Skiing and Snowboarding in Bella Coola

With snow falling and the white line descending toward the valley bottoms, the team at Bella Coola Heli Sports is stoked to welcome guests for another season of skiing big and deep in one of the world’s largest heliskiing tenures. What makes up the beautiful Bella Coola and Chilcotin environment that we operate in?

In just a short 70 minute flight from Vancouver the landscape changes drastically, opening up to towering mountain ranges, endless valleys and twisting rivers.

It is the apex of British Columbia’s Coast Mountains. Big and bold. It’s where the Klinaklini Glacier, one of the largest in North America, snakes from its icy source toward the rainforest valleys of Knight Inlet. Where giants like Mount Monarch pierce the sky and clear rivers such as the Atnarko team with wild salmon as they cut through deep mountain valleys.

Out here it’s possible to ski first descents in the morning, then be whisked away in the afternoon to a secluded natural hot spring for late afternoon champagne, appetizers and a soothing soak – where do we sign up?!

Terrain

Imagine a mountain-scape of endless ski terrain the size of the Swiss Alps, but without a single ski resort. The tenure measures a whopping 14,000 square km or 3.55 million acres – choose your metric. Either way, it’s a lot. And it has it all, from alpine bowls, steep faces, and couloirs; to natural half pipes, aesthetic spines, and dreamy glades of giant old-growth trees.

We’re incredibly fortunate to have an extraordinary and reliable bounty of snow at Bella Coola. Without getting too scientific, our vast terrain gets fresh powder snow with a consistency that helps it bond to the existing snowpack. The results? The most varied and compelling terrain for you to ski and ride on.

If you’re looking for more information on terrain, our Terrain Guide is a great place to start! Some of the epic terrain we offer includes alpine, huge bowls, steeps, couloirs, halfpipes, glades, glaciers and spine. Do we have you hooked yet?

Long runs? You bet. At more than 2000 vertical meters, our longest will leave your legs begging for mercy. Quantity? With 900 named runs and counting, our experienced guides are still pioneering first descents with guests. It’s a big reason, Bella Coola Heli Sports has been named the world’s number 1 heliskiing company at the World Ski Awards for the 4th straight year.

Lodging

Guests have the choice of five lodges allowing them to take full advantage of Bella Coola Heli Sports’ sprawling terrain. It all started at historic Tweedsmuir Park Lodge, the flagship base deep in the heart of the Nuxalk Nation’s Bella Coola Valley territory. Over the years, the company has added four additional properties, including Eagle Lodge, Pantheon Heli Ranch, Mystery Mountain Ranch, and Terra Nostra Guest Ranch. Each has their own flavour and character, and are perfect for smaller groups and custom private heliskiing charters. But all of them share a commitment to Coast Chilcotin hospitality and amazing skiing that sets Bella Coola Heli Sports apart for the crowd.

But there’s more, much more. After all, snow-covered mountains bounded by ocean inlets are full of possibilities. That’s why we’re offering luxury yacht-based heli-skiing aboard the 138-foot MV Cascadia. Every day brings fresh views and a new heliskiing adventure, and every night a new anchorage, where the brave can take a cold water ocean plunge before soaking beneath the stars in the top deck jacuzzi.

Adventure lives out here in the Coast Mountains.

“As far as skiing goes, it’s kind of the ultimate,” says BC-based pro skier Kye Petersen.

But don’t just take Kye’s word for it. Come experience the best heliskiing in the world for yourself.

Click here to learn more about how a trip to Bella Coola will blow your mind and to enquire about reservations.