Kootenay Backcountry Guides is one of the best Canadian ski guide companies in BC, providing a superior level of safety and professionalism.

Join them for a group date in the Whitewater Ski Resort sidecountry, or head up to Kootenay Pass for the endless terrain up there.

You can also hire their ski guides for a custom day built around you and your group. They also offer some really great AST courses in Nelson, helping skiers and snowboarders educate themselves on avalanche safety.

The banner photo on this page is from Kootenay Backcountry Guides

Summit mountain guides

nelson, british columbia

Summit Mountain Guides are experts at all things mountain travel. They are an excellent guiding company for a variety of experiences and locations.

With Summit Mountain Guides you can explore Lake Louise area, Rogers Pass, Nelson area and even access some heli-assited ski touring with them. They also help plan and guide hut trips all over BC.

Altus Mountain Guides

squamish, British Columbia

Altus Mountain Guides are a top notch guiding company in Squamish, British Columbia. They specialize in rock and snow. They teach AST courses, intro to backcountry courses, offer custom guided ski touring days, guided ski traverses and hut trips, and are the guides behind Phantom Heli, a new heli ski operation based in the coast mountains.

Yamnuska Mountain Adventures

canmore, alberta

Yamnuska Mountain Adventures are based in Canmore, Alberta and are local guiding experts in the Canadian Rockies.

They have two focuses: one on guiding and one on instructing.

Hire Yamnuska Mountain Adventures for a custom day of guided skiing and snowboarding in the backcountry of the Canadian Rockies, or the sidecountry of Lake Louise ski resort.

They also host a backcountry ski touring camp in Rogers Pass, using Revelstoke as a basecamp each year.

Mountain addicts

fernie, british columbia

Mountain Addicts are a ski guiding company based in Fernie, British Columbia. They offer some of the best guided backcountry skiing in the area with their team of expert ski guides.

They offer several intro to ski touring and splitboarding courses, as well as a course specially offered for women.

They also offer AST courses to help you learn about avalanche safety in the mountains.

You can also hire them for a custom day of guided ski touring in Fernie.

skookum backcountry adventures

Whitehorse, yukon

Skookum Backcountry Adventures are based in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. That’s right…. Way up north, where no one thnks to go ski touring in Canada.

They offer some base camp style, mutliday ski touring expeditions, which area really amazing. With abundant powder, literally zero tracks and towering mountains you probably didn’t even know existed, this place is sure to surprise you!

Skookum Backcountry Adventures are one of the best backcountry ski guiding companies in Canada and should definitely be on your bucketlist.

about the author

Alex Ross- Lead Guide/ Founder

Let’s just say Alex didn’t want to work a real job when he grew up. He had his heart set on avoiding any kind of accounting, human resources, compliance, marketing and business administration, in order to be free for his dream job as a ski guide. Now he guides people on skis, but mostly does accounting, human resources, compliance, marketing and business administration work!

Three Amazing Day Hikes Near Banff

Three Amazing Day Hikes Near Banff

Planning a hiking vacation in Banff? Lucky you! Time to start researching the best hikes around Banff and well… doing squats. With tons of options for all levels of hikers, it can be hard to pick out the hikes that you would like to do so hopefully this article will help you find the best hikes around Banff and Lake Louise.

Selection Criteria

Naturally it can be hard to pick out a hike for a variety of different hikers. Some like a big slog, some like a relaxing walk etc, so in this article we are assuming that you are a fairly avid hiker and would like to hike for 3-6 hours, getting up fairly high and enjoying some amazing views. The hikes below are what we believe are some of the best hikes near Banff for you.

The Hikes

Plain of Six Glaciers- Big Beehive- Lake Agnes Loop

The Canadian Rockies were pioneered by the railway almost 150 years ago, shortly before the formation of Banff National Park. During the early beginnings of Banff and Lake Louise the Canadian Pacific was looking for ways to convince visitors to come and see the Rockies from all around the Commonwealth. They hired Swiss Mountaineers to explore the peaks around Lake Louise, making mountaineering popular in Canada. Tourism grew, and with all the fudge shops it’s hard to remember that the Rockies are first and foremost famous for the stunning mountains that surround them.

This is easy to remember on the amazing day hike in Lake Louise. You hike roughly 5 km past the shores of Lake Louise, and up roughly 500 meters to the Plain of Six Glaciers tea house. This is a historic stop, dating back to the turn of the last century, and with epic views of Victoria Glacier and into Abbot Pass. After a victory tea at the tea house and on the way back down you can head on the connector trail to get up high on Big Beehive with incredible views of Lake Louise and beyond to get to Lake Agnes and the other tea house on the shores of the alpine lake.

With stunning views of Lake Louise, glaciers, dramatic mountains and plenty of photo stops this is surely one of the best hikes near Banff.

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Cascade Mountain- Summit Route

One of the most amazing sights from downtown Banff is the peak of Cascade Mountain towering above the town. This is such an amazing sight that the streets are actually oriented so Cascade Mountain can be seen from anywhere on Banff Avenue.

Without question, one of the best hikes near Banff is the trail to the summit of Cascade Mountain. This Banff day hike is not for the faint of heart though, so be warned. The return length is roughly 18 km with an elevation gain of 1450 meters.

The trail winds through subalpine forest before breaking onto the ridge and into the open alpine. The alpine section is absolutely epic, climbing over loose rocks and around ledges and ridges until you reach the peak. Once you are there you are rewarded with views like you’ve never seen before. This is definitely one of the best hikes in the Rockies.

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Eiffel Lake

Back to Lake Louise area for another one of the best hikes near Banff. This time though, you head up to Moraine Lake and start your hike from there. Eiffel Lake is an incredible hike in the Lake Louise area, with stunning alpine views, wildflowers and one of the most beautiful alpine lakes in the Rockies.

The trail is roughly 14 km return with 400 meters of elevation gain. You climb through a switchbacking section of spruce forest and then break through the trees into the open, where the views start.

From here hike straight up the valley until you reach Eiffel Lake, enjoying incredible views of the Ten Peaks to your left. The lake viewpoint is the perfect place to have a picnic with a few sneaky marmots prowling around nearby. Come and see for yourself why this is one of the best hikes in Banff National Park!

If wildlife viewing is your thing, you can read up on where to find wildlife in the Rockies here!

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Don’t miss out… do all three hikes!

You can join one of our Rockies guided hiking tours and do all three of these plus several more hikes that are too secret to include in this post. Our torus are the perfect way to experience the best of the Rockies without having to do all the research yourself, and you get to hang out with 11 other amazing guests from around the world.

The Best Ziplines In British Columbia

The Best Ziplines In British Columbia

We love adventure and nothing screams adventure more than throwing yourself off a towering platform and hurtling through the fresh mountain air. British Columbia is an amazing place and is blessed with so many ziplines that it can be hard to make sure you find the best one for your vacation. That is why we compiled this list of what we believe are the best ziplines in British Columbia, listed in no particular order.

Photo: Kokanee Mountain Ziplines.

Kokanee Mountain Zipline

We love this Zipline in British Columbia for several reasons. Sure, there are the six ziplines weaving their way through ancient forest groves, but Kokanee Mountain Zipline also just has that wow factor- fresh air, big trees, and mountains all around. Enjoy the view on the longest zipline which is over 700 meters in length. Local tip: come on out in the summer and pair this with a visit to Ainsworth Hot Springs!

Treetop Flyers

The perfect addition to your Okanagan vacation, come on out to Treetop Flyers, which is one of our favourite ziplines in British Columbia. They rock because of their canyon ziplines and a giant “jump swing” that is sure to get your heart pounding. You can really feel the passion coming through from the owners here. Add it to your trip and see for yourself!

West Coast Wild

Just like everything on Vancouver Island, this zipline adventure is an incredible experience. Wind your way across a dramatic canyon and look down into the crystal clear water far below. The guys at WC Wild have created a truly amazing course and you can pair your time here with a scenic floatplane ride or a river paddle. Local tip: come in September and you might see salmon spawning in the river below!

Sky Trek Adventure Park

Nestled just down the road from Revelstoke and conveniently beside the Enchanted Forest, this is a really amazing adventure park that is very family friendly. With climbs, drops, swing and zips, you can really do it all here. Add this stop on your way to Revelstoke!

Adrena-LINE Zipline Adventures

100 acres of coastal rainforest are the setting for your zipline adventure as you get up close and personal with the ancient forest canopy. This place really packs it in with 8 ziplines, a Unimog ride and 2 suspension bridges as part of the package. Add this to your visit to Victoria, since they can pick you up from downtown (not in the Unimog, that would be way too cool).

Superfly Zipllines

Explore Whistler’s backcountry like never before. Soar through the alpine up to 200 meters above the ground, approaching speeds of 100 km per hour. (Take that eagles). You can also soar side by side with their dual lines. Oh and some of their zip lines are up to 1.3 km long. Definitely one of the best ziplines in British Columbia. Check it out!

Oyama Zipline

Super fun ziplines in the Okanagan Valley. Check out Oyama Ziplines and cruise through their seven station course. This zipline is right outside both Kelowna and Vernon, and boast incredible views of Kalmalka Lake (one of the most beautiful lakes in the world according to National Geographic). Local tip: Pair this with a wine tasting (or five) with all the nearby wineries.

Mineral Mountain Ziplines

Planning a visit to Fairmont Hot Springs? Well make sure you don’t miss out on the thrilling ride offered by Mineral Mountain Ziplines. The 6 ziplines are sure to treat you to a good time, and to top it off, the mountains around Fairmont Hot Springs are some of the most beautiful around. (And to top all that off, you can pair this with a soak in their thermal pools). Enjoy!

Well, those are the ziplines in British Columbia that we think you should check out. Let us know if you are planning a trip out here and we can point you in the right direction. Don’t forget to tag #freshadventurescanada with your favourite photos from your adventure. Bon voyage!

Why Guided Ski Tours Are The Way Forward

Life is too short for bad ski vacations!

Think about your last ski vacation…. wass it truly epic? Memories to last a lifetime? Did you push past your limits? Escape the crowds and find a secret stash of your own?

We hope that it was all that and more, but more and more people are reporting that they were mildly enthused on their last ski trip.

So what is different about a guided ski trip?

Everyone has something they are really good at. Some of you can find accounting errors deep in the books, some can whip up an incredible meal, and some can sniff out the best powder stashes on a mountain while evading the snow-hungry crowds.

Unless the latter is you, why put yourself in charge of delighting your inner kid on your next ski trip. Instead, imagine joining a guided ski tour and spending a week skiing with someone who does it for a living, lives and breathes it, and spends every waking moment on the mountain.

Going on a ski trip with local guides means that you can skip the few days of exploration and missing the perfect run by just a few feet, and jump straight into the goods. Remember that amazing little stash you found on the last day of that trip? Imagine if every run was like that. Bam! Bam! Bam! One incredible run after another, curated and delivered on a silver platter by your goggle-tanned guide.

The Hidden Perks of Skiing With A Guide

So what else is better about being on a guided ski/ snowboard tour? Well for one, let’s admit… driving in winter can be horrible, and driving on the wrong side of the road, in a foreign place, on glare ice, while fumbling with a map is even worse. What’s more fun? Settling back and enjoying the views, while a local handles the driving for you.

What’s worse than driving in winter? Blowing right by a secret set of hot springs that you didn’t know were there, and having cold feet when you could be soaking in that healing water! One of the most overlooked benefits to joining a guided ski tour is that your guide is equipped with a legendary arsenal of local gems that took years to explore and find. During our guided ski trips we stop at several amazing natural hot springs along the way, including a set that are tunneled into a cave inside a mountainside.

On top of all that, when you join a guided ski tour, we plan the finer details for you, so you can dine at all the best hand picked restaurants that deliver time and time again, plus stop at local craft breweries, distilleries, and get hooked up with the best shop to go to in each town!

So next time you are planning a ski vacation- why not try a guided ski trip? Give us a shout to learn more about our ski tours on the Powder Highway.

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About The Author

Alex Ross- Founder and Lead Guide

Alex was born in Ontario with his head turned west, yearning for the mountains of British Columbia. As soon as he graduated university he scampered to BC for a life of adventure. 10 years later, he’s lucky enough to be writing wildly mediocre blog posts on why you should be skiing with him and his team of professional ski bums.

A New Kind Of Canada Ski Vacation

Are Canada Ski Tours Right For You?

Imagine arriving in the heart of the legendary Canadian mountains, strapping your skis on and instantly skiing the same incredible powder stashes that the locals has been searching for year after year. 

This used to be a difficult feat, made possible only with an over-insured car rental, driving through blizzards and slushy mountain passes, with most of your beer budget going to tight-lipped locals in exchange for tips on secret local favorites. 

Cheer up shredder- with a new and revolutionary way to enjoy ski vacations in Canada your chances at hitting the good stuff just got better.  Introducing Canada ski tours, by Fresh Adventures. 

Put the mega-resort brochure down and join us for a British Columbia ski tour, visiting 4 totally off-the beaten path resorts over the course of an 11 day ski trip.  With 8 days of guided skiing in BC, 3 excursions to secluded hot springs and daily doses of vibrant apres ski these Canada ski tours are sure to be the ski vacation of a lifetime. 

No longer do you need to spend your entire Canada ski vacation at a single resort.  Instead your guided ski tour will allow you to experience several resorts in one go, with no lift lines, Canada's best powder and some of the best intermediate and advanced ski terrain on the planet.  Check out some Canada ski tours and guided ski vacations now.

Summer BC Adventure Tours

The peak of summer is upon us and what will you be doing this summer?  What BC adventure tour will help you create memories to last a lifetime?  With so many adventures available and so many tour operators, it can be hard to wade through all the options and hone in on the best options.  Worry not, we have chosen a few of our favourite adventure tours and listed them below.

Rafting the Fraser River

Rafting the Fraser River is an absolute must do tour for any self respecting river enthusiast.  This adventure tour starts in Lytton, BC which is about 3 hours east of Vancouver on the Trans-Canada Highway.  The Fraser River is the largest commercially rafted river in the world, meaning that this is the home of big water thrills, and white knuckled chaperones.  Wind through river gorges hundreds, if not thousands of feet deep, gazing up at sheer rock walls as high as you can see.  By the time this rafting tour starts each season, the water is well below peak flow, which means you can see the unbelievable effect the water has had on the age old rock formations that line the river. 

Hang on tight for Hell's Gate, a rip roaring bottle-neck-of-a-good-time where several hundred thousand cubic feet of water rush through a narrow spot in the river each second.  Whirl Pool Eddy will have you respecting water and swearing never to raft again, while your massive raft gets sucked down a whirl pool bigger than the raft with your grinning guide goading the river on in the back.  If you have any adrenaline left say goodbye to it during the massive wave train of Sailor's Bar, near the end of your adventure tour. 

This tour is an ideal full day adventure, with epic whitewater that is outmatched only by the jaw dropping scenery along the ride.  Most of the ride is quite relaxing, despite the sections of thrilling whitewater.  We recommend going with Kumsheen Rafting Resort, based 6 km east of Lytton.  Tip:  camp here in a Teepee the night before for the full West Coast experience. 

Guided Hiking Adventure in Vancouver

Nothing beats a visit to the bustling metropolis of Vancouver like a guided hiking tour high above the throngs of shoppers and traffic.  Escape to a world of peace and quite, into the wild, tranquility of the alpine landscapes that surround Vancouver. 

Start your adventure tour downtown, with a pickup at Canada Place, where you are whisked away into Stanley Park to check out totem poles that help make the West Coast so unique.  Escape to a quite, incredibly scenic world where your 4-5 hour guided hike begins.  You'll hike roughly 2 hours with your guide to the Summit of Mt Seymour, being rewarded with epic views with every hump you come over.  A healthy, locally sourced picnic lunch goes down easily in the fresh air, with an energetic performance being put on by the undeniably adorable resident chipmunks. 

Once your properly stuffed with local delicacies, head down to Lynn Canyon, crossing the knock-knee-inducing suspension bridge to a pristine and lush rain forest.  Here you will learn some of the local flora, including some tips on foraging in this bountiful ecosystem.  Finish off your tour with a trip across the Lion's Gate Bridge, enjoying picture perfect views of Vancouver's cityscape.  This tour is appropriate for beginner and expert hikers alike, catering to any reasonably active person.  We highly recommend going with Fresh Adventures for their professional service which takes the planning out of your hike and includes a luxury picnic lunch and transportation.   

You can read more about hiking near Vancouver here.

Off The Beaten Path In Vancouver

You didn't fly half way around the world to stand in a long line waiting for some trumped up tourist trap right?  Then let's get you off the beaten path and find some fun things to do in Vancouver. 

Hike The Chief Mountain In Squamish

This classic Vancouver hike gets you a bird's eye view of Howe Sound, as well as some incredible surrounding glaciers.  Challenge yourself on this grueling, yet rewarding climb from just above sea level to just over 2000 feet.  Some well placed chains and ladders put a little mountaineering feel to this beginner friendly Vancouver hike, plus you'll go home with some pretty hardcore looking photos. 

Make this trip worry free by going with a guide, to handle everything from transportation to lunch to telling you funny stories and teaching you foraging skills along the way.  We recommend the Sea to Sky Hiking Adventure With Lunch from Fresh Adventures.