Backcountry Ski Tours in the Canadian Rockies – Day Trips
Banff, Yoho, Jasper & Kootenay National Parks, Kananaskis Country
Discover the beauty of the Canadian Rockies in winter and enjoy backcountry skiing at its best. Surround yourself with majestic mountains, scenic glaciers, and grand vistas.
For first-time visitors to the Rockies, for people who are venturing into the backcountry for the first time, or for experienced backcountry skiers who want a break from the difficult decision-making that skiing in the Rockies demands, our one-day ski tours are perfect.
We offer backcountry ski tours in Banff, Jasper, Yoho, and Kootenay National Parks and in Kananaskis Country. No matter the weather or conditions, we have a special place to show you.
Wapta Ski Traverse
Canadian Rockies, Banff National Park
5-day hut-to-hut ski traverse along the glaciated divide of the Canadian Rockies in Banff National Park, north of Lake Louise
North America’s best hut-to-hut traverse, all above-treeline skiing, relatively easy summit ascents en route, reliable snow conditions until the end of May, relatively easy skiing terrain.
Required: good fitness, previous ski touring experience, the ability to carry an overnight pack with lightweight food and sleeping bag for five days (about 12-14kg) necessary.
Bow-Yoho Ski Traverse
Canadian Rockies, Banff & Yoho National Parks
6-day hut-to-hut ski traverse along the glaciated divide of the Canadian Rockies in Banff and Yoho National Parks, north of Lake Louise
One of North America’s best hut-to-hut ski traverses, all above-treeline skiing, relatively easy summit ascents en route, reliable snow conditions until the end of May, relatively easy skiing terrain.
Required: good fitness, previous ski touring experience, the ability to carry an overnight pack with lightweight food and sleeping bag for six days (about 12-16 kg).
Sorcerer Lodge Ski Touring
Selkirk Ranges close to Rogers Pass, British Columbia, Canada
Backcountry ski touring week in a remote lodge in the Selkirks with helicopter access
Remote touring area adjacent to Rogers Pass with notoriously big snow pack. Spacious lodge with rooms with 2 to 4 beds and rustic sauna. Quick access to diverse ski touring terrain which offers everything from big glaciers, steep trees, mellow trees and most importantly lots of northern aspect runs, which preserve good powder well into May.
Suitable for intermediate to expert skiers with previous ski touring experience.
Talus Lodge Ski Touring
Rockies Continental Divide close to Canmore, Alberta, Canada
Backcountry ski touring week in a remote lodge in the Canadian Rockies with helicopter access or optional approach on skis.
3 and 4 night ski touring packages in a snowy, remote and super scenic location south of Mount Assiniboine. Double rooms, sauna, excellent food and only a short helicopter flight away from Banff or Canmore, AB (1.5 hrs from Calagary International Airport). All types of terrain available from alpine over mellow tree line bowls to steep tree runs and chutes.
Suitable for intermediate to expert skiers with previous ski touring experience.
Fairy Meadows Ski Touring
Selkirk Ranges, British Columbia, Canada
Ski touring week in one of Canada’s premier backcountry skiing lodges in the Selkirks with helicopter access west of Golden, BC
Reliably big snowpack, big glaciers, long runs (to 1,200 m = 4,000 ft) almost exclusively above tree line, great peak ascents. The Fairy Meadows hut has been recently renovated, featuring one spacious dorm for all 20 visitors.
Suitable for intermediate to expert skiers with previous ski touring experience.
Kokanee Glacier Cabin Ski Trips
Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park, Selkirk Ranges close to Nelson, BC, Canada
Ski touring week with helicopter access at Kokanee Glacier Lodge northwest of Nelson, BC
Diverse terrain offering alpine bowls, some tree skiing and excellent northern aspect glaciated skiing, which make Kokanee Glacier Cabin an excellent base for ski touring from December well into May. Modern and spacious post-and-beam lodge offering dorm sleeping for 20 people. Internet access available.
Terrain also suitable for all levels!
Please note that, unlike most our other trips, we do not operate regularly scheduled departures at the Kokanee Glacier Cabin. Rather we commonly refer interested parties to fellow ACMG Guides or guided skiing groups, who may have spots available on their trips.
Wilderness Ski Traverses
Bugaboos to Rogers Pass, Selkirks, Monashees and Rockies Ski Traverses / Canada
Backcountry Ski Traverses through the remote wilderness of the Canadian Rockies, the Selkirks or the Monashee Ranges.
Bugaboos to Rogers Pass, Rogers Pass to Mica Creek, Southern Monashees Traverse and many more. These ultimate winter backcountry ski touring adventures are suitable for hearty skiers with extensive ski touring experience, who do not mind carrying a large backpack and winter camping. Some itineraries require helicopter access.
Heli-Assisted Ski Touring
Selkirks, Monashees & Caribous, BC, Canada
Helicopter – assisted ski touring week based at remote luxury lodges in the Selkirks, Monashees and Carribou ranges of British Columbia.
Muscle driven powder-skiing with a daily helicopter boost or two in the best skiing terrain the Canadian West has to offer. Suitable for those who like to ski down more than they walked up and appreciate the amenities of a remote, luxury heli-skiing lodge at a reasonable price. Also suitable for fit ski touring novices. Transport available from and to Calgary AB or Kelowna BC.
Rogers Pass
Canadian Rockies, Rogers Pass, BC
Ski touring courses and guided day trips at Rogers Pass in B.C.’s Glacier National Park
33 ft of average annual snowfall, all trail heads conveniently reachable by car from either Revelstoke BC or Golden BC within 30 to 45 min drive or hut lodging one of two backcountry huts, diverse terrain that offers anything from steep trees to extensive glaciers with runs to 2,000 m (= 7,000 ft). Arguably the best place in North America for day ski touring!
Avalanche Courses: AST 1
Canmore, Banff, Golden or Rogers Pass / Canada
2 Day Avalanche Safety Courses (AST 1) following the Avalanche Canada Curriculum
Courses based in Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise, Golden, Revelstoke or other locations for custom dates. Expert instructors with extensive avalanche forecasting background.
Avalanche Courses: AST 2
Canmore, Banff, Golden or Rogers Pass / Canada
4 Day Avalanche Safety Training (AST 2) following the “Avalanche Canada” Curriculum
Courses based in Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise, Golden, Revelstoke or other locations for custom dates. Expert instructors with extensive avalanche forecasting background.
Haute Route Ski Traverse
Alps: France & Switzerland
The Alps’ most classic ski mountaineering traverse, hut to hut from Chamonix to Zermatt in 6 days.
Impressive scenery with big glaciers and nice, but simple huts that offer full meals and dorm sleeping. “Regular” and more difficult “classic” itinerary offered. Very good fitness and previous ski touring experience required, for the classic itinerary also previous mountaineering experience (use of crampons) usef
Silvretta Ski Traverse
Alps: Austria & Switzerland
One of Austria’s best hut-to-hut ski traverses.
This 6-day traverse along the border of Austria and Switzerland is a great choice for a first hut-to-hut ski trip. The huts are amongst the best in the Alps, the views are spectacular, there are several relatively easy ski mountaineering ascents on peaks over 3,000 m / 10,000 ft, the skiing is never extreme, and the days are not too long (although they can be extended with more turns and/or summits).
Ortler Ski Traverse
Southern Alps / Italy (Sud Tirol and Lombardia)
6 day ski tour connecting 3 huts on the glaciers of the Ortler Alps of Italy
Impressive scenery with large glaciated peaks, spacious huts with showers, excellent food and Italian hospitality, good ski runs! Previous ski touring experience required but spending two nights in two of the huts adds more flexibility than other ski traverses
Northern Dolomites Ski Traverse
Dolomites / Italy
Seven-day ski traverse amongst spectacular dolomitic rock towers and peaks.
Long, sometimes steep descents, light packs, comfortable lodging, excellent Italian food, coffee, and wine. Most days start with a chairlift ride to get into the alpine. Luggage transfers possible between lodges and guesthouses. Pure luxury with great skiing and breathtaking scenery!
Oetztaler Alps Ski Traverse
Tirolian Alps / Austria
6 days hut to hut on the glaciers of the Oetztaler Alps in Austria
Luxurious mountain huts with showers and smaller rooms, great skiing terrain, classic peak ascent en route including the Wildspitze (3,700m = 12,150 ft), Austria’s second highest. Good endurance and previous ski touring experience required.
European Ski Custom Trips
Alps, Italy, Austria.
Alps, Italy, Austria customized private guided trips. Hut or Hotel based – you decide! Anytime and any duration.
Hokkaido, Japan: Backcountry Powder Skiing and Ski Touring
Hokkaido, Japan
12 days backcountry ski touring at Japan’s famous powder skiing destination.
With an average 15 metres (50 feet) of light and fluffy snowfall each winter, Hokkaido is a powder skiers’ dream. Ski runs of up to 1,200 vertical metres (4,000 feet), often through perfectly spaced white birch trees, will put a smile on your face at the time and for years to come when the memory surfaces. On a blue-sky day, we can summit a steaming volcano. As often as we like, we can enjoy relaxing natural hot springs. The friendly Japanese culture and great food is the feather in the cap. You haven’t skied powder until you’ve skied on Hokkaido!
Spitsbergen / Svalbard Ski and Sail
Svalbard / Spitsbergen, Arctic Sea, Norway
8 or 11 days ski touring expedition based from a comfortable sail yacht in the remote island of Spitsbergen in the Svalbard Islands in the Arctic Ocean. Spectacular glaciated terrain, amazing wildlife and skiing in the mid-night sun make this an adventure of a life-time.