Alpenglow on snow-covered Alaskan peaks near Seward

Ski Zones

Where We Fly

SMG holds countless permits and has access to numerous zones that most ski guides have never even heard of or skied in. Click a pin to see the terrain, scale and character of some of the zones.

Interactive terrain map

Compare the ski zones

Every zone skis differently. Use this chart to see snowpack character, signature terrain, typical run vertical, pitch, the ability level each zone rewards and when it is at its best — then tell us what you want and we will build the trip around it.

SMG Alaska heli ski zone comparison: snowpack, terrain features, typical run vertical, pitch, ability level, best months and access for each ski zone.

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Alyeska / Girdwood Chugach Northern Chugach Seward Coastal Fjords Valdez Cordova Tordrillo Neacola Talkeetna Denali Petersburg Confidential

SMG Alaska heli ski zone comparison: snowpack, terrain features, typical run vertical, pitch, ability level, best months and access for each ski zone.
Zone	Snowpack	Signature terrain	Vertical / run	Pitch	Ability	Best window	Access
Alyeska / Girdwood ChugachNorthern Chugach	Maritime	Glaciated bowlsFall-line facesSpine wallsTree skiingHome base with the most frequent flying weather and low-visibility tree terrain as a backup.	2,000–4,000 ft	30–55°	Advanced	November – May	Minutes from the Hotel Alyeska helipad
Northern ChugachInland Chugach	Transitional	Big glaciated bowlsLong fall lineWide alpineColder, drier snow when the coast is stormy.	2,500–4,500 ft	28–45°	Strong intermediate+	January – May	Short heli flight from Girdwood
Seward Coastal FjordsKenai Coast	Maritime	Ocean-side spinesRampsTidewater glaciersOften open when the interior is socked in; peaks fall straight to the Gulf.	2,000–4,000 ft	35–55°	Advanced–Expert	Mid November – March	Mid range heli flight
ValdezEastern Chugach	Maritime	SpinesCouloirsGlacier apronsTrophy linesSome of the steepest, deepest classic Alaska terrain	4,000–6,000 ft	40–55°	Expert	Nov – April	Moderate range heli flight
CordovaCordova	Maritime	Steep maritime facesGlacier terrainOne of the snowiest corners of the state.	3,000–5,000 ft	35–50°	Advanced–Expert	November – March	Moderate range heli flight
TordrilloTordrillo Mountains	Transitional	IcefieldsVolcanic summitsLong glacier descentsHuge glacier mileage with a colder snowpack than the coast.	3,000–5,000 ft	30–50°	Advanced	Nov – May	Moderate range heli flight
NeacolaAleutian Range	Transitional	Granite wallsSteep glacier linesCouloirsBig-wall alpine with its own weather pattern, distinct from the Tordrillos.	3,000–5,000 ft	40–55°	Expert	October – May	Moderate + range heli flight
TalkeetnaTalkeetna Mountains	Continental	Rolling glaciated alpineMellow to steep pitchesCold interior snow and the friendliest pitch profile we fly.	2,000–3,500 ft	25–40°	Strong intermediate+	January – April	Mid range heli flight
DenaliEastern Denali foothills	Continental	Mile-long glacier runsBig reliefDenali as your backdropThe largest vertical relief in North America.	3,000–6,000 ft	30–45°	Advanced	Dec – May	Moderate ++ range heli flight
PetersburgStikine Icefield (SE Alaska)	Maritime	Steep coastal facesTidewater glaciersBig icefieldDevil's Thumb country — rare gem.	3,000–5,500 ft	38–52°	Advanced–Expert	January – April	Longer range heli flight/safari
ConfidentialConfidential	Continental	Granite spiresDeep couloirsWilderness glaciersTerrain with only a handful of recorded ski descents.	2,500–4,500 ft	38–52°	Expert	October – May	Longer range flight/safari
ConfidentialConfidential	Continental	Open alpineCold dry snowGlacier bowlsLong, stable high-pressure windows when the coast is shut down.	2,500–4,000 ft	28–42°	Advanced	October – April	Longer range heli flight/safari
ConfidentialConfidential	Continental	IcefieldsMassive glacier runsRemote high peaksScale unlike anywhere else — icefields running tens of miles.	3,500–6,000 ft	30–48°	Advanced–Expert	October – May	Longer range heli flight/safari
ConfidentialConfidential	Transitional	Steep coastal facesGlacier descentsHigh reliefWhere the range meets the Gulf — deep snow on enormous walls.	3,500–7,000 ft	32–50°	Advanced–Expert	October – May	Longer range heli flight/safari
ConfidentialConfidential	Transitional	Glacier bowlsOpen alpineLong fall-line descentsSheltered interior terrain with colder snow than the coast.	3,000–5,500 ft	30–45°	Advanced	January – March	Longer range heli flight/safari
ConfidentialConfidential	Maritime	Enormous glacier descentsOcean-view alpineEnormous glacier descents with ocean views rising straight out of the Pacific.	3,000–6,000 ft	32–48°	Advanced–Expert	November – April	Longer range heli flight/safari
ConfidentialConfidential	Maritime	Spine wallsBig couloirsPredictable snowpackConsequence-heavy spine skiing with a reliably supportive snowpack.	3,000–5,000 ft	40–55°	Expert	November – March	Longer range heli flight/safari

Alyeska / Girdwood Chugach

Northern Chugach

MaritimeGlaciated bowlsFall-line facesSpine wallsTree skiing

Vertical / run: 2,000–4,000 ft
Pitch: 30–55°
Ability: Advanced
Best window: November – May
Access: Minutes from the Hotel Alyeska helipad

Home base with the most frequent flying weather and low-visibility tree terrain as a backup.

Northern Chugach

Inland Chugach

TransitionalBig glaciated bowlsLong fall lineWide alpine

Vertical / run: 2,500–4,500 ft
Pitch: 28–45°
Ability: Strong intermediate+
Best window: January – May
Access: Short heli flight from Girdwood

Colder, drier snow when the coast is stormy.

Seward Coastal Fjords

Kenai Coast

MaritimeOcean-side spinesRampsTidewater glaciers

Vertical / run: 2,000–4,000 ft
Pitch: 35–55°
Ability: Advanced–Expert
Best window: Mid November – March
Access: Mid range heli flight

Often open when the interior is socked in; peaks fall straight to the Gulf.

Valdez

Eastern Chugach

MaritimeSpinesCouloirsGlacier apronsTrophy lines

Vertical / run: 4,000–6,000 ft
Pitch: 40–55°
Ability: Expert
Best window: Nov – April
Access: Moderate range heli flight

Some of the steepest, deepest classic Alaska terrain

Cordova

MaritimeSteep maritime facesGlacier terrain

Vertical / run: 3,000–5,000 ft
Pitch: 35–50°
Ability: Advanced–Expert
Best window: November – March
Access: Moderate range heli flight

One of the snowiest corners of the state.

Tordrillo

Tordrillo Mountains

TransitionalIcefieldsVolcanic summitsLong glacier descents

Vertical / run: 3,000–5,000 ft
Pitch: 30–50°
Ability: Advanced
Best window: Nov – May
Access: Moderate range heli flight

Huge glacier mileage with a colder snowpack than the coast.

Neacola

Aleutian Range

TransitionalGranite wallsSteep glacier linesCouloirs

Vertical / run: 3,000–5,000 ft
Pitch: 40–55°
Ability: Expert
Best window: October – May
Access: Moderate + range heli flight

Big-wall alpine with its own weather pattern, distinct from the Tordrillos.

Talkeetna

Talkeetna Mountains

ContinentalRolling glaciated alpineMellow to steep pitches

Vertical / run: 2,000–3,500 ft
Pitch: 25–40°
Ability: Strong intermediate+
Best window: January – April
Access: Mid range heli flight

Cold interior snow and the friendliest pitch profile we fly.

Denali

Eastern Denali foothills

ContinentalMile-long glacier runsBig reliefDenali as your backdrop

Vertical / run: 3,000–6,000 ft
Pitch: 30–45°
Ability: Advanced
Best window: Dec – May
Access: Moderate ++ range heli flight

The largest vertical relief in North America.

Petersburg

Stikine Icefield (SE Alaska)

MaritimeSteep coastal facesTidewater glaciersBig icefield

Vertical / run: 3,000–5,500 ft
Pitch: 38–52°
Ability: Advanced–Expert
Best window: January – April
Access: Longer range heli flight/safari

Devil's Thumb country — rare gem.

Confidential

ContinentalGranite spiresDeep couloirsWilderness glaciers

Vertical / run: 2,500–4,500 ft
Pitch: 38–52°
Ability: Expert
Best window: October – May
Access: Longer range flight/safari

Terrain with only a handful of recorded ski descents.

Confidential

ContinentalOpen alpineCold dry snowGlacier bowls

Vertical / run: 2,500–4,000 ft
Pitch: 28–42°
Ability: Advanced
Best window: October – April
Access: Longer range heli flight/safari

Long, stable high-pressure windows when the coast is shut down.

Confidential

ContinentalIcefieldsMassive glacier runsRemote high peaks

Vertical / run: 3,500–6,000 ft
Pitch: 30–48°
Ability: Advanced–Expert
Best window: October – May
Access: Longer range heli flight/safari

Scale unlike anywhere else — icefields running tens of miles.

Confidential

TransitionalSteep coastal facesGlacier descentsHigh relief

Vertical / run: 3,500–7,000 ft
Pitch: 32–50°
Ability: Advanced–Expert
Best window: October – May
Access: Longer range heli flight/safari

Where the range meets the Gulf — deep snow on enormous walls.

Confidential

TransitionalGlacier bowlsOpen alpineLong fall-line descents

Vertical / run: 3,000–5,500 ft
Pitch: 30–45°
Ability: Advanced
Best window: January – March
Access: Longer range heli flight/safari

Sheltered interior terrain with colder snow than the coast.

Confidential

MaritimeEnormous glacier descentsOcean-view alpine

Vertical / run: 3,000–6,000 ft
Pitch: 32–48°
Ability: Advanced–Expert
Best window: November – April
Access: Longer range heli flight/safari

Enormous glacier descents with ocean views rising straight out of the Pacific.

Confidential

MaritimeSpine wallsBig couloirsPredictable snowpack

Vertical / run: 3,000–5,000 ft
Pitch: 40–55°
Ability: Expert
Best window: November – March
Access: Longer range heli flight/safari

Consequence-heavy spine skiing with a reliably supportive snowpack.

Seward USFS Backcountry Hotline Information (719) 285-7295

Skier overlooking Alaska's coastal mountains at sunset

Millions of acres and endless mountain ranges, one operation

Because we can move between mountain ranges, we chase the best snow and conditions every day instead of being locked into one valley. Our terrain allocations span:

Alyeska / Girdwood Chugach — Maritime storms roll straight off Turnagain Arm and stack massive snow on terrain that runs from tidewater to summit, making this the most accessible big-snow skiing in Alaska.
Northern Chugach — On the drier side of the range, the Knik and Matanuska glacier systems hold colder, lighter snow and mile-wide glacial runouts that let you open it up for thousands of feet.
Seward Coastal Fjords — Peaks rise straight out of the ocean, so lines here finish with the Gulf of Alaska filling the horizon and tidewater glaciers calving below.
Valdez — The birthplace of Alaska heli skiing, where deep maritime snow glues itself to the steep walls at angles that have no business holding snow.
Cordova — The first wall the Gulf's biggest storms hit, burying the high country under one of the deepest snowpacks in North America.
Tordrillo — Glaciated volcanoes anchor a range of 11,000-foot peaks and 20-mile glaciers, with fall-line descents that keep going long after your legs have quit.
Neacola — Granite spires and hanging glaciers pack enormous alpine relief into a compact, rarely-visited range.
Talkeetna — Sheltered from the coastal storm track, the Talkeetnas trade sheer snow volume for reliable flying weather and a vast spread of glacier and open-bowl skiing.
Denali — In the shadow of the continent's highest peak, cold interior air keeps the snow dry and fast across a foothill landscape of broad glaciers and clean fall-line ridges.
Petersburg — The Stikine Icefield spills off the Coast Range in every direction here, an ice cap the size of a small state feeding heavy coastal snowfall onto ridgelines that run unbroken from summit to saltwater.

Ready to plan your Alaska heli ski trip?

Tell us your dates, group size and ability level and we will build the trip around the best snow in Alaska.

Call SMG (907) 830-1122