There are three incredible CMH Heli-Hiking Summer Lodges tucked in the backcountry of beautiful British Columbia. I’ve been to all three, so this blog post will help you figure out which lodge you should book first (because you’ll be hooked after your first trip).
Want a 20% discount for 2026 trips?
Get 20% off any 3-night summer trip remaining this summer (now until Sept 20th). To book, mention ‘CMHANGELA20’ when you call to book or in the online booking request form (includes adults as well as children 6+). Here is more info about the experience and lodges, and here is where you can see available dates and prices. The best way to book is to call the CMH team in Banff at 1-800-661-0252.
This blog post was sponsored by CMH, but all thoughts are my own.
Who is CMH?
CMH Heli-Skiing & Summer Adventures is a Canadian adventure company that pioneered heli-skiing in British Columbia. It was founded by Hans Gmoser over 60 years ago. They now run heli-skiing trips through the winter and heli-hiking trips in three summer lodges.
They offer the perfect mix of luxury, adventure, and wilderness. They have hundreds of certified guides to guide their guests in both summer and winter. Learn more about CMH here.
What is Heli-Hiking?
Heli-hiking is simply hiking with the assistance of a helicopter. You are able to access places you wouldn’t be able to by foot. Once you get dropped off, you get to hike through incredible landscapes before you get picked up and flown back to the lodge.
These trips are great for solo travelers, families, and couples of all age groups. The team at CMH is very versatile and will help you have the best trip and help with any and all needs. The guides meet every morning and evening to create a plan for every guest. This is how they typically create hiking groups.
A typical day at CMH
Your day at CMH usually starts with an (optional) stretch class and a delicious breakfast. Then, you will be briefed on the day, you’ll grab your lunch and head out on your first heli ride and drop. You can expect 1-3 heli drops a day to different areas.
After a fun day out, you are flown back to the lodge. You can rest, relax on the deck, swim in the pond, go to the gym, get a massage, climb the rock wall, have a drink at the bar, soak in the hot tub… aka you won’t be bored.
At each lodge, there is a via feratta which is a trail with fixed steel cables, iron rungs, ladders, and bridges. It helps people safely climb steep cliffs without climbing experience. These via ferattas are completely beginner-friendly and are a perfect mix of adrenaline, excitement, fear, and accomplishment. Learn more about what a via ferrata is here.
Here is a video on what a day could look like, and if you want to know more about what you can expect on a via feratta, go here.
A breakdown of the three CMH Heli-Hiking Summer Lodges:
The Bobbie Burns Lodge
I just got back from visiting the Bobbie Burns Lodge, one of CMH Heli-Hiking Summer Lodges. What I love about this lodge is that each day is packed with adventure and amazing outdoor experiences.
Length of trip: 4 and 7 day trips.
Activity level: All levels, beginner to advanced.
Via Ferrata: There are two via ferattas at this lodge. The Mt Nimbus via feratta takes you up steep cliffs, on top of pointy peaks, over a suspension bridge (that is very, very high off the ground), and a 50m repel! It was the perfect mix of excitement and thrill. Truly such an amazing day.
The Conrad Glacier via feratta is completely different. You cross rivers via cables and zip lines, climb beside a waterfall, and eventually make your way next to the glacier. In between the fun stuff, you hike with incredible views. This via feratta is beginner-friendly, and there are multiple ways to approach each section depending on your comfort level. If you’re not feeling up to a particular section, a guide can help you skip it! For instance, when you reach a cable crossing over a river, you can choose to walk across or take the zip line across instead (which is what I did). I also saw another guest skip several cables and zip lines altogether and walk around them instead, which was a great option.
Hiking: With or without the via feratta, there is a great mix of glacial valleys, moraines, alpine meadows, lakes, and towering peaks while hiking. There is also an opportunity to swim in a gorgeous lake if weather and time allow. It was cloudy when I went, so we didn’t dip, but please dip for me if you go.
Lodge: It has mountain views all around, and the pond is my favorite to swim in out of all three lodges. Make sure to jump off the rope swing!
Most suitable for: Adventure, variety, and the unique activities.
the Bugaboo Lodge
The Bugaboo Lodge is absolutely stunning and picturesque. It’s a photographer’s dream! It’s also CMH’s original lodge, with more than 55 years of history.
Length of trip: 4 and 7 day trips.
Activity level: All levels, beginner to advanced.
Via Ferrata: The Skyladder climbs high in the mountains and is a great way to experience the landscape from a different perspective. It isn’t as thrilling as the others, which is perfect for those who aren’t into exposure, cables, or suspension bridges.
Hiking: The hiking is a standout for me because it was spectacular every day. It was amazing to hike with views of the Bugaboo Spires and go to Cobalt Lake.
Lodge: This is my favorite lodge because of the iconic view. I mean, just look (here) at the view from my room! It stopped me in my tracks every time I walked by a window. The pond has an incredible reflection of the spires, and looks even better with someone on the water.
Most suitable for: Beautiful scenery, photography, iconic Bugaboo peaks, and great hiking.
The Cariboo Lodge
The Cariboo Lodge was the first I visited, so it has a special place in my heart. It has a great mix of everything. It’s more north than the others, so we were able to see the Northern Lights (at the end of August), so make sure to check the forecast and look outside.
Length of trip: 5 and 9 day trips.
Activity level: All levels, from beginner to advanced.
Via Ferrata: The Zillmer Canyon via ferrata is one of the best experiences I’ve ever had outdoors. It brings you right beside a waterfall so you’re climbing straight up (hello exposure!). There’s also a walking bridge and ropes you have to cross. It’s a really well-rounded via feratta with adrenaline, fun, and beautiful scenery.
Hiking: The views while you’re hiking at/around the Cariboo Lodge are beautiful. There are so many glaciers that I lost count. We also walked through alpine meadows with wildflowers and hiked by waterfalls, turquoise tarns with icebergs (go for a swim here), and glaciers. I especially loved the view from Canoe Glacier.
Lodge: There are really beautiful views from the lodge, and it’s one of my favorites!
Most suitable for: A thrilling via feratta, photography, and if you want a good balance of everything.
What to Pack for a CMH Summer Trip
CMH provides you with a lot of items you need for day hiking such as:
- Hiking boots
- Rain jacket (here’s my favorite if you want to bring your own)
- Rain pants
- Small daypack (here’s my favorite if you want to bring your own)
- Water bottle (to keep)
- Electrolytes and snacks (placed everywhere in the lodge, you won’t go hungry)
- Hiking poles
- Earplugs (to keep)
- Sunscreen
You can of course bring your own gear! Here’s what you will for sure need to bring:
- Socks and underwear
- Insulated jacket, fleece or both
- Hiking pants, leggings and/or shorts
- Hiking shirts
- Sun protection (hat and sunglasses)
- Camera and batteries
- Bathing suit and small towel (for alpine dips)
- Gloves for the via feratta (I bought mine in the shop at the lodge)
There’s also a shop in each lodge if you forgot anything. Here is my guide for day hiking that may be helpful.
So, Which CMH Lodge Is Right For You?
Bobbie Burns Lodge: Best for adventure, variety, and two very different via ferratas.
Bugaboo Lodge: Best for dramatic scenery, photographers, iconic peaks and incredible hiking.
Cariboo Lodge: Best for a thrilling via ferrata, photographers, and a great balance of everything.
My advice: If you have the chance, visit all three! Each lodge has a completely different landscape and experience.
A note from Angela:
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means that if and when you book through them, I may earn a commission at no extra charge to you.
