Meow-tain Adventures
Ready to level up your powder game? Big Red Cats delivers some of the wildest cat-skiing adventures in BC, with 20,000+ acres of terrain spread across 8 peaks and more than 700 named runs. Whether you’re cruising mellow glades or hucking cliffs, there are separate cats for all ability levels – Intermediate, Advanced, Expert – so you ride with like-minded peeps. Big Red Cats is a serious powder playground and the perfect way to mix resort laps at RED with next-level backcountry.
for powder that is whisker deep
Claw Your Way to Fresh Tracks
The Terrain
Are you looking for an all-you-can-eat powder buffet? Look no further. Big Red Cats serves up terrain for every taste: big open bowls for endless turns, tight, gladed tree runs for sneaky stashes, steep chutes and pillow lines for heart-pounding thrills, and feature-rich terrain that keeps every run fresh. Whether you crave flowing intermediate slopes or expert-only lines, there’s something for everyone — a mountain playground where every turn is a taste of pure powder bliss.
Choose Your Cat-egory
Ability Levels
Whether you are a curious kitten or a powder panther, Big Red Cats has you covered. They are one of the only cat skiing operations that offers a full spectrum of trip levels. They operate separate cats for differing ability levels and evert group accesses different areas of their varied terrain so you can get the most out of the day.
Untracked. Untamed. Unforgettable.
The Experience
Big Red Cats is where powder dreams go full send. Hop into a snowcat and rumble your way deep into untouched backcountry terrain, where fresh tracks, wide-open views, and total wilderness vibes take over. This is cat skiing at its finest — small groups, big terrain, and zero lift lines, just pure unfiltered adventure from first drop to last turn. Between runs, soak up the stoke, swap stories, and watch the snow stack up before diving back into another lap of legendary Kootenay powder. It’s remote, raw, and ridiculously fun — the kind of day you’ll still be bragging about long after the snow melts.
FAQs
Included
• Morning meeting at the staging area for safety briefing and avalanche‑gear training.
• Backcountry avalanche gear & backpack: transceiver, probe, and shovel. No need to bring your own.
• Fully‑guided all-day tour with certified guides.
• Snowcat transportation between runs.
• Catered lunch, snacks, and water during the day.
• Typically between 6–16 runs per day (depending on group size, ability, conditions).
• Space in the cat for extra layers, snacks, and personal items.
• An epic time!
What to Bring
• Ski or snowboard gear – your preferred setup for powder (we also provide rentals if needed)
• Helmet – strongly recommended for safety.
• Goggles and sunglasses – for sun, wind, and visibility.
• Layered clothing – base layers, mid-layers, and waterproof outerwear. Weather can change quickly!
• Gloves or mittens – plus a spare pair if possible.
• Warm hat or balaclava – for breaks in the cat or cold conditions.
• Water and snacks – though lunch is provided, you may want extra fuel.
• Camera or phone – for epic powder shots!
• Sunscreen and lip balm – high-altitude sun can be intense.
If you are a strong Intermediate skier or boarder, able to ski with confidence on blue (red in Europe) runs at ski resorts in varying snow conditions (not necessarily powder), then you are then ready for snowcat skiing with BRC in an Intermediate group. You should be skiing actively for several consecutive years. Backcountry snowcat skiing is not for beginner skiers.
12 is the minimum age, and minors aged 12-17 must ski with a parent. Parents of children aged 12-18 must cosign the liability waiver and accept responsibility.
All guests are expected to drive to the BRC staging area 24.8km (15.4 Miles) North of Red Mountain Resort along Highway 3B – 600m up Claim Pit Road. It is a 25-30 minute highway drive. Meeting time is 8:30am. There is no cell service on the route so be sure you know before you go.
Our daily safety briefing will be performed here and it is about 40 min. from the cat shed to the top of the first run.
If you have more questions and want to speak with someone at the office, BRC is located at #2-4430 Red Mountain Rd, Rossland BC, V0G 1Y0 or you can call 1-250-362-2271.
Layers are best! In general, temperatures range between -1°C and -10°C. However, prior to mid-February, we may potentially receive brief periods of very cold arctic air with temperatures in the range of -20°C to -30°C. Please be prepared for all mountain weather conditions. We recommend that you bring a face mask or a snorkel for those days when the powder is so deep that every few turns you have a mouthful of snow. You can leave extra items in the cat.
The Cat Came Back
Getting Here
Getting to Big Red Cats is easy no matter how you roll. By car, it’s just 2.5 hours from Spokane or a 10 minute scenic drive from Rossland to the BRC office, located at the base of Red Mountain Resort. Shuttle options make life simple too, with local operators offering pick-ups from nearby airports. The closest airports are Spokane International, Trail Regional Airport, West Kootenay Regional Airport in Castlegar, or Kelowna International Airport, giving you plenty of options to start your powder adventure. Once you arrive, the staging area, just 25 minutes from RED is ready to get you into the cats and onto the slopes as quickly as possible.
