Tips on how to Ski the Powder Freeway in Canada

A number of the greatest snowboarding in North America is discovered off an not easily seen two-lane street in a lesser-visited nook of British Columbia. The aptly named Powder Freeway connects eight Canadian ski areas, every with its personal superlatives and charms, all set within the Kootenay Rockies.

“Deep snow, small mountain cities, and essentially the most downhome, stash-laden, adventure-packed ski resorts in North America exist right here,” Heidi Korven, who works with Kootenay Rockies Tourism, shared in an e mail interview with Journey + Leisure.

Every of the eight resorts has its specialty — be it plenty of vertical, 40 ft of annual snowfall, or minimal elevate strains. You’ll be able to ski all eight ski areas, a mission that Korven says takes at the very least 10 days, or actually get to know two to 4 resorts on one journey. It is a wholly choose-your-own-adventure getaway.

“The easiest way to plan is to find out your entry level (i.e., Calgary, Vancouver, Kelowna, Spokane, or Kalispell), then create a route that most accurately fits your model,” mentioned Korven. 

When you’re flying into Calgary, it is smart to begin your journey at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in Golden (plus, you may drive via Banff, residence to a few further ski areas you may go to en route). When you’re flying into Spokane, Washington, you may need to begin your ski journey at RED Mountain Resort, and in case you’re flying into Kalispell, Montana, it is best to begin at Fernie Alpine Resort.

As Korven defined, it’s best to start your planning by first figuring out your ski model. “Do you just like the steeps, timber, moguls, or groomers,” Kroven mentioned, including to additionally take into consideration “what’s vital to you: ski in/ski out, luxurious vs price range? The enjoyment is which you can really customise your Powder Freeway journey to satisfy your wants.”

For this text, we’re beginning our trek in Calgary and going counterclockwise across the Powder Freeway loop. And that journey begins at Kicking Horse.

Kicking Horse Mountain Resort

When you’re flying into Calgary, head west to Kicking Horse within the city of Golden. The drive takes round three hours, however you may break it up by stopping at Banff Nationwide Park and snowboarding at one of many three native ski areas (referred to as SkiBig3). There are additionally day by day shuttles between Calgary and Golden if you wish to sit in a passenger seat as an alternative.

The trek is properly well worth the effort. Kicking Horse is nicknamed the “Champagne Powder Capital of Canada” and has a number of the most chute snowboarding in North America. The resort has over 3,400 acres of skiable terrain and 4,314 ft of vertical (one of many largest features in North America).

Tips on how to Trip: Epic Move holders can ski as much as seven days at Kicking Horse. Single-day elevate tickets begin at 126 CAD (round $90).

Revelstoke Mountain Resort

When you like steep terrain, that is the spot to be. Revelstoke Mountain Resort boasts essentially the most vertical in North America and has a rugged really feel with chutes and bowls up prime and beginner-friendly terrain close to the bottom. The city of Revelstoke is picturesque and charming, however powder hounds will need to keep at Cabot Revelstoke, which can sit proper on the base of the ski space, when it opens in 2026.

Revelstoke is just below a two-hour drive west of Kicking Horse, nevertheless it will also be accessed by itself by flying into Kelowna Worldwide Airport (a two-and-a-half-hour drive). 

Tips on how to Trip: Relying on their cross sort, Ikon Move holders can ski for as much as seven days at Revelstoke. Single-day elevate tickets begin at 127 CAD (round $91).

RED Mountain Resort 

The four-hour drive between Revelstoke and RED is the biggest stretch you’ll come throughout on the Powder Freeway. So if you arrive at RED Mountain Resort, you’ll be rested and able to go. And that’s an excellent factor since RED has round 3,850 acres of terrain and pay-per-run cat-skiing (20 CAD a experience) that can depart your legs burning.

You may as well begin your Powder Freeway journey at RED by flying into Spokane, Washington, which is two-and-a-half hours from RED Mountain Resort.

Tips on how to Trip: Ikon Move holders can ski as much as seven days at RED relying on their cross sort. Single-day elevate tickets begin at 139 CAD (round $99).

Whitewater Ski Resort 

A day of snowboarding at Whitewater typically entails contemporary snow. The ski space claims round 40 ft of snow every year (that’s nearly 500 inches!) and lately expanded its inbound terrain into the Ymir Bowl, bringing its whole inbound acreage to 1,367 (and three,247 skiable acres whole). Whitewater Ski Resort requires a little bit of an additional drive off the Powder Freeway loop, however the snow (and the funky metropolis of Nelson) is properly well worth the drive.

Tips on how to Trip: Single-day elevate tickets begin at 129.60 CAD (round $93).

Fernie Alpine Resort

The drive between Whitewater and Fernie Alpine Resort is round three-and-a-half hours by automotive, however you can even begin your Powder Freeway journey by flying into Kalispell, Montana, and making the two-hour drive north to Fernie (or flying into Calgary, which is simply over three hours by automotive).

Both means, Fernie is a kind of spots you received’t need to miss. The mountain is steep and has a reported 37 ft of snow yearly, on common. The mountain is exclusive in that it hosts 5 alpine bowls, and riders received’t need to miss a journey up the long-lasting Polar Peak chairlift, which supplies ski entry to one of many highest peaks within the Lizard Vary.

Tips on how to Trip: Epic Move holders can ski as much as seven days at Fernie. Single-day elevate tickets begin at 126.65 CAD (round $90).

Kimberley Alpine Resort

When you like massive mountains and car-free holidays, look no additional. Kimberley is surrounded by jagged peaks, and the car-free downtown space looks like a snow globe — with a quaint look and quiet ambiance. The ski space is understood for its gentle powder and loads of solar. It additionally has plenty of ski-in, ski-out lodging, which makes it a wonderful alternative for households. Kimberley Alpine Resort is 90 minutes west of Fernie by automotive.

Tips on how to Trip: Epic Move holders can ski as much as seven days at Kimberley Alpine Resort. Single-day elevate tickets begin at 105.40 CAD (round $75).

Fairmont Scorching Springs Resort

Fairmont Scorching Springs Resort is by far the smallest ski space on the Powder Freeway, however in case you’re touring with youngsters or love sizzling springs, it’s properly price a cease. The small ski space (simply 14 runs) is buffered by Canada’s largest pure mineral sizzling springs — the proper finish to a ski day. Fairmont Scorching Springs is simply over one hour north of Kimberley on the Powder Freeway.

Tips on how to Trip: Single-day elevate tickets begin at 72 CAD (round $51 — the very best deal on the Powder Freeway).

Panorama Mountain Resort

The drive between Fairmont Scorching Springs and Panorama is fast at simply over half-hour by automotive — however the two resorts couldn’t be extra totally different. Whereas each are family-friendly and laid again, Panorama is a giant mountain with 4,265 ft of vertical and nearly 3,000 acres of skiable terrain.

The ski space is understood for its big on-mountain sizzling tubs, personal heliskiing, and walkable ski village. You may as well attain Panorama Mountain Resort immediately from Calgary alongside a supremely scenic drive that cuts via the mountains and takes just below three-and-a-half hours.

Tips on how to Trip: Relying on their cross sort, Ikon Move holders can ski for as much as seven days at Panorama. Single-day elevate tickets begin at 135.20 CAD (round $96).