Interactive Map

Ski Touring

Guests at Mistaya Lodge have guided skiing included in their vacation package. Each day, our ski guides and guests discuss terrain, snow characteristics, weather forecasts, and the group members’ interests and abilities. These discussions provide the basis for planning a fun, safe ski touring day that suits the weather, the snow conditions, and the guests.

It is common to climb 4 different summits during a week’s stay, and your daily vertical will depend on that day’s terrain. On average, daily verticals range between approximately 3,000 to 5,000 feet.

With one or two certified ski guides and an experienced apprentice skiing, every day we can accommodate differences in skiing abilities and individual interests within a group, depending on group numbers. We can also offer clinics in ski touring, powder skiing techniques, snow science, glacier travel, geology or other topics of interest when requested.

Avalanche transceiver instruction and practice is provided for all guests before we hit the slopes on the first day!

Wildcat Basin Terrain

Mistaya Lodge, sitting at 6700’, provides convenient access to intermediate to advanced powder skiing, including open tree skiing and spectacular glaciated terrain.

The extensive alp lands and glades on the west-facing slopes near the lodge are relatively gentle and free of avalanche hazard, ideal for intermediate skiers with limited back country experience. The north and east aspects feature varied terrain, providing many exciting options for intermediate to advanced skiers, whether on telemark or randonee (alpine touring) equipment.

Several of the peaks over 9000 feet (2700m) which surround the basin are accessible via straightforward ski and scramble routes. On those snowy days when visibility is limited on the glaciers the basin is blessed with abundant and varied tree skiing.

The Wildcat Creek Basin is a Mecca for backcountry skiers from mid-December until early May. During the winter, moisture laden storms tracking eastward across British Columbia release most of their moisture content as they are forced to rise up the west slope of the Continental Divide. These frequent up slope snowfalls in the Wildcat Creek Basin provide us with abundant dry powder, averaging between 6 and 11 metres of new snowfall each winter.

Although we certainly cannot offer guarantees regarding the snow conditions during your stay with us, we have found they are very good to excellent the majority of the winter, and the powder is all yours! No helicopter skiing or snowmobiling takes place anywhere in the Wildcat Creek Basin during your stay.

Ski Equipment

Bring skis, a friend and a smile!

Find our Winter Equipment List and Mistaya Rental List in the Travel Planner

More Snow Options - Snowshoeing & Tobogganing!

Relax in the snowfields and gladed areas surrounding Mistaya Lodge. Snowshoeing is a wonderful way to take in the stunning views and revel in the isolated beauty of the Wildcat Creek Basin. A couple of pairs of rental snowshoes are available at the lodge.

Children of all ages—even the grown up ones!—can delight in tobogganing on world-class slopes. Try one of our crazy carpets, or join your friends on the big toboggan to experience the thrill of sliding (and sometimes tumbling) in the powdery snow. Come laugh with us in the great outdoors, then return to the warm coziness of Mistaya Lodge!

Find Us

Check out our maps!

Ski run maps are available for purchase at the lodge.

Mistaya Lodge is located on Topo Map 82N/10 1:50,000 Blaeberry River, Wildcat Basin.

Latitude/Longitude of Mistaya Lodge: 51.698736, -116.634464

Orient yourself to some of the more notable and dramatic terrain features at Mistaya Lodge:

• Mistaya Mountain
• Mount Baker
• Peyto Lake
• Wapta Icefield