Kicking Horse Mountain Ski Resort Guide & Reviews Ski Area, Apres-Ski, Things to See & Do at Licking Horse
Overview
Kicking Horse ski resort - just 12km from the main town of Golden in the Dogtooth range of the Purcell Mountains in British Columbia lies one of Canada's most exciting and action packed ski resorts.
Surrounded by so much natural beauty with 6 National Parks circling the resort - Banff, Glacier, Kootenay, Yoho, Mt. Revelstoke and Jasper - Kicking Horse is a popular ski resort for all levels of skier and boarder and is a firm family favourite.
Après-ski
The après-ski in Kicking Horse is fun with some great bars both on and off the slopes and several fantastic restaurants and cafes serving up local and international cuisine for all budgets and tastes. For more options, you can always head in to Golden which has a very lively nightlife.
Families
Kicking Horse is well known for its great family facilities and day care nurseries catering for children aged between 18 months and 5 years. Reservations can be made at the ski school.
| Key information (whole area) | |
|---|---|
| Altitude | 1190m |
| Top lift | 2450m |
| Family | |
| Beginner | |
| Intermediate | |
| Expert | |
| Ski area (acre) | 2800 |
| Longest run | km |
| Off piste | |
| Cross country | 33 km |
| Season | Late Dec - Early April |
| Snowboard parks | 1 |
| Heli Skiing | ✔ |
| Summer skiing | ✘ |
| Glacier skiing | ✘ |
| Babysitting | ✔ |
| Creche | ✔ |
| Apres ski | Lively & fun |
Kicking Horse Ski Area Guide
With an average snowfall of 30 feet, snow is virtually guaranteed enabling you to enjoy the 120+ runs, bowls and gladed areas. With the ski terrian stretched over 2750 acres between 3900 and 8033 feet (2450m) giving a max vertical of 1,260m - the 4th largest in North America, it is an incredible winter sports playground for skiers and boarders.
Around half the pistes are graded for beginners and intermediates with the remainder for advanced riding giving some ridiculously steep terrain from top to bottom. Then there is the back country - with a guide, you will discover deep powder bowls and trails that rival the best in Canada.
Beginners
Despite Kicking Horse having a bias towards advanced skiers, there are plenty of beginner slopes and slow-ski areas around the base of the mountain.
Intermediate
An intermediate's paradise is the best way to describe the skiing on Kicking Horse mountain with so many on and off-piste routes to choose from.
Advanced
Kicking Horse is known for its steep terrain and copious amounts of off-piste where skiers and boarders can explore the back bowls and back-country itineraries.
From the top of the Golden Eagle Express Gondola at 11, 266 feet, you can visit the Eagles's Eye restaurant with amazing 360-degree views before heading out in to deep powder bowls.
Cross-country
The scenic Dawn Mountain Nordic Centre offers 33k of world-class cross country skiing trails catering for both classic and skate skiing.
Things to See & Do
- Snowmobile safari
- Snoe shoeing
- Sledging
- Spa and wellness
- Hot springs
- Ice skating
Heli-Skiing
If you can handle most of the terrain at Kicking Horse meaning you are a strong intermediate skier/boarder or better then why not try heli-skiing around the Purcell Mountain range and even do a multi-day excursion staying in a remote lodge.
Kicking Horse Lodging
There are many great accommodation options at the mountain resort and in the town of Golden for your winter vacation. From lodges and cabins to ski chalets, Golden and Kicking Horse offer something for everyone catering for all budgets and tastes.
Many families opt for the convenience of staying in a lodge or apartment at the mountain but if you choose accommodation in Golden, a free shuttle service operates during the winter season between the town centre and the slopes.
Our view on Kicking Horse ski resort
A superb resort for all the family at any time of year with so many things to see and do no matter what age. A few suggestions for your ski holidays...
- A trip to Lake Louise - roughly 1 hours drive west of Kicking Horse in the Banff National Park. This is probably one of the most photographed places in the Canadian Rockies with the famous Chateau Lake Louise at the side of the lake overlooked by the mighty Victoria Glacier
- Only an hour south of Golden on Hwy 95, visit Radium Hot Springs, one of the most amazing natural features of the west. Surrounded by the jagged cliffs of Sinclair Canyon,
- Take the express gondola to the top of the mountain and enjoy a memorable 5 course evening dinner in the Eagle Eye restaurant with 360 degree views - an experience to remember
- Visit the Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Centre just 20 minutes west of Golden
Ski resorts similar to Kicking Horse are Catedral in Argentina and Whistler.
