Known as the “Champagne Powder Capital” of Canada, Kicking Horse, close to the town of Golden in British Columbia, has a great reputation among skiers. There are more than 2,800 acres of skiable terrain, 121 runs, four alpine bowls, 85 chutes and 1260m of vertical (that’s the fourth highest in North America).
Kicking Horse stats
- Top: 2504m
- Base: 1190m
- Drop: 1314m vertical.
- Area: 11.33+ sq km
- Number of runs: 129
- Green: 20%
- Blue: 20%
- Black Diamond: 45%
- Double Diamond: 15%
- Longest run: 10km
- Uplifts: 1 gondola and 3 chairlifts
- 1 surface lift
- Snow making: Yes
- Average annual snowfall: 7m
Pros of Kicking Horse
- Lots to entertain advanced and expert skiers
- Many challenges for all if you are keen to push your comfort zone a little
- The Horse gondola whisks skiers from the base to the 2346m up in 12 just minutes
- Ski-in, ski-out accommodation
- Never feels too crowded
- Friendly and relaxed small-town atmosphere
- Nearby town of Golden is well worth a visit.
Cons of Kicking Horse
- Some learner runs and intermediate pistes but these are limited
- This is a resort – and you have to drive to the nearest town of Golden (there are plans to introduce buses between the resort and the town)
- If you want to explore widely you need to bootpack a bit (we liked the adventure of this but some might not)
- Most of the resort is unpisted (again, we liked this but others might not)
More to know about Kicking Horse
- It is a unique resort with great history
- While there are only a few uplifts there is a great deal to ski and explore
- There are several classic routes, such as T1, T2 and Ozone to ski.
- The in-bounds backcountry area is lift accessible and avalanche controlled.
Where to stay and eat
Choose between accommodation in Golden and the resort. We stayed at Kicking Horse Glacier Mountaineer Lodge for a second time. It’s really friendly and is brilliantly located right next to the resort gondola. The rooms are well appointed and spacious. On-site there is a fitness centre, sauna, hot tub and free parking.
There are good places to eat in the resort and in Golden, too. We enjoyed a superb lunch at the Eagle’s Eye Restaurant on the mountain top.
We also had coffee and lunch at the Double Black cafe in the resort and at Winston Bar & Bistro a five minute walk from Glacier Mountaineer Lodge.
The Tap Bar, Whitetooth Brewing Company and Bacchus Books Shop and Cafe in Golden are recommended, too.