What Sun Valley Heli Ski does

Sun Valley Heli Ski (SVHS), operating as Sun Valley Helicopter Ski Guide, LLC, is a privately held helicopter skiing company founded in 1965 in Sun Valley, Idaho — the first heli-ski operation in the United States. The company holds an exclusive US Forest Service permit giving it access to over 750,000 acres across four mountain ranges (Smoky, Boulder, Soldier, Pioneer), making it the largest heli-ski permit in the lower 48 states. Operations are built around a single A-Star B3e helicopter supporting a strict 4:1 guest-to-guide ratio with a maximum daily capacity of 16 skiers/riders during a December 1 – March 15 winter season. Safety infrastructure includes Mammut Barryvox avalanche transceivers and Mammut Rocker RAS 18L airbags provided to all guests, with field-based avalanche training conducted before first flight.

SVHS monetizes through a direct-to-consumer reservation model across five core products: Full Day Heli Ski ($1,900/person, 6 runs), Private Heli Ski charters ($18,000–$32,000/day by group size), the Smoky Mountain Lodge fly-in experience ($64,000/group of up to 8 for 3 days/2 nights — the only such remote lodge in the contiguous US), HASTA heli-assisted ski touring ($4,000/group of 4), and Scenic Tours ($1,200/group of 4), plus gift certificates and a standby list. Bookings are processed via the GuideNetwork booking plugin, phone/text, and email, with non-refundable deposits and 60-day-pre-trip final payment terms.

The business is small (11–50 employees, estimated 20–25 FTE given seasonality), owner-operated since June 2024 by Alex Kittrell following the 16-year ownership tenure of Jay Levine, and serves affluent individual outdoor enthusiasts, private groups, and corporate retreat buyers who value uncrowded powder, a heritage American brand, and accessibility from a major airport 14 miles away (Friedman Memorial). Distribution is augmented by bundled hospitality partnerships with Limelight Hotel, Knob Hill Inn, Sturtevants, Black Tie Rental Delivery, and Zenergy Spa.

Name

Sun Valley Heli Ski

Legal name

Sun Valley Helicopter Ski Guide, LLC

Website

https://sunvalleyheliski.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sun Valley Heli Ski is America's first heli-ski operation (founded 1965), offering premium helicopter skiing across 750,000+ acres of Idaho backcountry to affluent individual skiers, private groups, and corporate retreats on a reservation-driven, capacity-constrained seasonal model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Helicopter Skiing Services

NAICS

Other Nonscheduled Air Transportation (481219), Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), Tour Operators (56152)

SIC

Air Transportation, Nonscheduled (4522), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Helicopter Charter & Sightseeing (TLAFABAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mountain & Ski Luxury Resorts (THAGACAB), Helicopter Resort & Remote Destination Transfers (TLAFACAF), Snow & Mountain Unique Stays (Chalets, Ski Cabins) (THAMADAL)

Keywords

• Helicopter skiing services
• Backcountry powder skiing
• Heli ski lodge trips
• Guided heli ski tours
• Adventure tourism packages

Headquarters

HQ city

Sun Valley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Full Day Heli Skiing: Per-person day rate for helicopter skiing including 6 runs per day (runs of 1,000–3,000 vertical feet each), use of avalanche equipment, safety briefing, and in-field lunch. $1,900 per person. $500 non-refundable deposit per person to reserve; balance due 60 days before the trip. Extra runs available for $150 per run per person.
2. Private Heli Skiing (Private Charter): Dedicated helicopter charter for a single group for a full day. Priced per day by group size: 1–3 guests at $18,000/day; 4–8 guests at $28,000/day; 9–12 guests at $32,000/day. Groups larger than 12 accommodated as custom trips. $5,000 per day per person deposit required.
3. Smoky Mountain Lodge Trips: Fly-in lodge experience for 3 days/2 nights, accommodating up to 8 people at $64,000 per group. Includes all helicopter access, chef/cuisine, lodging. $25,000 deposit required.
4. HASTA (Heli Assisted Ski Tour Adventure): Group package for up to 4 skiers/riders combining helicopter drop-off at a high point with guided ski touring back to a pickup point. Base price $4,000 per group of 4 including up to half-hour of flight time. $3,000 non-refundable deposit required.
5. Scenic Tours: Winter helicopter scenic tours for groups of up to 4 people at $1,200 per group, full payment due upon booking.
6. Sun Valley Resort Lodging Package: Combined lodging (3 nights, 2 rooms) at Sun Valley Lodge or Inn, 2 days of heli skiing for 4 guests, and 4 lift tickets, priced at $18,936 inclusive of tax. Deposit of $7,800 due upon booking.
7. Gift Certificates: Gift certificates sold for specific products or fixed dollar amounts, valid for the issued ski season and the following season. Declines 10% in value if not used in the season issued. Redeemed as non-refundable reservations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sun Valley Heli Ski operates helicopter-accessed backcountry skiing in Idaho's Smoky, Boulder, Soldier, and Pioneer Mountains from a base in Sun Valley, Idaho. It sells per-person full-day heli ski packages (6 runs of 1,000-3,000 vertical feet), private helicopter charters, a Heli Assisted Ski Touring Adventure (HASTA), a remote 3-day/2-night Smoky Mountain Lodge experience, scenic helicopter tours, and bundled Sun Valley Resort lodging packages. Operations run seasonally (December 1 - March 15), with daily capacity capped at 16 guests and a 4:1 guest-to-guide ratio on A-Star B3e helicopters.

Product overview

Sun Valley Heli Ski operates as a heli-skiing service provider offering multiple distinct products: Full Day Heli Ski (core offering at $1,900/person with 6 runs), HASTA heli-assisted ski touring ($4,000/group), Private Heli Skiing (charter options from $18,000-$32,000/day based on group size), Smoky Mountain Lodge (fly-in lodge experience at $64,000 for up to 8 guests), Scenic Tours ($1,200/group), and bundled Sun Valley Resort Lodging Packages. The company also offers gift certificates and a standby list option. All products center on helicopter-accessed backcountry skiing and riding in Idaho's Smoky, Boulder, Soldier, and Pioneer Mountains.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Full Day Heli Ski A full day of helicopter skiing for intermediate to expert skiers and snowboarders in the Idaho backcountry, including 6 runs of approximately 1,000–3,000 vertical feet each, avalanche transceiver training, Mammut Barryvox transceivers and Mammut avalanche airbags, safety briefing, and an in-field lunch. Priced at $1,900 per person with a $500 non-refundable deposit.
• Private Heli Skiing A dedicated A-Star helicopter charter for a single group for an entire day, providing exclusive access and flexibility to customize terrain selection and enjoy additional flight time. Priced per day by group size: 1–3 guests at $18,000/day, 4–8 guests at $28,000/day, 9–12 guests at $32,000/day, with custom arrangements for larger groups.
• Smoky Mountain Lodge (Fly-In Heli Ski Lodge Trip) A 3-day/2-night remote fly-in heli-ski lodge trip for up to 8 guests at the Smoky Mountain Lodge — the only remote non road-access fly-in heli ski lodge in the contiguous United States — including helicopter access, chef-prepared cuisine, sauna, and riverside basecamp on the South Fork of the Boise River. Priced at $64,000 per group with a $25,000 deposit.
• HASTA (Heli Assisted Ski Touring Adventure) A group hybrid helicopter-ski and backcountry touring package for up to 4 skiers or snowboarders, in which guests are flown to a high point and ski-tour back to a pickup location, including up to half an hour of flight time. Guests supply their own alpine touring gear or splitboards. Priced at $4,000 per group of 4 with a $3,000 non-refundable deposit.
• Scenic Tours Winter helicopter scenic tours for groups of up to 4 people over the Smoky, Boulder, Soldier, and Pioneer Mountains, priced at $1,200 per group with full payment due upon booking and weather credit applicable if unable to fly.
• Sun Valley Resort Lodging Package All-inclusive package combining 3 nights in 2 rooms at the Sun Valley Lodge or Inn (up to 4 guests), 2 days of heli skiing for 4 guests (6 runs per person per day), and 4 Sun Valley Resort lift tickets, priced at $18,936 inclusive of tax with a $7,800 booking deposit.
• Gift Certificates Sun Valley Heli Ski gift certificates available for any specific product or a fixed dollar amount, valid for the ski season issued and the following season; certificates held past the issued season decline 10% in value, and reservations made with a gift certificate are treated as non-refundable.
• Standby List (Last-Minute Availability) Last-minute heli skiing option at $1,200 per seat on a space-available basis, with standby guests typically contacted the day before a scheduled flight day on a first-come, first-served basis via text or email and conditionally booked until 6 PM the day before.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 15,000 feet of vertical descent in a single day
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Zenergy Sun ValleyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSVHS has partnered with Zenergy Spa to offer preferred pricing to guests booking SVHS adventures, including complimentary all-day spa access. Mutual benefit: Zenergy gains exposure to SVHS's affluent adventure tourism customer base; SVHS offers added value to enhance the overall guest experience.
• SturtevantsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSVHS guests receive 20% off premium demo ski rentals through Sturtevants, located in Ketchum and Hailey, Idaho. Sturtevants offers Rossignol powder skis for SVHS guests. Mutual benefit: Sturtevants gains SVHS customer referrals; SVHS enhances the pre-trip guest preparation experience.
• Black Tie Rental DeliveryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSVHS guests receive 10% off premium demo ski rental delivery through Black Tie Rental Delivery, which delivers ski equipment directly to accommodations. Convenience partnership enhancing guest logistics.
• Limelight Hotel KetchumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLimelight Hotel Ketchum offers SVHS guests a 20% room discount plus a $100 discount on a full-day heli-ski adventure when booking their room. Cross-promotional partnership driving bundled bookings.
• The Knob Hill InnminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Knob Hill Inn offers an 'ultimate winter escape' package partnered with SVHS, combining luxury lodging with heli-skiing adventures. Mutual promotional partnership targeting high-end winter travelers.
• Idaho Smoky Mountain Lodge (SML)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Smoky Mountain Lodge is operated in partnership with SVHS during winter months to provide remote, multi-day fly-in heli ski lodging experiences. SVHS provides helicopter transport to/from the lodge; SML provides basecamp accommodation, chef/cuisine, sauna, and hospitality. This is the only remote fly-in heli ski lodge in the contiguous United States — a unique, flagship offering.
• Sawtooth Avalanche CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSVHS relies on the Sawtooth Avalanche Center for daily avalanche forecasting and condition assessments. Alex Kittrell shadowed avalanche forecasters with the center. SVHS participates in a professional observation-sharing network within the Wood River Valley. Critical safety partnership enabling operational decision-making.
• Friends of the Sawtooth Avalanche CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSVHS participates in community events hosted by Friends of the Sawtooth Avalanche Center, including avalanche education nights at White Dog Brewery in Boise with a chance to win a free heli ski seat. Community engagement and education partnership.
• Sun Valley ResortminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSVHS operates in conjunction with Sun Valley Resort, using the resort as a 'weather backup' when conditions prevent flying. Guests can ski the resort (with lift tickets included in some packages) on down days. Sun Valley Resort was voted 'Best Resort North America' by Ski Magazine for three consecutive years (2021–2023), adding prestige to the surrounding area.
• Heli-Ski U.S. Association, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSVHS is a proud member of the Heli-Ski U.S. Association, Inc., whose members represent the very best helicopter skiing operators in the United States. Membership signifies industry leadership and adherence to high operational standards.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Alaska Heli Ski: Direct heli-ski operator in Alaska offering helicopter-accessed backcountry skiing on extensive permitted terrain with multi-day lodge packages. Comparable business model, target customer (affluent skiers), and operating season focus on powder skiing.
• Valdez Heli-Ski Guides: Alaska-based heli-ski operator running day and multi-day helicopter skiing programs in the Chugach Mountains. Directly comparable heli-ski product offering, customer profile, and helicopter-based delivery model.
• Canadian Mountain Holidays (CMH): Largest heli-skiing operator in the world, operating multi-day lodge-based helicopter skiing programs across British Columbia. Same heli-ski + lodge product model, comparable HNW clientele, and similar operational complexity (helicopter fleet, guides, lodge hospitality).
• Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing: Iconic BC heli-ski operation offering day and multi-day lodge-based programs in the Monashees and Cariboos. Compares on full heli-ski + remote lodge experience, multi-million-acre permits, and premium pricing.
• Last Frontier Heliskiing: BC-based heli-ski operator offering both day trips and remote lodge-based programs (Bell 2 Lodge, Ripley Creek). Comparable mix of day heli-ski and multi-day fly-in lodge packages targeting the same affluent adventure travel segment.
• Selkirk Tangiers Heli Skiing: BC heli-ski operator offering day trips from a Revelstoke-area base with small-group ratios. Similar helicopter-only delivery model, similar terrain scale, and overlapping intermediate-to-expert customer base.
• Bella Coola Heli Sports: BC heli-ski operator running day programs and remote lodge trips in the Coast Mountains. Comparable heli-ski + remote lodge product, similar capacity-constrained daily skier counts, and comparable premium pricing.
• Eagle Pass Heliskiing: Smaller BC heli-ski operation offering day trips and multi-day packages from a small lodge base. Directly comparable small-team heli-ski operator with similar intimate guest-to-guide ratios and bespoke service positioning.
• Ruby Mountain Heli-Ski: Lower 48 heli-ski operator in northeastern Nevada operating on Ruby Mountains terrain — the most direct US domestic peer alongside SVHS, with similar helicopter-only delivery and small-team operations in the contiguous US.
• Wasatch Powderbird Guides: Utah-based helicopter skiing operation offering day heli-skiing in the Wasatch and Uintas with similar permit-based operating model. Another Lower 48 heli-ski peer, though more accessible/resort-adjacent rather than remote lodge-based.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@sunvalleyheliski
• Instagraminstagram.com/sunvalleyheliski
• Xx.com/SunValleyHeli
• Facebookfacebook.com/sunvalleyheliski
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sun-valley-heli-ski

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sun Valley Heli Ski