Why Kicking Horse is Highly Rated for Off-Piste

Kicking Horse has rightfully won the 2025 gold award for Best Resort in the World for Off-Piste, scoring a remarkable 4.84/5.00 in the category. The mountain's ungroomed terrain is what sets it apart, with Tom, an expert Canadian skier, describing it as "the most ridiculous alpine bowls any resort has." The backcountry access is unparalleled – our users consistently highlight the abundance of challenging terrain that feels more like backcountry skiing but with the safety of avalanche control. As Ryan puts it, the resort is "unrivaled in terms of big freeride terrain" with more chutes and couloirs than you could ever imagine. Suhan, an advanced skier, notes that the resort offers "extremely challenging terrain that is more like backcountry avalanche terrain that just happens to be avalanche controlled."

The adventure skiing at Kicking Horse is nothing short of legendary, with natural features that thrill even the most experienced riders. Matt, an expert skier, mentions "lots of options for short (5-20 min) hikes to get in-bound, less skied runs," while Chloe, an advanced Canadian snowboarder, explains that "you can almost always find powder if you don't mind hiking the ridges of the resort." The mountain's natural features are exceptional, with Keegan describing "tight chutes and natural side hits with champagne pow everywhere." One Snomad community member liked the incredible variety of terrain, with Jeff Power noting the "unbelievable off-piste terrain that's hard to believe it's still in bounds of the resort." For those seeking the ultimate freeriding experience, Vince succinctly captures the essence of Kicking Horse: "Wonderful off-piste terrain and accessible, hikable backcountry from the top of the gondola."

Ready to ditch the piste map? Read our full resort guide to see how Kicking Horse stacks up across all 20 of our community-rated categories!