Bugaboos

This is where it all began. CMH launched heli-skiing from the Bugaboos in 1965, and the operation still runs beneath the famous granite spires that draw climbers and skiers from around the world. Guests travel from Calgary by coach and helicopter to a full-featured lodge north of Radium Hot Springs.

Widely regarded as CMH's most versatile base, the Bugaboos has a bit of everything. The lodge comes stacked with extras, from a rooftop hot tub to a climbing wall, and the skiing is built to welcome newcomers and seasoned veterans alike.

Guides pick each day's lines from more than 200 options across roughly 1,600 square kilometres, weighing snow, weather, and conditions. The mix leans toward trees at about 60 percent, with the balance in sweeping alpine bowls and glaciers below the iconic spires.

That range is exactly what makes the Bugaboos so approachable. First-timers can ease in through the Powder Intro program while advanced skiers push into steeper alpine, which makes it a natural choice for mixed-ability groups.