Top Weekend Ski Touring Destinations in BC

While a heli-ski trip may be the ultimate powder experience, self-propelled ski touring does have its merits. Namely, it costs relatively little and you can do it every weekend. British Columbia is home to some of the best ski touring in the world and a lot of it comes with the bonus of easy access. There are too many great spots to list here, so we’ll be keeping to the classic zones near a select group of ski towns. Here are the Top Weekend Ski Touring Destinations in BC.

Whistler

Whistler Blackcomb may be North America’s number one ski resort again this year, but its backcountry deserves an equal accolade. The Spearhead and Fitzsimmons ranges – extending out Blackcomb and Whistler mountains respectively – have terrain suitable for every level of backcountry skier. It’s popular too, with weekend mornings seeing sometimes hundreds of people passing through the boundary gate on the Blackcomb Glacier. The fabled Spearhead Traverse that links the two mountains also has an incoming set of three huts which will help bring it on par with the Wapta Traverse in the Canadian Rockies and even the Haute Route in the European Alps.

Revelstoke

There are some great side-country lines accessible from Revelstoke Mountain Resort, but for the Real McCoy you’l l want to drive about 19km from town towards the Mt MacPherson cross country ski area to Begbie. This is a popular spot for Revelstoke locals and visitors, so parking can be a little hectic on the weekend. Plenty of  great tree skiing to be had on the stormy days with an alpine ridgeline reaching to around 2000m if the sun is out and snow is sufficiently stable. A bit closer to Revelstoke is Fingers, which has an easy exit, returning through MacPherson cross country ski area.

The Big Daddy of BC ski touring is Rogers Pass between Revelstoke and Golden. However this area is one of the most avalanche-prone mountain zones in Canada. Make sure you’re up to date on the snowpack conditions.

Smithers

Northern BC has more than its share of accessible  backcountry for ski touring. Closest to Smithers and most navigable is Hankin-Evelyn Recreation Area, a treeline zone complete with trail signs, cut runs and a warming hut in the sub-alpine. Once you travel above the hut the terrain becomes much more complex, so be sure to travel with caution when searching for the big lines.

Nelson

Whitewater Ski Resort is known for having some of the best snow in the West Kootenays and that applies to the adjacent backcountry, too. From the top of the Summit and Silver King chair lifts there are plenty of route options for intermediate to advanced skiers that run back into the resort boundary or onto the access road. There’s all kinds of weather options, too. Hit up the Ymir Peak if its clear or descend the deep trees of White Queen if its storming.

Of course there’s dozens more great weekend ski touring destinations in BC, but these four are a great starting point at various corners of the province. Get after it this season.