How to Ski the Powder Highway in Canada

Some of the best skiing in North America is found off an inconspicuous two-lane road in a lesser-visited corner of British Columbia. The aptly named Powder Highway connects eight Canadian ski areas, each with its own superlatives and charms, all set in the Kootenay Rockies.

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

Each of the eight resorts has its specialty — be it lots of vertical, 40 feet of annual snowfall, or minimal lift lines. You can ski all eight ski areas, a mission that Korven says takes at least 10 days, or really get to know two to four resorts on one trip. It’s an entirely choose-your-own-adventure getaway.

“The best way to plan is to determine your access point (i.e., Calgary, Vancouver, Kelowna, Spokane, or Kalispell), then create a route that best suits your style,” said Korven. 

If you’re flying into Calgary, it makes sense to start your journey at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in Golden (plus, you’ll drive through Banff, home to three additional ski areas you can visit en route). If you’re flying into Spokane, Washington, you’ll want to start your ski trip at RED Mountain Resort, and if you’re flying into Kalispell, Montana, it’s easiest to start at Fernie Alpine Resort.

As Korven explained, you should begin your planning by first determining your ski style. “Do you like the steeps, trees, moguls, or groomers,” Kroven said, adding to also think about “what is important to you: ski in/ski out, luxury vs budget? The joy is that you can truly customize your Powder Highway journey to meet your needs.”

For this article, we’re starting our trek in Calgary and going counterclockwise around the Powder Highway loop. And that trip begins at Kicking Horse.

Kicking Horse Mountain Resort

If you’re flying into Calgary, head west to Kicking Horse in the town of Golden. The drive takes around three hours, but you can break it up by stopping at Banff National Park and skiing at one of the three local ski areas (known as SkiBig3). There are also daily shuttles between Calgary and Golden if you want to sit in a passenger seat instead.

The trek is well worth the effort. Kicking Horse is nicknamed the “Champagne Powder Capital of Canada” and has some of the most chute skiing in North America. The resort has over 3,400 acres of skiable terrain and 4,314 feet of vertical (one of the biggest gains in North America).

How to Ride: Epic Pass holders can ski up to seven days at Kicking Horse. Single-day lift tickets start at 126 CAD (around $90).

Revelstoke Mountain Resort

If you like steep terrain, this is the spot to be. Revelstoke Mountain Resort boasts the most vertical in North America and has a rugged feel with chutes and bowls up top and beginner-friendly terrain near the base. The town of Revelstoke is picturesque and charming, but powder hounds will want to stay at Cabot Revelstoke, which will sit right at the base of the ski area, when it opens in 2026.

Revelstoke is just under a two-hour drive west of Kicking Horse, but it can also be accessed on its own by flying into Kelowna International Airport (a two-and-a-half-hour drive). 

How to Ride: Depending on their pass type, Ikon Pass holders can ski for up to seven days at Revelstoke. Single-day lift tickets start at 127 CAD (around $91).

RED Mountain Resort 

The four-hour drive between Revelstoke and RED is the largest stretch you’ll come across on the Powder Highway. So when you arrive at RED Mountain Resort, you’ll be rested and ready to go. And that’s a good thing since RED has around 3,850 acres of terrain and pay-per-run cat-skiing (20 CAD a ride) that will leave your legs burning.

You can also start your Powder Highway journey at RED by flying into Spokane, Washington, which is two-and-a-half hours from RED Mountain Resort.

How to Ride: Ikon Pass holders can ski up to seven days at RED depending on their pass type. Single-day lift tickets start at 139 CAD (around $99).

Whitewater Ski Resort 

A day of skiing at Whitewater often involves fresh snow. The ski area claims around 40 feet of snow each year (that’s almost 500 inches!) and recently expanded its inbound terrain into the Ymir Bowl, bringing its total inbound acreage to 1,367 (and 3,247 skiable acres total). Whitewater Ski Resort requires a bit of an extra drive off the Powder Highway loop, but the snow (and the funky city of Nelson) is well worth the drive.

How to Ride: Single-day lift tickets start at 129.60 CAD (around $93).

Fernie Alpine Resort

The drive between Whitewater and Fernie Alpine Resort is around three-and-a-half hours by car, but you can also start your Powder Highway journey by flying into Kalispell, Montana, and making the two-hour drive north to Fernie (or flying into Calgary, which is just over three hours by car).

Either way, Fernie is one of those spots you won’t want to miss. The mountain is steep and has a reported 37 feet of snow annually, on average. The mountain is unique in that it hosts five alpine bowls, and riders won’t want to miss a journey up the iconic Polar Peak chairlift, which provides ski access to one of the highest peaks in the Lizard Range.

How to Ride: Epic Pass holders can ski up to seven days at Fernie. Single-day lift tickets start at 126.65 CAD (around $90).

Kimberley Alpine Resort

If you like big mountains and car-free vacations, look no further. Kimberley is surrounded by jagged peaks, and the car-free downtown area feels like a snow globe — with a quaint look and quiet atmosphere. The ski area is known for its light powder and plenty of sun. It also has lots of ski-in, ski-out lodging, which makes it an excellent choice for families. Kimberley Alpine Resort is 90 minutes west of Fernie by car.

How to Ride: Epic Pass holders can ski up to seven days at Kimberley Alpine Resort. Single-day lift tickets start at 105.40 CAD (around $75).

Fairmont Hot Springs Resort

Fairmont Hot Springs Resort is by far the smallest ski area on the Powder Highway, but if you’re traveling with kids or love hot springs, it is well worth a stop. The small ski area (just 14 runs) is buffered by Canada’s largest natural mineral hot springs — the perfect end to a ski day. Fairmont Hot Springs is just over one hour north of Kimberley on the Powder Highway.

How to Ride: Single-day lift tickets start at 72 CAD (around $51 — the best deal on the Powder Highway).

Panorama Mountain Resort

The drive between Fairmont Hot Springs and Panorama is quick at just over 30 minutes by car — but the two resorts couldn’t be more different. While both are family-friendly and laid back, Panorama is a big mountain with 4,265 feet of vertical and almost 3,000 acres of skiable terrain.

The ski area is known for its giant on-mountain hot tubs, private heliskiing, and walkable ski village. You can also reach Panorama Mountain Resort directly from Calgary along a supremely scenic drive that cuts through the mountains and takes just under three-and-a-half hours.

How to Ride: Depending on their pass type, Ikon Pass holders can ski for up to seven days at Panorama. Single-day lift tickets start at 135.20 CAD (around $96).