Photo of Backcountry Skiing Routes in British Columbia

The Best Backcountry Skiing Routes in British Columbia

Explore Backcountry Skiing Routes

Top 115 backcountry skiing routes in British Columbia

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1

Smithers' Perimeter Trail

9.53 km·
50 m
This is an easy loop suitable for all the family and all abilities. It encompasses the breath-taking town of Smithers and is an excellent way to explore the many community parks and designated green space in the region....
2

Crystal Mountain

4.14 km·
296 m
Sitting just above West Kelowna, Crystal Mountain was once a popular ski resort but is now abandoned, and is only maintained because of the hard work and enthusiasm of some dedicated locals....
3

Huckleberry Hut Approach

8.13 km·
757 m
Tucked into the forests beneath Cabin Peak, on the edge of the Bonnington range, the Huckleberry Hut is a lovely place at which to spend a few days. There's some excellent ski terrain above and around the hut, so the skiing quality matches the ambience of the surrounding mountains....
4

Garibaldi Neve and The Barrier

36.67 km·
1,844 m
One of the most spectacular landscapes to be found just outside of Squamish BC. You travel through old growth forest and across massive glacial plateaus in Garibaldi Provincial Park. Often done over 2-3 days, it can easily be done in a single long day by a fit and experienced party....
5

Bonningtons Ski Traverse Day 1 - Bombi Summit to Grassy Hut

9.9 km·
761 m
There's no point pretending that this is the most scenic of ski touring days, but it's enjoyable enough and ends at a comfortable hut in a beautiful spot. The touring itself isn't hard at any stage and the route is a nice warmup for the days to come....
6

Cabin Peak Southwest Face

7.94 km·
644 m
This is a fun ski route, ideal for intermediate tourers or those seeking a safe option in poor conditions. Start the day by touring up the well-traveled ski/snowmobile track which winds up through forests to the col separating Midday and Cabin Peaks....
7

Midday Peak Northeast Face

8.11 km·
706 m
This is a brilliant and accessible ski face which is just begging to be lapped! Start the day by touring up the well-traveled ski/snowmobile track which winds up through forests to the col separating Midday and Cabin Peaks....
8

East Peak from Black Forest

5.4 km·
399 m
This is a wonderful ski tour which is close to Big White ski area but feels peaceful and remote. It begins from the foot of the Black Forest chairlift so it can easily be combined with a few rides on the Big White lifts, and you can also skin back into the ski area on the way down instead of retracing your ascent back to the parking lot....
9

Cayoosh - Wendy Thompson Traverse

18.57 km·
1,872 m
While both of these areas are frequent spots for "out and back" tours, it's less common to go for the point to point traverse. This route starts at the Cayoosh parking area and climbs up the standard route on the Armchair Glacier and up to the Cayoosh summit....
10

Rumble in the Trunks

0.76 km
A short but fun pitch of nicely spaced trees heading down towards the Symphony Express Chair. This is a good option if coming from Robertson's or Harvey's and heading towards Symphony although make sure the chair is open before you head down there as the walk out is long and boring! Heading off right wherever looks good and into the trees, then heading right again once you reach the cat-track which will take you to the bottom of Symphony Express....
11

Boot Chutes

0.48 km·
68 m
If you're looking for something a little more interesting than a steep groomer or a mogul field for your last 100 metres down to Harmony Chair, look no further than the Boot Chutes, which offers gladed skiing which starts open and slowly filters tighter towards the bottom (and left)....
12

G.S. Start

0.13 km
From the end of the Ridge Run traverse, keep skiers right past the fence line until you see the wide field of G.S. Start to open up on your right hand side....
13

The Grey Zone

1.16 km·
86 m
The Grey Zone is a large open zone in the alpine, accessible from a steep bootpack near Glacier Express. Once up the bootpack, known as 'The Chimney' there are 3 or 4 routes down including a couple of chutes and an open meadow....
14

Palooka

0.46 km
The best gladed route from where Burnt Stew Trail starts heading back towards Harmony. Just ski anything from the lift line to the left with some fun nicely spaced glades. Beware of the creek in early and late season....
15

Easy Route

1.25 km
On the trail map, Flute Bowl is marked as having intermediate, advanced and expert terrain. The easiest route (marked as a blue) requires little to no hiking and therefore is the perfect way to start to get a feel for the area before moving to more advanced and expert terrain....
16

Whistler Bowl Entrance

0.31 km
There are many ways to access the famous wide-open terrain of Whistler Bowl, many of which are lines that feature intimidating and sketchy entrances. The main entrance to Whistler Bowl is the most friendly and also the widest....
17

Ronayne North Couloir

4.79 km·
869 m
The north side of Ronayne is accessed via the Tenas Creek Logging Road. Good timing is required to drive to the top of the road in early season when it hasn't become too snow covered but the ski line has enough snow to be skiable....
18

Bonningtons Ski Traverse Day 2 - Grassy Hut to Steed Hut

9.47 km·
878 m
With ridges, bowls and some epic tree skiing, this is a day that has a bit of everything. It starts at the newly renovated Grassy Hut and ends at the notoriously hard-to-find Steed Hut in a remote bowl....
19

Bonningtons Ski Traverse Day 3 - Steed Hut to Copper Hut

8.15 km·
742 m
For most skiers this will be the last full day on the Bonnington traverse and it's a wonderfully wild journey through some gorgeous forests. The first job is to descend/traverse into the bowl which houses Rush Creek....
20

Bonningtons Ski Traverse Day 4 - Copper Hut to Porto Rico

16.98 km·
524 m
There's no doubt that this is the hardest and best day on the traverse of the Bonnington range. The ski descent at the end of the day is excellent, but this route is really all about the undulating ridge which leads from Copper Mountain to Empire Peak....
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