Kicking Horse BC
Kicking Horse is fairly undeveloped in terms of the size of its on hill facilities (it has everything you would need though). It is a very picturesque mountain range and feels very alpine. We stayed on the hill but there are plenty of options in the nearby town of Golden.
It is steep! It would really be suited to solid intermediates and up, those below that would most likely end up riding the same runs although the blues that go from top to bottom are really long. Experts will be in their element.
Kicking Horse is fairly undeveloped in terms of the size of its on hill facilities (it has everything you would need though). It is a very picturesque mountain range and feels very alpine. We stayed on the hill but there are plenty of options in the nearby town of Golden.
It is steep! It would really be suited to solid intermediates and up, those below that would most likely end up riding the same runs although the blues that go from top to bottom are really long. Experts will be in their element.
Kicking Horse's lifts
Most of the hill is accessed from the Golden Eagle Express Gondola which takes you from the day lodge right to the top of the hill, it could probably do with a mid station stop. Its really long but fairly fast. Its actually pretty epic getting out on the top of such a massive mountain, especially the first time you ride up in it. There can be quite long ques here in the morning and given that it’s the main access up the hill can get quite backed up, we didn’t have to que longer than 10 minutes or so at any time though.
The stairway to heaven chair that access the whitewall side is fairly fast and didn’t ever have a que. The Catamount chair was insanely slow but we only mistakenly went on it once (it doesn’t go far).
Kicking Horse's Best Runs
Kicking Horse is epic. It really is a fantastic ski hill with amazing lines everywhere. We didn’t get round to the T2 North ridge due to the access being really icy but we were told by locals that it is really worth going to.
There are some fantastic couloirs accessed along the CPR Ridge that are really steep and challenging, proper heart beating stuff. We were shown these by a local and probably wouldn’t have found many of them without a local guiding us. I think our favourite was “Whistle blower” but I can’t remember exactly as they aren’t sign posted.
The Whitewall accessed via the Stair way to Heaven (a foreboding set of stairs that leads to the top) was excellent skiing, both great snow and steep. The Feuz bowl that it leads into is full of great steep lines. Its one of the best parts of a ski area that I’ve ever been to, it was genuinely excellent. Its only fault is that there is no way to access it again without going all the way to the bottom of the hill and going back up in the Gondola; which means a long turn around to get back up.
Kicking Horse's Snow
It hadn’t snowed for 3 days when we were there and didn’t snow until the day we were leaving but the snow was still in great condition and in many of the gullies and Couloirs it looked untouched. It has a great reputation so will need a return visit.
Most of the hill is accessed from the Golden Eagle Express Gondola which takes you from the day lodge right to the top of the hill, it could probably do with a mid station stop. Its really long but fairly fast. Its actually pretty epic getting out on the top of such a massive mountain, especially the first time you ride up in it. There can be quite long ques here in the morning and given that it’s the main access up the hill can get quite backed up, we didn’t have to que longer than 10 minutes or so at any time though.
The stairway to heaven chair that access the whitewall side is fairly fast and didn’t ever have a que. The Catamount chair was insanely slow but we only mistakenly went on it once (it doesn’t go far).
Kicking Horse's Best Runs
Kicking Horse is epic. It really is a fantastic ski hill with amazing lines everywhere. We didn’t get round to the T2 North ridge due to the access being really icy but we were told by locals that it is really worth going to.
There are some fantastic couloirs accessed along the CPR Ridge that are really steep and challenging, proper heart beating stuff. We were shown these by a local and probably wouldn’t have found many of them without a local guiding us. I think our favourite was “Whistle blower” but I can’t remember exactly as they aren’t sign posted.
The Whitewall accessed via the Stair way to Heaven (a foreboding set of stairs that leads to the top) was excellent skiing, both great snow and steep. The Feuz bowl that it leads into is full of great steep lines. Its one of the best parts of a ski area that I’ve ever been to, it was genuinely excellent. Its only fault is that there is no way to access it again without going all the way to the bottom of the hill and going back up in the Gondola; which means a long turn around to get back up.
Kicking Horse's Snow
It hadn’t snowed for 3 days when we were there and didn’t snow until the day we were leaving but the snow was still in great condition and in many of the gullies and Couloirs it looked untouched. It has a great reputation so will need a return visit.
Kicking Horse Food
We ate at Kicking Horse Saloon which was decent pub grub. They had giant Jenga sets that people were enjoying. These were very noisy when they crashed down and at one point actually crashed onto a couple who were eating their dinner at a table beside it, smashing their wine glasses into smithereens and spilling red wine all over the place. They found it pretty amusing, not sure the same reaction would happen in France!
Kicking Horse (nearly budget) accommodation
We stayed in the Kicking Horse lodge on the hill which was fantastic. We had a great view of the access gondola from our balcony. Its tastefully decorated and right in the heart of the village, we couldn’t fault it. Great parking, well decorated rooms and a fantastic drying room. We got this on a mid-week ski and stay deal that was online, which made it affordable. There are plenty of options in nearby Golden too (8 miles away).
Kicking Horse lodge booking- Kicking Horse Lodge
We ate at Kicking Horse Saloon which was decent pub grub. They had giant Jenga sets that people were enjoying. These were very noisy when they crashed down and at one point actually crashed onto a couple who were eating their dinner at a table beside it, smashing their wine glasses into smithereens and spilling red wine all over the place. They found it pretty amusing, not sure the same reaction would happen in France!
Kicking Horse (nearly budget) accommodation
We stayed in the Kicking Horse lodge on the hill which was fantastic. We had a great view of the access gondola from our balcony. Its tastefully decorated and right in the heart of the village, we couldn’t fault it. Great parking, well decorated rooms and a fantastic drying room. We got this on a mid-week ski and stay deal that was online, which made it affordable. There are plenty of options in nearby Golden too (8 miles away).
Kicking Horse lodge booking- Kicking Horse Lodge
Kicking Horse Review
Kicking Horse is fantastic. It is on a grand scale and feels very alpine with an amazing amount of lines possible all over the place. We skied 3 days there. There is the potential to add lifts and access huge amounts of terrain on either side of the resort which I hope they do, a lift that meant not having to ski all the way down to the gondola would be fantastic. Would love to go back and highly recommend a visit.
Kicking Horse is fantastic. It is on a grand scale and feels very alpine with an amazing amount of lines possible all over the place. We skied 3 days there. There is the potential to add lifts and access huge amounts of terrain on either side of the resort which I hope they do, a lift that meant not having to ski all the way down to the gondola would be fantastic. Would love to go back and highly recommend a visit.