The Ultimate Guide To The Powder Highway
What is the Powder Highway?
The Powder Highway is a magical place where the cold air of the Rockies meets the moisture laden air from the coast, resulting in biblical amounts of snow fall on the least know and most under rated of the major mountain formation in Canada.
Simply put, the Powder Highway is the holy land for skiers and boarders who crave the epic ski conditions we’ve all been searching for. Well some of us found it and this guide will help you find it too.
The Powder Highway is a network of resorts, scattered throughout the Columbia Mountains in British Columbia.
Ski Resorts on the Powder Highway
The Powder Highway has a huge variety of ski resorts to suit most skiers and boarders out there. We say most because the Powder Highway isn’t particularly well known for fancy shops filled with jewelry and fur coats. What it lacks in fur coats and jewelry it makes up for in the best powder skiing in Canada and some of the best in the world. Every ski resort on the Powder Highway has runs that are suitable for first timers, and runs that would scare the pants off most advanced skiers. Each ski town on the Powder Highway has a few options for cat and heli skiing as well. The list below is a good start, but there are many other ski areas to explore along the Powder Highway, including Salmo Ski Area, Summit Lake and Fairmont Hot Springs. We offer Powder Highway ski tours where you can experience several of these mountains in one amazing adventure!
Revelstoke Mountain Resort
With the highest vertical in North America (5600 feet), over 3000 acres of skiable terrain and a whopping 35 feet of annual snowfall, Revelstoke Mountain Resort should be on your list when you come to ski the Powder Highway. Two gondolas whisk you to the alpine and two chairlifts do a perfect job at helping you access all the terrain.
Kicking Horse Mountain Resort
Almost 3500 acres, spread over 120 runs and 4100 vertical feet make this an amazing mountain to hit. Over 24 feet of average annual snowfall keep you covered in snow, and the abundance of scary double black diamonds keeps you in check. If you come to visit the Powder Highway, make sure you get kicked by the ‘Horse!
Whitewater Ski Resort
Over 40 feet of snow completely bury the 1200 acres and 2000 feet of vertical that Whitewater proudly offers. Don’t underestimate it though… most of this mountain is covered in trees, so there are more tree runs than you could discover in a lifetime, which is why this is a favourite ski resort on the Powder Highway.
Red Mountain
3000 feet of vertical drop, 3800 massive acres and over 25 feet of annual snow are just a few reasons to visit Red Mountain on your Powder Highway ski trip. The friendly locals, slow-chair-charm and incredibly playful terrain are a few more. Rafters Lounge and hot dogs on Paradise Patio are two more. See you there!
Fernie Alpine Resort
It’s not the 3500 feet of vertical. It’s not the 2500 acres of ski terrain. And it’s not the 30 feet of annual snowfall either. Fernie has 5 distinct bowls, each with their own charm, so a day at Fernie feels like you’ve been to several mountains. The runs are long, most are top to bottom. Legs are tired, beer is dark, and the views are astounding. Ski Fernie and you will see why so many like you have never left.
KIMBERLEY Ski Resort
The 1800 acres, 2400 feet of vertical and 13 feet of annual snow are just some of the reasons to visit Kimberley on your next ski trip on the Powder Highway. This is the perfect place to learn to ski without being intimidated and the perfect place to bring your family.
Panorama Ski Resort
4300 vertical feet, 3000 acres and 17 annual feet of snowfall are placed perfectly in a scenic valley on the Powder Highway. Panorama has some amazing terrain, a great village and best of all, some incredible views. The town of Invermere is nearby and is also tons of fun.
Getting to and From the Powder Highway
By Air:
Calgary Airport. Calgary airport is just a few hours from the Powder Highway and one of the easiest access point to ski the Powder Highway. From here it is 4 hours to Fernie or 3 hours to Golden, passing through Banff.
Kelowna Airport. Kelowna airport is another great alternative to travel to the Powder Highway ski area. From here, Revelstoke is 3 hours away, and Rossland is almost 5. Kelowna Airport is also very close to Bigwhite Ski Resort, Silverstar and not far from Sunpeaks.
Cranbrook Airport. Cranbrook airport is a little more limited in flight options, but reliable for weather and very close to Fernie (just an hour). It’s also very close to Kimberly Ski Resort, and roughly 2 hours from Panorama Ski Resort.
Spokane Airport. Flying into Spokane is the easiest way to get to Nelson and Rossland, though it adds the complication of transit visas etc to enter the States. There are daily shuttles from Spokane to Nelson and back.
By Bus
Kelowna to Revelstoke.: Stoke Shuttle: from Everything Revelstoke
Calgary to Golden/ Revelstoke: Rider Express
Nelson/ Rossland to Spokane Airport: Kootenay Shuttle
Kelowna to Nelson/ Rossland: Silvercity Stagelines
Fernie to Calgary: Mountain High Shuttle, Fernie Shuttle or Tunnel 49 Adventures
When Is The Best Time to Ski The Powder Highway
The best thing about skiing the Powder Highway is that you really can’t go wrong. Early winter presents empty mountains with untracked storm snow from the late fall accumulation, and spring brings incredible views, sunshine, a lack of crowds (there’s a pattern here) and some of the best ski patios in the country!
December
December is such an amazing time to ski the Powder Highway, and the best part is that most people don’t even think about doing it! While most resorts in the world are still hurting for snow, the Powder Highway is usually buried in beautiful pow. One of the best aspects in December is that the pow has had all of November to accumulate without any tracks. The lower snowpack also means the trees stumps are still fairly prominent, which makes for some really fun pillows.
January
Skiing the Powder Highway in January is excellent. The earlier winter seems to bring more frequent small storms, which pile up dependable 10 cm powder resets every few days. The temperatures are cold, so the snow is fast and fluffy. There are zero crowds and hotels are easy to book. Cat and heli operators are easier to book in January too!
February
February is the go to month for pretty much everyone. That’s why we don’t think it’s the best time. That being said, the snow is epic, weather is epic, and the crowds are still lighter than almost anywhere else on earth!
March
March is my personal favorite month. The sun stays up longer and sets further North. Why does this matter? That flat light on the steeper north slopes is finally gone, and you can open it up. The snowpack is ultra deep and crowds are nowhere to be found. Yep, that about covers it!
April
While nearly everyone is done skiing by the time April rears its head, the snow is deep, the beer is cold and the sun is shining. Spring skiing may be the most underrated type of ski holiday and certainly one that is well worth it. Whitewater and Red Mountain tend to shut down the first weekend of April, but the local touring is epic. Revelstoke and Kicking Horse stay open until mid-April. It’s usually possible to hit closing weekends in the South Kootenays and North Kootenays on two weekends and in one trip!
