North Idaho helicopter tours are one of the best ways to see this corner of the state, and the place to take one is right here in Bonners Ferry. Whirlybird Aviation flies scenic tours out of Boundary County Airport, from a 20-minute loop over the Moyie River to a 40-minute flight past Chimney Rock and the high Selkirks. Prices start at $240 per flight, not per person, and up to three people can ride together.
North Idaho helicopter tours: who flies them
Whirlybird Aviation is a small, local operation. It’s owned and flown by Wurzel Parsons-Keir, a commercial pilot and flight instructor, out of Hangar A-8 at Boundary County Airport, just off Highway 2 in Bonners Ferry. Scenic tours fly in a four-seat Robinson R44. He also has a two-seat Robinson R22 for flight training.
Every flight starts with a safety briefing on the ground. Then you put on a headset, lift off, and the valley opens up below you.
The tours and what they cost
Prices are per flight, and you only pay for time in the air, not warm-up or shutdown.
Moyie Loop: $240, 20 minutes
The shortest tour follows the Moyie River past the Moyie River Bridge and Moyie Dam, then out over the Kootenai River. Plan on about an hour and a half from arrival to goodbye. Split three ways, that’s $80 a person.
Pick Your Spot: $340, 30 minutes
Choose anywhere within 25 miles of the airport. Want to see your own property, the lake you fish, or the ridge you’ve hiked? This is the one. You request it through the booking form instead of buying it online.
Chimney Rock Grand Tour: $440, 40 minutes
The big one. This route heads up into the high Selkirks past Chimney Rock, Roman Nose, and Silver Dollar Peak. If you’ve hiked to Roman Nose Lakes, seeing them from above is something else. Plan on about two hours total.
Custom Expedition: by quote, 60 minutes or more
Longer flights are planned with the pilot and priced by quote. Whirlybird also does proposals, birthdays, aerial photos, and other special-event flights.
What to know before you book
- Weight limits: each rider must be 250 lb or less, and three riders together 450 lb or less. Conditions on the day can lower that.
- Riders: up to three per flight, plus the pilot.
- Scheduling: by appointment. Call or text 208-352-0859, or email fly@whirlybirdaviation.com.
- Ask ahead about: age requirements, the season, and what happens if the weather turns.
- Gift certificates: each tour is available as a digital gift, and the recipient picks the date.
Make a day of it
A tour takes a couple of hours at most, so pair it with the rest of the valley. I put together a list of things to do in Bonners Ferry built around a flight, and there’s more in A Weekend in Bonners Ferry and Outdoor Activities in Bonners Ferry.
Ready to fly? Book through Whirlybird Aviation’s scenic tours page. And if you’d like your own adventure on video, get in touch with me.