PlanetSKI Heads to Whistler & the Tyax Heli-Ski Lodge in Canadian Rockies

6th October 2026

This is set to be the highlight of our autumn trip: three nights in the heli-ski lodge of Tyax. Hiking, kayaking & chilling. Plus we visit Whistler to see what’s on offer outside the ski season. NEW

Highway 99 from Vancouver into the Rockies is the classic ‘Sea to Sky Highway’ that skiers and snowboarders use when heading to Whistler.

It is one of the great Canadian ski roads and is up there with the Icefields Parkway in Alberta that heads to Jasper and its ski resort of Marmot Basin.

We hit that road earlier on this autumn trip to the Canada when we were in Alberta.

PlanetSKI’s autumn adventures in Canada take to the road

PlanetSKI’s Autumn Alberta road trip. Image © PlanetSKI

The Sea to Ski highway is less stunning than the Icefields Parkway, but it remains one of the great roads to a ski resort.

Sea to Sky Highway, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI

There is even some snow up on the glaciers to remind us of winter as it edges ever closer.

Sea to Sky Highway, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI

It was several hours to Whistler from the Sunshine Coast where we have just been visiting.

PlanetSKI hits the road in British Columbia

Whistler, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI

Whistler is now a year-round destination with some world class mountain biking up on the slopes and the resort was busy at village level even though it was late September.

Whistler, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI

The trees were just turning to their autumnal colours.

Whistler, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI

Up on the slopes the mountain bikers were out in force in its world reknown Bike Park.

Whistler, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI

Summer mountain biking is big business.

Whistler, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI

Main summer attractions:

PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola: Ride the record-breaking lift connecting Whistler and Blackcomb mountains for 360-degree panoramic views.

Whistler Mountain Bike Park: Access over 70 descending trails suited for various mountain biking skill levels.

Alpine Hiking: Explore more than 50 kilometers of high-alpine trails, wildflower meadows, and the Cloudraker SkyBridge.

Lakes and Beaches: Swim, paddleboard, or canoe at popular spots like Lost Lake and Alta Lake.

There was evidence that the ski season is approaching.

Whistler, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI

After Whistler it was on to Pemberton and 2-hours over the pass to the one-horse town of Lillooet.

Then it was truly heading deep into the Canadian Rockies.

The Tyax Lodge is 2 hours along a road from Lillooet with little sign of human habitation and certainly no petrol stations or mobile phone signal.

Heading to Tyax, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI

We saw a handful of 4-wheel drive vehicles and that was it.

It was a relief when another vehicle drew up behind us – help on hand just in case.

Heading to Tyax, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI

It was sometimes tarmac, sometimes gravel and always stunning.

Heading to Tyax, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI

Then it was off the ‘road’ for the final 8kms to Tyax on a dirt track.

Halfway along we caught sight of some bears just 30m or so from the road.

We’d finally seen some bears in the wild.

Heading to Tyax, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by PlanetSKI (@planetski.eu)

Then the Lodge itself:

Tyax Lodge, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI

And its views:

Tyax Lodge, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by PlanetSKI (@planetski.eu)

Tyax is in the South Chilcot Mountains by Tyaughton Lake.

Kayaking on the lake was a highlight.

Kayaking on Lake Tyaughton, Tyax, BC. Image © PlanetSKI

Inspiration for another activity at Tyax happened overhead while out on the middle of the lake.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by PlanetSKI (@planetski.eu)

On returning to shore we booked a flight for the following day, but sadly the winds picked up and it was deemed the crosswinds would make it too bumpy.

Next time.

But perhaps next time will be in the winter when Tyax transforms into a heliskiing Lodge.

It is remote but accessible:

Its main difference from other helisking operation in Canada is that each group has a helicopter to itself and is not shared with other groups.

That reduces any hanging around.

There is also unlimited vertical.

Plus epic snow and terrain, with close to 830,000 acres of terrain available.

That’s ten times bigger than Europe’s largest ski area., Les3Vallees.

“There’s massive glaciers and couloirs to wide-open alpine bowls and perfectly spaced tree skiing,” said Ryan Jamieson, the lodge manager of the Tyax.

“My favourite area is The Gods, and the most popular areas are The Slim and The Taylor.

“We mainly cater to the European market with most coming from Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Belgium, though there are not many from the UK.

“We also see skiers from Japan and next winter we have a group from China.”

Ryan Jamieson, Tyax Lodge, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI

There are no ski resorts or lift served skiing in the area and Tyax is four hours from the nearest resorts of Whistler and Sun Peaks.

Tyax was the final stop on our month-long autumn trip.

There was only one place to head to with a cold beer on our last evening in Canada to reflect on our time in Alberta and British Columbia.

Lake Tyaughton, Tyax, BC. Image © PlanetSKI

Bye, bye Canada.

See you soon…

See PlanetSKI’s earlier posts on our autumn adventures in Canada:

PlanetSKI: Number 1 for digital ski news

Your digital platform for ski news, resort information, travel, equipment rental, sport, money saving deals and everything connected with snowsports – web site, social media & more.