Everybody knows about legendary slopes of Kicking Horse Ski Resort but you might not be aquatinted with Golden, BC which is a breath of fresh air in a world where premier mountain towns have been over commercialized by the corporate machine and lost their charm. Picture Telluride in the 1980s and you will get the vibe.
Golden sits in southeast British Columbia, surrounded by some of Canada’s most famous National Parks making it the perfect jump off point to visit places like Banff National Park, Yoho National Park, Glacier National Park, Jasper National Park, Kootenay National Park, and Mount Revelstoke National Park. During the summer, hiking, biking, rafting, and other warm weather activities are bountiful, but it’s the winter at Golden that really stands out to us.
Whether you’re enjoying the lift-served trails at Kicking Horse or taking advantage of one of the multitude of the cat skiing and helicopter skiing operations in the area, skiers and snowboarders will feel incredibly welcome in the British Columbian town. Earn-your-turn fans will find an abundance of fresh runs in the Bugaboos or along Rogers Pass, where the annual snowfall tends to reach above 32 feet. Plus well over 20 backcountry lodges are spread throughout the area for remarkable overnights in the mountains.
Kicking Horse itself is a beast of a resort, featuring over 3,400 acres of terrain, 120+ trails, and the fourth highest vertical drop in North America. 45% of the resort is advanced terrain and 15% is expert, meaning 60% of the mountain is reserved for top-of-the-line skiers. Plus with an average snowfall of 24 feet, the raw, rugged mountain seems to provide an always-fresh powder experience.
Aside from appealing to skiers and snowboarders with unbelievable terrain and dry ‘champagne’ powder, Golden provides an authentic mountain town experience that’s hard to come by in today’s day and age. It’s a small, tight, and local community in the Canadian Rockies, filled with people that live for the snow.
Off the slopes, Golden has groomed and ungroomed cross-country trails, snowshoeing areas, snowmobiling tours, tubing, world-renowned ice climbing, and much more. Of course when the outdoor recreation is over, there are plenty of killer dining options for all types of appetites, and accommodations are available to fit every style, both on mountain and throughout town, ranging from riverfront campgrounds to large luxury houses.
To make it short and sweet, if you’re looking for an outdoor adventure paradise with spectacular scenery that still has that small town charm, make Golden, B.C. your next destination.