Great Northern Snowcat Skiing or Selkirk Snowcat Skiing: which is better?

No score and no verdict of ours: what Great Northern Snowcat Skiing and Selkirk Snowcat Skiing each publish on their own websites, read 10 November 2026, topic by topic, each line linked to the page it came from.

Great Northern Snowcat Skiing or Selkirk Snowcat Skiing: which is better?

Neither is better for everyone: Great Northern Snowcat Skiing and Selkirk Snowcat Skiing differ on terrain, group size, runs, prices and terms, set out below from each operator's own website.

What is each operator?

Great Northern Snowcat Skiing runs cat-skiing from its own lodge on its own terrain in British Columbia since 1979. Source

Selkirk Snowcat Skiing runs cat-skiing only under the name Selkirk Snowcat Skiing from its own lodge, on its own tenure on Meadow Mountain in British Columbia. Source

Where does each operator ski?

Great Northern Snowcat Skiing operates in Canada, in the Bad Shot Range of the Selkirk Mountains in British Columbia, near Trout Lake. Source

Selkirk Snowcat Skiing runs in the Selkirk Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, from a lodge at 1280 metres (4200 feet) reached by snowcat from its Meadow Creek office, 100km north of Nelson. Source

How much terrain?

Great Northern Snowcat Skiing says it occupies 75 square kilometres (7,500 hectares) of snow-covered forest, with forest glades, wide-open powder bowls, gullies and chutes. Source

Selkirk Snowcat Skiing has over 12,000 acres (49 sq kilometres or 19 sq miles) of tenure with wide open alpine bowls, mellow glades, trees, steeps and chutes. Source

What snowcats?

Great Northern Snowcat Skiing operates two heated snowcats with comfortable seats, with rides between runs of 15 to 20 minutes. Source

Selkirk Snowcat Skiing runs two snowcats with a spare third cat on standby, from a fleet with 3 new Pisten Bully 400s. Source

How many skiers share a guide?

Great Northern Snowcat Skiing offers a private snowcat for up to 12 guests or two snowcats for 22 to 24 skiers with exclusive use of the lodge. Source

Selkirk Snowcat Skiing takes guests to the lodge in two groups of 12; each group skis with a dedicated lead and tail guide. Source

How much skiing is included?

Great Northern Snowcat Skiing says its founder took an approach with no counts of runs and no watching the clock. Source

Selkirk Snowcat Skiing: Typically skis 9 to 11 runs and approximately 15,000 to 18,000 vertical feet per day. Source

What if weather stops the cat or you ski less?

Selkirk Snowcat Skiing gives no refund: all payments are non-refundable under any circumstances and it says it has no control over the effects of weather on a trip. Source

Great Northern Snowcat Skiing does not publish this on the pages read.

Who guides?

Great Northern Snowcat Skiing lists 13 guides, with qualifications such as CSGA 3 / CAA 3, ACMG Ski Guide / CAA 2 and ACMG Assistant Ski Guide / CAA 2. Source

Selkirk Snowcat Skiing uses guides trained and certified through the CAA, ACMG and/or CSGA. Source

What safety programme and gear?

Great Northern Snowcat Skiing holds a first-day safety orientation. Has guides and snowcat drivers meet every morning on avalanche safety and snow stability. Provides each guest an avalanche transceiver, backpack, probe, shovel and radio but no avalanche airbags. Is a member of the Canadian Avalanche Association. Source

Selkirk Snowcat Skiing is an active member of HeliCat Canada; every guest gets a radio, a digital Mammut Barryvox transceiver and a pack with probe and shovel; guests practise search and rescue before the first day. Source

Where do you stay?

Great Northern Snowcat Skiing houses guests in its own lodge with 18 rooms, a mix of single, twin and queen beds, with a hot tub, sauna, massages and yoga. Source

Selkirk Snowcat Skiing houses guests in its own wilderness lodge at 1280 metres (4200 feet), with 10 single rooms and 4 King suites, an outdoor covered hot tub and an indoor wood-fired sauna. Source

When is the season?

Selkirk Snowcat Skiing runs from mid December until well into April. Source

Great Northern Snowcat Skiing does not publish this on the pages read.

How long are the trips?

Great Northern Snowcat Skiing offers two-day (limited), three-day, four-day and seven-day packages. Source

Selkirk Snowcat Skiing's packages are listed as 3 days over 3 nights, 4 days over 5 nights and 5 days over 6 nights. Source

What does a trip cost?

Great Northern Snowcat Skiing charges CAD 5,903 per person for a 4-night all-inclusive package on 27 to 31 December 2026 (2026/27 season). Source

Selkirk Snowcat Skiing does not publish a dated price on the pages read.

What does the price include?

Great Northern Snowcat Skiing includes meals, accommodations, taxes and medical and heli evac insurance in the package price. Excludes tips and ski or snowboard rental. Does not sell alcohol in the lodge. Source

Selkirk Snowcat Skiing's packages include lodging on double occupancy, meals, snowcat transfer from the Meadow Creek office, an avalanche transceiver, radio, pack with shovel and probe plus guiding. Tips are not included. Source

What do solo skiers pay?

Great Northern Snowcat Skiing bases bookings on double occupancy and does not guarantee private rooms. Doubles up single guests in rooms with two single beds if the lodge is full. Source

Selkirk Snowcat Skiing offers private rooms and a limited number of double suites first come, first served for a modest surcharge; standard rooms are double occupancy. Source

What happens if you cancel?

Selkirk Snowcat Skiing lets guests cancel at any time but keeps all payments, deposits and tour fees as 100% non-refundable. Source

Great Northern Snowcat Skiing does not publish this on the pages read.

What insurance do you need?

Great Northern Snowcat Skiing includes medical and heli evac insurance in the package price. Strongly recommends trip cancellation and medical insurance at the time of booking. Source

Selkirk Snowcat Skiing: Strongly advises holiday cancellation insurance through the guest's preferred provider. Source

What level do you need?

Great Northern Snowcat Skiing asks guests to ski in control across varied backcountry terrain and snow conditions, including wooded slopes. Says prior powder skiing experience is not necessary. Source

Selkirk Snowcat Skiing recommends being comfortable skiing at a minimum black diamond resort level, with previous off piste experience. Source

Can teenagers come?

Selkirk Snowcat Skiing welcomes guests aged 19 and over, with no minors. Source

Great Northern Snowcat Skiing does not publish this on the pages read.

When is each not the fit?

The limits below are published by each operator on their own websites.

• Great Northern Snowcat Skiing: not the fit if you cannot ski in control across varied backcountry terrain and snow conditions, including wooded slopes. Source
• Selkirk Snowcat Skiing: not the fit if you are under 19 years old. Source

How do their reviews compare?

Their figures per platform, read 10 November 2026, from listings under the operator's own name; a whole-company listing is marked. Figures are never added together.

• Great Northern Snowcat Skiing: Google: 4.7 out of 5 from 51 reviews. Read 10 November 2026.

The operators at a glance

One card each, as on every Uncompromised Travel cat-skiing page: what each sells, why to choose each, what to ask for and the limits each publishes.

Richard Jasinski · Uncompromised Travel · written from Valencia · first published 10 November 2026 · updated 10 November 2026