For those unfamiliar with the area, Rogers Pass is one of Canada’s prime ski touring mecca, harbouring some of the best backcountry terrain in North America. Well-known for its huge snowfall and truly wild terrain, its mountains lie in one of Canada’s most impressive federal parks, Glacier National Park (not to be confused with the US counterpart). I’d say it’s worth a week-long visit… or more. I’ve taken the liberty of detailing Rogers Pass’ top runs to save you some wandering, although “wandering” is when you find the hidden gems. Fortunately, I’ve also provided a detailed trip report per route for additional information.

7. Dome Col Traverse

The Dome Col Traverse (known locally as the Lily-Dome traverse) is a fantastic, scenic route crossing the Loop Brook and the Asulkan Valleys, my two favourite spots in Rogers Pass. If you can muster the 1600m vertical gain, the route rewards you with majestic views of jagged peaks, exposed bootpacks and steep glacier skiing. It’s got all the elements of a classic alpine adventure. The journey up the Lily Glacier is generally straightforward, although the glacial hazard has increased with glacier melt due to climate change. We’ve observed increasing open crevasses peppered throughout the standard line. Don’t forget to bring your glacier travel gear and practice crevasse rescue techniques beforehand. I complete this day-long traverse every year (once or twice) and it never ceases to amaze me.

6. Video Peak SE Face

The SE Face of Video Peak is an absolute classic and one of Rogers Pass’ top runs. It’s common to witness a pilgrimage of skiers and splitboarders touring up the Hospital Bowl toward the summit. It isn’t as good a descent as the neighbouring 8812 Bowl: I find the descent to be a little too short-lived but it’s still worth having a spot on the Roger Pass’ top runs. However, for what it lacks, you still get a chance to summit a stunning peak, granting panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. Also, skiing through the Hospital Gullies is a guaranteed blast! Beware: the SE face is a giant planar slope, ready to release on you when the conditions are prime. Assess the slope before skiing. Pro-tip: when the SE face gets skied out (as it always does after a storm), consider dropping the southern aspect instead for some fresh turns. You can then easily link up with the 8812 Bowl route through the Bruins Ridge uptrack. This makes for a healthy dose of alpine powder – yew!

5. 8812 Bowl

This list needs some big ol’ cirque skiing to be complete, and 8812 Bowl is exactly that. The climb is arduous for sure. If you can manage the bushy, beat-up Hospital Gully uptrack and the exposed Bruins Ridge, you’ve graduated from the Rogers Pass Academy. All jokes aside, 8812 Bowl is an excellent, 1200m descent from alpine to treeline that grants epic views of the Connaught, Cougar and Ursus valleys. The route peaks at 8812 Col, an absolute wind tunnel of a feature overlooking Balu Pass. Some backcountry enthusiasts bring ski crampons to deal with the wind-battered Bruins Ridge, the final – sometimes tricky – ascent section. The run is worth a try if you can manage the vertical and exposure.

4. Macdonald West Shoulder (NRC)

There’s no denying the Macdonald West Shoulder, otherwise known as the NRC slopes, is an incredible ski touring or splitboarding route, ranking high in Rogers Pass’ top runs in terms of best value. You begin your journey right from the parking lot with a five-minute approach on flat terrain. The ascent is relatively straightforward and avoids bushwacking. Simply look uphill and pick your route! At first glance, the terrain seems simple enough but it isn’t. There’s a ton of overhead exposure from the alpine wind-battered ridge above. The treeless expanses that offer amazing skiing are giant avalanche paths. Beware! Dropping from treeline elevation, the skiing is playful and relatively open, offering excellent fall line turns right back to your vehicle. Nothing is stopping you from doing a couple of laps in a day.

3. McGill Chutes

The McGill Chutes and, to an extent, the nearby Gunbarrels are a great alternative in the Bostock Creek Area. If you can spare the energy for a 1200m climb, the descent down the two nearly identical avalanche paths (slidepaths) to the Bostock trail makes for a 900m run through open terrain, old-growth patches, and huge pillows to finish it off. To exit, follow the Bostock Trail back to the parking lot. It’s a breeze on most days! During times of heightened avalanche hazard, you’ve also got conservative options peppered along the McGill Shoulder: McGill Glades and the Gunbarrels, all linking up with the bottom of the Main Chutes. Please mind the overhead exposure when crossing the McGill Main Chutes along its length. I’ve seen avalanches run from start zones to runouts.

2. Avalanche Crest

Okay, I think everyone will agree Avalanche Crest deserves high honours. It’s a constant-pitch, 1000m run down to the Trans-Canada Highway with a clear view of the Illecillewaet parking lot where you start your tour. The run is peppered with booters, gully features and pillows. Avalanche Crest is one of the rare routes where you can ski an uninterrupted top-to-bottom descent from summit to car. There’s a run for all kinds of skiers or splitboarders. From the sheltered, treed section to the south to the steep gullies to the north – there’s a line for everyone. Due to its proximity to the parking lot and epic features, Avalanche Crest is a busy zone. Watch out for other skiers or boarders shredding above you! The uptrack can also be ultra-slick to the point where ski crampons would help. Being a west-facing aspect, the slope tends to soak up the sun come February – be wary of buried melt-freeze crusts or if the snowpack starts to get moist.

1. Rogers Run

Rogers Run sports a straight-down, 850m pitch of pure gold! You’ll travel on open alpine slopes, through sparse trees, avalanche paths and huge pillow fields. Even better, the run is accessed using the Grizzly Shoulder uptrack, a mere 2km from the Rogers Pass Discovery Center parking lot. It’s so close you can easily bang out two or three laps in a day without pushing your turn-around time too late. For all those reasons, it’s a very popular run – think very busy. It’s best to start early to beat the crowds and the thousands of AST students following their guides up the shoulder. Navigation can sometimes be difficult since you’ll be mostly skiing through trees. It’s best to bring a GPS device along for the ride. Remember: don’t get sucked into the dangerous cliffs/gully to the skier’s left of the route. Those pillows are epic later in the winter but treacherous early season. Lastly, the upper pitch is an exposed open, typically wind-loaded slope. I’ve had easy slab releases on some of the big convexities. If you’re confident in the snow quality and stability, give it a go – it’s one of Rogers Pass’ top runs.

Here it is – six of Rogers Pass’ top runs that balance the ascent with excellent skiing and epic views. Please do me a favour and don’t limit yourself to those routes. There’s so much to explore. I now find a whole lot more satisfaction in discovering new routes that are off the beaten path. Lastly, those routes take you through some very hazardous terrain. Take an Avalanche Skill Training (AST) to educate yourself on avalanche terrain management and companion rescue. Otherwise, hire a certified ski or mountain guide! Those fine humans know their way around the Rogers Pass and, better yet, will do their very best to minimize the hazard throughout your day.

Topographic Route Details