Our 11-day tour takes you to four of the best mountain resorts along the glorious Powder Highway famed for some of the deepest snow in North America.We’ll explore charming towns near the resorts and soak in hot springs whenever we have a chance. During trips between the resorts, we’ll drive past the most beautiful natural sights of BC, including the Three Valley Gap, the Valley of a Thousand Peaks, and Roger’s Pass.
Get ready for the ultimate skiing adventure!
Day 1: Pick Up in Kelowna
We’ll meet you in Kelowna in the afternoon. Depending on your preferences, we can meet you at your hotel, bus station or pick you up from the airport. After we all get to know each other a little, we’ll hop in the van and hit the road.
The drive up North to our first stop, the rustic mountain town Revelstoke, takes around 2 hours. We’ll drive along the cliff-lined highway and pass some shimmering Alpine lakes. The road takes us through Three Valley Gap, a heritage ghost town that was once a vibrant place full of gold seekers. The short-lived gold rush left the town with plenty of abandoned buildings and a ghostly vibe.
Once we arrive in Revelstoke, you’ll have time to get settled in the hotel. Afterward, we’ll all hit the town for dinner. Otherwise, you can choose to explore the charming town on your own.
Days 2 and 3: Revelstoke Mountain Resort
Fuel up with a hearty breakfast ahead of an active day at the Revelstoke Mountain Resort. Revelstoke boasts the longest lift-served vertical descent in North America, with an outstanding 5,620 ft (1,713 m) vertical! It’s also the only resort in the world that offers lift, cat, backcountry, and heli-skiing from just one base.
The Revelstoke Mountain Resort features over 3,000 acres of high alpine bowl-shaped valleys, gladed and groomed terrains. Look around as you slide down to appreciate the scenic views of Begbie Glacier, Arrow Lakes on the Columbia River, and rolling tree lines.
After you’ve had enough skiing for one day, we’ll head back to town for a tasty dinner.
On the second day of the tour, before bedtime, come along on an outing to the other side of the Upper Arrow Lake and soak in Halcyon Hot Springs that warm up to 104°F (40°C). Relax in the hot pools under the starry sky and recharge before another adventurous day.
Days 4 and 5: Kicking Horse Mountain Resort
For the next two days, we’ll test the snow at the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort that features the diverse slopes of the Purcell Mountain Range. With over 120 trails on nearly 3,500 acres of skiing ground, the place welcomes skiers with all levels of experience.
The slopes here are covered in light, fluffy and dry snow, the so-called “Champagne Powder.” The region gets an average of 60 ft (18 m) of this snow every season, making it a genuine paradise for winter sports enthusiasts.
Take the Golden Eagle Express gondola to the top of the Kicking Horse and enjoy impressive 360-degree-views of the snowy peaks on your way up. If you think that it cannot get any better, just wait — the views from the top are jaw-dropping. Look around and see five national parks, dotted with glaciers, lakes, and rivers.
Relax at the famous Eagle’s Eye, the highest restaurant in Canada, located 7,700 ft (2,350 m) high and enjoy excellent dining with exceptional views.
Day 6: Road Trip to Nelson
We’ll hit the road and move south through the Valley of a Thousand Peaks, or Rocky Mountain Trench. Rumour has it, the trench is so big that you can see it from the Moon!
During our short road trip, we’ll stop for a soak in the Lussier Hot Springs. Located right next to the Whiteswan River, the hot springs are completely natural and the perfect way to relax your muscles after all the skiing. We promise that the views of the river and the gorge around the springs will not disappoint!
We continue through Cranbrook and head towards Kootenay Pass, one of the highest roads in the country.
By the evening, we reach Nelson, also known as “The Queen City.” It gets its name from the restored heritage architecture from its glory days during the silver rush — the silver-mining equivalent of the gold rush. Although there are only around 10,000 residents in the town, it has almost 80 restaurants and bars, as well as loads of cafes and shops.
We’ll spend three nights in this charming town, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities for culinary exploration!
Days 7 and 8: Whitewater Ski Resort and Ainsworth Hot Springs
On days 7 and 8, we’ll head to the Whitewater Ski Resort for world-class steep tree skiing! Whitewater’s highlight is the is 7,874-ft (2,400-m) high Ymir Mountain, part of the Selkirk Mountain range.
Dry and fluffy powder snow is not the only thing that attracts skiers to this resort. If you’ve been wondering where finest ski resort food is, Whitewater is your answer. Spoil your taste buds at 5,400 ft (1,645 m) at the world-famous Fresh Tracks Cafe. The place is a true foodie’s paradise with fresh and wholesome meals that are so good they were honored in four internationally bestselling cookbooks!
By this point, you’ll know what a pleasure it is to soak in hot water pools after an active day of skiing. Relax your body in mineral-rich water of the Ainsworth Hot Springs in the heart of the Kootenay Mountain range and prepare yourself for the last two days of skiing.
Days 9 and 10: Red Mountain Ski Resort
Early in the morning, we’ll leave Nelson and head towards Rossland, our home for the next couple of days.
The sooner we arrive, the more time we’ll have to hit Red Mountain, one of the oldest ski hills in North America with a ski club that dates back to the 1900s. Part of the Monashee Mountain range, the Red Mountain Ski Resort is often described as the beast of the mountain skiing scene. Whatever direction you ski down from the chair, you’ll always arrive at a chair for your next lift! You’ll have plenty of fun sliding down, past tight trees, massive pillows, cliff lines, chutes, open ridges or some playful, easy groomers.
The Red Mountain has been repeatedly rated one of the best freeride resorts in Canada, and you’ll see why. Try out some brand new skiing areas, as the Red Mountain Ski Resort recently added 1,600 acres of skiable terrain on Mt Grey.
There’s cold beer and hot food available right at the bottom of the slopes, so you can always take a break, stretch your legs and just chill.
Day 11: Back to Kelowna
We’ll grab some breakfast and make our way to the van because today we’re heading back to Kelowna. The trip will take around five hours and you’ll be dropped off at your hotel.
Expect to be at your hotel, the bus station or at the airport by 2 pm today and plan your departures accordingly.