Mt. Kirkup Cat Ski at RED Mountain.
Mt. Kirkup Cat Ski at RED Mountain. Credit: RED Mountain Resort

Cat Skiing is a fantastic way to access fresh, untouched snow without having to deal with crowds and long lines. Some operations help you to explore thousands of acres of off-resort terrain, with full day trips taking you out into the wilderness.

Other operations are a bit more simple, allowing you to access side-country terrain right off the resort without needing to hike or skin. These operations are often a more accessible, sometimes requiring reservations made just a day or two ahead of time. Sometimes they don’t require reservations at all. Sometimes they take you to the top of otherwise hike-accessed terrain, sometimes they take you where nobody is allowed. These are the four best resort-based cat skiing operations in North America.

1. RED Mountain Resort, British Columbia

Every Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 2pm, assuming the conditions and weather allow, the Mt. Kirkup Cat takes guests from the summit of Grey Mountain to the top of the adjacent Mount Kirkup. Guests have access to a 2,054 foot vertical drop (626 meters) of powder shredding back down to the bottom of Grey Chairlift, or even further down to the Topping Creek Chair. No guide and no backcountry gear required. Then, if you’re up for another, you just hop back on the lift and do it again!

Single ride tickets for the Mt. Kirkup Cat, nicknamed the Trip Wagon, can be purchased for just $20, both online or in person with cash. If you’re hoping to get several cat rides in, a 6-ride pack can be purchased for $90, coming out to $15 a ride. Pretty killer deal for some untouched terrain.

2. Loveland Ski Area, Colorado

Loveland Ski Area Ridge Cat operation is a great representation of what makes this independent ski resort so awesome. The 18-passenger cat takes skiers and snowboarders along the North side of The Ridge, an area accessible only by cat or hiking, to access some of the mountain’s most difficult terrain. How much does it cost? $0. That’s right, as long as you have a season pass or a lift ticket with the free Ridge Cat Pass, you can take a ride. The Ridge Cat is first come first serve, and only open when conditions allow.

3. Sugarloaf Mountain, Maine

Sugarloaf Mountain’s cat skiing operation is one of very few cat skiing options on the East Coast. The snow cat takes skiers and snowboarders into the resort’s incredible Burnt Mountain side-country terrain, with guests getting two runs out of one ticket. A lift ticket/season pass must be held as well, but the cat skiing tickets are usually only around $60. The downside to operating cat skiing on the east, of course, is the unpredictability of conditions, so while you might be ready to shred the trees, the trees might not be ready for you.

Burnt Mountain Cat Skiing

4. Deer Valley, Utah

If you’re looking for a more luxurious resort-based cat skiing operation, the new Deer Valley Cat Skiing experience could be what you’re looking for. Starting this February, the operation gives skiers the opportunity to explore the resort’s new expansion terrain, yet to be touched by other skiers and chairlifts. Though this terrain is not technically in bounds, it will be in the future, so we’ve included it on the list. It’s a full day experience, starting at 8am and winding down by 2pm, and includes snacks and refreshments stocked in the snowcat. A private group option can be booked for $20,000, and a per-seat option is available for $2,000.

Honorable Mention: Winter Park Resort, Colorado

Just a quick honorable mention, as Winter Park doesn’t actually offer a cat skiing option. They do offer the Cirque Sled though, which allows skiers and snowboarders to easily access the resort’s incredible Cirque Territory. The Cirque Territory is steep, ungroomed, and feels like the backcountry despite it being technically in-bound terrain.

Don't miss out!

Get the latest snow and mountain lifestyle news and entertainment delivered to your inbox.

This field is hidden when viewing the form
Newsletters
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.