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Heliskiing in Alaska: Your Ultimate Guide to Pristine Powder and Untouched Terrain

Alaska is a dream destination for adventure seekers, offering some of the most breathtaking landscapes on Earth. One of the most thrilling experiences you can have in this majestic wilderness is heliskiing. Combining the rush of skiing or snowboarding with the awe of exploring untouched, powder-filled slopes, Alaska is a premier destination for heliskiing enthusiasts. In this guide, we will explore everything you need to know about heliskiing in Alaska, from the best locations to essential tips and considerations.

Why Choose Alaska for Heliskiing?

Alaska is renowned for its vast wilderness, towering peaks, and unparalleled snow conditions, making it one of the world’s top destinations for heliskiing.

Pristine Powder: The state’s climate ensures consistent, deep powder snow that’s perfect for skiing and snowboarding.

Endless Terrain: With mountains stretching as far as the eye can see, Alaska offers an incredible variety of terrain, from wide-open bowls to steep chutes.

Uncrowded Slopes: Unlike popular ski resorts, Alaska’s heliskiing spots are remote and uncrowded, allowing for an exclusive experience.

Long Ski Seasons: Due to its latitude, Alaska offers a longer ski season than most places, with prime heliskiing months from February to May.

Heliski on the Chugach Range in Alaska

Best Time to Go Heliskiing in Alaska

The heliskiing season in Alaska typically runs from late February to early May, when conditions are optimal. March and April are considered the best months, offering longer days, stable snowpacks, and a mix of powder and corn snow.

February: Deep, fresh powder but shorter days.

March: Excellent powder conditions and longer daylight.

April: More sunshine, stable snow, and great visibility.

May: Warmer temperatures with the chance of corn snow, perfect for late-season skiing.

Tordrillo Mountain Lodge Alaska

Best Heliskiing Locations in Alaska

If you’re considering a heliskiing trip to Alaska, there are a few key regions that stand out as top destinations. Each location offers unique terrain and conditions to suit a variety of skill levels and preferences.

Valdez

Known as the birthplace of Alaskan heliskiing, Valdez offers some of the most iconic big mountain terrain in the state. The Chugach Mountains surrounding Valdez are famous for their steep lines, deep powder, and awe-inspiring glaciers.

Ideal for: Advanced to expert skiers and snowboarders looking for steep, technical terrain.

Haines

A hidden gem in the Alaskan wilderness, Haines provides a mix of wide, open bowls and narrow, challenging couloirs. This area is less crowded than Valdez but offers equally incredible conditions.

Ideal for: A mix of intermediate to expert skiers and those seeking a more remote experience.

Girdwood (Alyeska Resort)

For those looking for a mix of resort skiing and heliskiing, Girdwood near Anchorage is a great option. The Alyeska Resort provides excellent groomed trails and access to nearby heliskiing zones, offering a blend of in-bounds and backcountry experiences.

Ideal for: Intermediate skiers and those wanting the convenience of resort amenities.

Cordova

Located in the southeastern region of Alaska, Cordova offers a slightly milder climate and varied terrain, from gentle slopes to more challenging peaks. The area is particularly known for its beautiful coastal views.

Ideal for: Intermediate to advanced skiers looking for a scenic experience.

Exclusive Heliski in Alaska

FAQ about Heliskiing in Alaska

Do I need to be an expert skier to go heliskiing in Alaska? You should have strong intermediate to advanced skiing or snowboarding skills. While some operators cater to intermediate skiers, most of Alaska’s terrain is best suited for experienced riders due to steep slopes and deep snow.

Is heliskiing safe? Safety is a top priority for heliskiing operators in Alaska. All trips include safety briefings, and guides are experienced in avalanche assessment and mountain safety.

What is the best time of year to heliski in Alaska? March and April are considered the best months for heliskiing, offering long days, great snow conditions, and clear weather.

What safety precautions are in place for heliskiing? Safety is a top priority. All operators provide safety briefings, avalanche gear (beacons, shovels, probes), and guides experienced in mountain safety. Many also offer avalanche airbag packs and conduct terrain and snow condition assessments daily.

Heliskiing in Alaska is the adventure of a lifetime, one that promises an adrenaline rush and a deep connection with nature. Whether you’re planning your first trip or returning for more, Alaska’s vast wilderness and pristine slopes await your exploration.

Tordrillo Mountain Lodge Aircrafts

Heliskiing in Alaska is an unparalleled adventure that combines the thrill of skiing with the beauty of the state’s vast, untouched wilderness. Whether you’re an experienced skier looking for steep, technical lines or an intermediate skier eager to experience deep powder for the first time, Alaska has something to offer. With its consistent snowfall, awe-inspiring scenery, and variety of terrain, a heliskiing trip to Alaska will be an unforgettable experience.

AWAVE Travel Snow experts can guide you to the best snow experiences in Alaska. Contact AWAVE Travel today and start planning your next unforgettable freeride trip!

Heliski on the Chugach Range in Alaska
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Customer Reviews

AWAVE Travel

Customer Reviews

Lissette De Boer 30/06/24

Google
Giulia was incredibly helpful in booking our surf trip! Strongly recommend using AWAVE for any surf packages. We will definitely be contacting her again. Thank you!

Fabs Alegria 19/05/24

TrustPilot
Trip of a lifetime. First and foremost I'd like to thank James Colston from Awave Travel, for assisting me in every which way to help book one of the most memorable experiences I've had in my life. He was extremely responsive and answered every single question I had, even the dumb ones haha. As for AYADA, holy dooly, that place is paradise! Absolutely breathtaking, I couldn't believe I was actually walking around such a beautiful island! Big love to the staff at Magu Restaurant, seeing as how I ate there pretty much everyday, they were amazing! Very switched on and quick off the mark to help with anything that was needed. A special mention to Dhaboa and the captain who took me out surfing! I cannot speak highly enough about their friendly, helpful and straight up on point expertise. With Dhaboa picking the spots to surf and tips on where to sit to catch the best waves on the day, to the wonderful captain himself, filming and sending me videos of the waves I caught.
Absolute legends! Made my surf trip! Best holiday I've ever been on to this date.

Carlos 30/06/24

TrustPilot
Reliable travel agency to book a surf trip - Both Giulia and James were very reactive and adivsed on the best options. In our case we made a boat trip in Maldives. It is the second time we use Awave Travel to do a surftrip to Maldives and we have had a very good experience in both cases. They are a reliable and trustworthy travel agency, I highly recommend them.

Tatsiana Radchanka 04/21/2024

Google
Amazing surf camp. Felt at home there. Super nice, kind, helpful staff. Any of my requests has been satisfied. Highly recommended!

Charles Viellevoye 03/27/2024

TrustPilot
Very professional team. Giulia is always on and have an accurate answer to all my questions. The boat trip was incredibly well organised. Nothing was missing.

Emily Bullen 04/03/2024

TrustPilot
Professional and Top Notch! From the moment we started planning our trip AWAVE was responsive and professional. We had a lot of back and forth picking the perfect location and resort and James and Giulia were patient and helpful. The resort we stayed at, AYADA in the Maldives, was beautiful and relaxing- great for families and couples! It was perfect for us- we have 1 surfer in the family, he was able to enjoy the waves and we also were able to enjoy the reef and snorkel as a family. Our kids loved the kids club and the private pool on the beach villas was amazing. The alcohol is expensive if you don’t do full board but that is to be expected. Wonderful vacation and amazing travel agency! Definitely recommend!!

Cobus and Jackie Van Aswegen 10/19/23

Google
awesome last minute trip which was well communicated, friendly crew and great surf guide! waves were not the best but we realised at the time of booking that it was end of season. crew could not be more friendly and willing to help all the time - chef prepared a wide variety of food and never any complaints on that front - thanks!!!... we will be back for more!

Steve 10/07/23

TrustPilot
I've used Awave twice ... so far. This is the second time I've used Awave for a trip to the maldives. Stayed in 2 different resorts this time. They've always been incredibly prompt at replying and handled everything for us, making sure the 2 Resorts were in touch to get us transfered half way through our trip. At one of the resorts I even bumped into Giulia and Delia who were out there surfing at the time. There's no doubt in my mind that I'll use awave again if I'm booking a surf trip

Donald Ayres 11/06/23

TrustPilot
Indonesia Surf Trip/ Java/Bali/Sumba - James Colston was my representative from AWAVE - I’m an older solo surfer and James was attentive, respectful, extremely responsive from the initial planning stages all the way through the booking. And he was so patient with all my crazy questions along the way. I couldn’t have been more pleased with James’s level of service. Thank you James

Alex Daish 12/28/23

TrustPilot
Giulia was an amazing person to book with. I was overwhelmed with choices initially, but AWAVE knew their stuff and helped me with my options and even suggested delaying my trip so I could go to a certain hotel which ended up being the best decision I made all year.
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