KICKING HORSE RESORT GUIDE
Images courtesy of Golden Tourism
Kicking Horse Resort Overview
The Avant Ski Team
Nestled in Golden, British Columbia, Kicking Horse Mountain is renowned for its challenging slopes, breathtaking panoramas, and outstanding powder conditions. The Golden Eagle Express Gondola ascends 3,500 vertical feet in just 12 minutes, granting access to a vertical drop exceeding 4,300 feet—one of North America's highest—and sprawling across 3,486 skiable acres. From the summit, skiers and riders have access to four alpine bowls—Terminator, Bowl Over, Feuz Bowl, and Crystal Bowl. These bowls beckon with diverse runs, from daring and steep to gentler slopes.
Kicking Horse, affiliated with RCR and an Epic Pass Partner, provides an ample playground for seasoned enthusiasts with its challenging chutes and cliffs. With an average snowfall of 750cm annually and consistent cold temperatures, the season typically spans from mid-December to mid-April, promising exceptional snow quality well into spring.
Snow Reliability
Snow-Making & Grooming
Ski School
Travel Convenience
Accommodations
Terrain Variety
On Mountain Dining
Extreme / Off-Piste Terrain
Quick Take
Let's Go
Calling all Experts! Kicking Horse's five alpine bowls offer some of BC's most challenging, in bounds terrain.
Excellent snow quality. High elevation (8,218 feet) and consistent cold temperatures keep the snow dry and light.
Breathtaking views from the top of the Golden Eagle Express Gondola
Comprehensive ski school and top notch mountain guides.
Backcountry Access. A world awaits outside the resort boundary but come prepared with avalanche gear.
Hesitations
Limited beginner terrain. While the resort does have a dedicated beginner area, ~60% of the is geared to advanced and experts.
Hard to reach. Kicking Horse is located in Golden, BC.
Limited off-mountain activities.
Potentially very cold.
Insider Tips
Plan to Hike. The resort's best terrain often takes work to reach
Have lunch at Eagle's Eye Restaurant, located at the top of the Gondola. The views are jaw dropping, the setting is cozy; reservations encouraged.
Ski with a grizzly bear: Boo, a rescued grizzly bear occupies a fenced enclosure on the mountain. During the later months when Boo is awake, be sure to wave hello as you ski by or fly overhead on the Gondola.
Downtown Golden has unique, local eateries and bars; check out Whitetooth Brewing Co.
Plan your day(s) to ensure a lap through each of Kicking Horse's 5 bowls. Experts, save your energy for a hike up Terminator 1, Terminator 2, Whitewall, and Ozone.
Trail Map
For an in-depth breakdown of Kicking Horse's terrain, head to our Mountain Guide. Top trails and mountain stats included.
Getting To & Around
Difficult to get to, harder to leave, Kicking Horse is a powder hound's dream. It’s probably best to rent a 4WD or AWD vehicle to maximize your time here or just spend a whole week road tripping the B.C. Powder Highway.
Getting To
Closest Major City: Calgary, BC
Distance: ~280km East, Travel time: ~3 hours drive
Next Closest City: Kelowna, BC
Distance: ~330 km South East, Travel time: ~4 hours drive
Closest Town: Golden, BC
Distance: ~14 km South East, Travel time: ~15 mins
Neighboring Resorts
Closest Neighbors (Epic Pass)
Nakisa Ski Area (~225 km, ~2.5 hours drive)
Kimberley Alpine (~350 km, ~3 hours drive)
Closest Neighbors (Ikon Pass)
Revelstoke (~160 km, ~2 hours drive)
Lake Louise (~95 km, ~1.25 hours drive)
Banff Sunshine (~150 km, ~1.5-2 hours drive)
Panorma Mountain Resort (~150 km, ~ 2 hours drive)
Travel by Plane
Closest major commercial airport: YYC (Calgary International Airport)
~290km East, ~3 hours drive
Travel By Bus
The Champagne Shuttle runs to/from the Calgary Airport to Golden, daily
The Golden Kicking Horse connecter runs from the town of Golden to Kicking Horse regularly and takes about 15-20 minutes
Travel by Car
We prefer to have a car here. The drive along the Trans-Canada Highway is beautiful, but do not skip on a 4WD vehicle as B.C. mountain passes and highways can be treacherous
Pros: Parking is free; access to wider selection of restaurants, great for combining Kicking Horse with a visit to resorts along the Powder Highway
Cons: Roads can be treacherous
Ride shares: (e.g., Uber, Lyft) are not reliable here
