More than half of British Columbia's major ski resorts are located in the Kootenay Rockies region.
The terrain here is dominated by amazing mountain ranges – the Monashees, Purcells, Selkirks, and Rockies – and up to 14m/46ft of light, dry powder falls each year.
Ski and snowboard resorts in the Kootenay Rockies feature uncrowded slopes, short lift lines, and laid-back, friendly atmospheres. The quantity and proximity of resorts along the "Powder Highway" enables skiers and boarders to sample a variety of slopes during a single visit.
There are also number of smaller, family-friendly downhill ski and snowboard areas in the Kootenay Rockies.
Skiing in the Kootenay Rockies
Revelstoke Mountain Resort is BC’s newest ski resort (2012/13 will be its sixth season), and it has the longest lift-serviced vertical in North America: 1,713m/5,620ft. It's also the only resort in North America to offer cat-skiing or heli-skiing from the same base. Freeskier Magazine named Revelstoke amoung the Top 5 Best Powder in 2011.
Kicking Horse Mountain Resort (in Golden) is aptly labelled the "Champagne Powder Capital of Canada” and has up to 7.5m/25ft of light, dry powder falling annually, along with big mountain terrain consisting of chutes, bowls, glades and steeps. Kicking Horse is home to one of Western Canada's biggest verticals at 1,260m/4,133ft.
Near Invermere, Panorama Mountain Village’s ski area covers 1,152ha/2,847ac. Its Rockstar Terrain Park is one of the biggest in the Canadian Rockies. The BC Alpine Ski Association singled out Panorama as British Columbia's Mountain Resort of the Year in 2011.
Kimberley Alpine Resort is a great family-friendly ski destination that combines convenient access (20 minutes by car from the Canadian Rockies International Airport) with quiet, uncrowded slopes and consistent snow. The resort was Ski Canada Magazine's choice for Best Tree Skiing in 2012.
High in the Rocky Mountains, Fernie Alpine Resort offers the greatest vertical (1,082m/3,550ft) and the most runs in the Canadian Rockies with the opening of the Polar Peak Chairlift last season. The powder is deep and dry with nearly 9m/30ft falling annually. Fernie was among National Geographic's Best Winter Trips 2012.
Red Mountain Resort at Rossland is a favourite with locals, and features 88 runs, uncrowded slopes, gladed tree skiing, incredible steeps, and powder-filled bowls. In 2010, Ski Canada Magazine recognized Red as having the Most Consistent Fall-line Steeps.
In Nelson, Whitewater Ski Resort is perfect for powderhounds and backcountry skiing enthusiasts; up to 12m/39ft of dry, light snow falls annually. Whitewater is also known for its award-winning Fresh Tracks Cafe, 2nd in the 10 Best Ski-Resort Cafeterias in SKI Magazine 2011.
Smaller Ski Areas
Fairmont Hot Springs in Invermere offers free entrance to their natural mineral hot springs to relax in after a day on the slopes. Summit Lake Ski Area in Nakusp and Salmo Ski Hill in Salmo are two other small but uncrowded options.
Practical Points
- Equipment rentals and lessons are available at all major ski resorts.
- Accommodations at ski and snowboard resorts usually include a range of ski-in/ski-out or on-mountain options; additional accommodation is also available in nearby cities and towns.
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