Best Places to Backcountry Ski in Canada

Experience world-class backcountry skiing with our ACMG and IFMGA certified guides. From powder laps to multi-day hut-to-hut traverses, we lead you through the legendary ranges of the Rockies, Selkirks, Monashees, and Coast Mountains for an unforgettable mountain adventure.

At Sawback Alpine, we have spent decades skiing and guiding in Canada’s premier backcountry zones. Over the years, we have introduced hundreds of guests to the beautiful and dramatic mountains we are fortunate to call our backyard. Read on to discover some of our favourite places to ski.

Wapta Icefield

Both the Bow to Yoho Traverse (aka Bow Yoho) or the original and famous Wapta Traverse are variations crossing the Wapta Icefield, the must-do traverse in the Canadian Rockies.

Sawback takes care of the logistics, so you can focus on skiing. Porters transport food into the huts, keeping packs light and making for smooth, enjoyable days on the glacier. Our days are spent traveling through expansive terrain and skiing March powder, while evenings are enjoyed in the comfort of three cozy Alpine Club huts along this classic high-level traverse.

Sawback offers two different trips, with multiple dates available, allowing you to ski the Wapta Icefield by completing one or both of these iconic Canadian glacier traverses. Learn more about the Bow Yoho and Wapta traverses to find the trip that suits you best.

Burnie Glacier Chalet

Located in the Howson Range, a short helicopter flight from Smithers, BC brings you to the Burnie Glacier Chalet. The chalet is a simple yet beautiful timber-frame building perched just above 1,000 m in a U-shaped alpine bowl, surrounded by 2,500- to 2,700-metre glaciated peaks. Burnie offers some of the most spectacular terrain of any of Canada’s premier ski lodges, with a deep, reliable snowpack and exceptional runs of the highest quality. John Baldwin, author of Exploring the Coast Mountains on Skis, describes Burnie as “a deluxe backcountry ski lodge offering unparalleled ski mountaineering in the spectacular Howson Range.”

This past year, longtime owner Christoph Dietzfelbinger passed ownership of Burnie to Tom Wolfe, founder of Sawback Alpine Adventures, and his wife, Deb Lantz. Tom and Deb are excited to welcome guests on guided ski trips at Burnie Glacier Chalet now booking for 2027, with a few last-minute openings still available for Spring 2026.

Freshfields

Located near Golden, BC, The Freshfield mountains offer some of the best ski terrain on the planet. Perched along the divide of the Canadian Rockies, the area is renowned for spring ski mountaineering, featuring vast broken glaciers and countless stunning summits. April is an ideal time to visit, with a deep snowpack, longer days, and excellent powder conditions. With Sawback you fly deep into the Freshfield Mountains and explore this spectacular, remote region from the comfort of a basecamp. Like much of British Columbia’s backcountry, access to this terrain is extremely limited without a helicopter, making this style of trip a rare opportunity to explore remote, seldom visited corners of the province.

Limited spaces remain for this spring’s Freshfield Ski Camp, April 11–17, 2026. Reach out today for more details and secure your place in this unforgettable ski experience.

Planning Your Backcountry Ski Trip to Canada

If you’d rather spend your time skiing than planning the perfect itinerary in the Canadian mountains, let Sawback handle the details. With years of experience crafting small-group backcountry trips led by expert Canadian guides, our team has spent decades exploring and skiing these landscapes. We design itineraries that showcase the best terrain, huts, and snow conditions, creating truly exceptional Canadian ski adventures.

Discover our Canadian Backcountry Ski Trips!

Save the dates for Summer at the Burnie Glacier Chalet

We are opening up new and exciting programming at Burnie this summer. Join us for hiking, climbing, glacial lake dipping, canoeing and general mountain rambling!

We are also offering more specific programming with instruction or facilitation including Plein Air courses, Burnie-fest (Art, Music, and Creative Pursuits), Backcountry Sourdough breadmaking, Forest Bathing, and Women's specific courses.

A follow up newsletter is on it's way with more details but in the meantime please check out the evolving summer webpage and reach out to info@sawback.com if you have questions.