Kicking Horse Reviews: 4.50/5 from 100+ Verified Skiers | Snomad
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364,274 resort ratings from real skiers
Updated December 2024

Kicking Horse Reviews & Ratings

How Skiers Rate Kicking Horse

Overall Rating
4.50
Value for Money
4.26
Quiet Slopes
4.48
Après-Ski
3.40
Accommodation Options
3.97
Family Friendliness
3.67
Groomed Runs
3.75
Powder Zones
4.75
Tree Runs
4.32
Mogul Fields
3.82
Off-Piste
4.84
Snow Parks
2.40
Lift Efficiency
3.84
Eating Out
3.57
Ski School Quality
3.99
Beginners
4.50
Intermediates
4.25
Advanced
4.52
Experts
4.52
Snowboarders
4.34

Read All 100+ Kicking Horse Reviews

What Skiers Say About Kicking Horse

Kicking Horse draws predominantly advanced and expert skiers and snowboarders seeking steep, technical terrain including chutes, bowls, and glades. Reviewers consistently mention deep powder, low crowds, and significant vertical drop (over 4,000 feet). The resort has limited lift infrastructure, primarily one gondola, which funnels most traffic and can create bottlenecks. Beginners and intermediates find limited suitable terrain, with only a few green runs available. The base area and town of Golden offer basic amenities rather than extensive après-ski or dining options. Several reviewers note the need for hiking to access the best terrain, and groomers are not always well-maintained.

AI-generated summary based on verified skier reviews

  • expert terrain variety
  • powder quality
  • low crowds
  • vertical drop
  • backcountry-style inbounds skiing
  • tree runs
  • limited lift infrastructure
  • minimal beginner terrain
  • grooming quality
  • hiking required
  • limited base amenities
Filters
Kicking horse is the best resort for riding compared to lift time. If you are on the gondola 6 times in a day you got your money worth. Riding top to bottom is at least 45min with a great cat track for beginners and phenomenal bowls with powder and challenging runs. There is something for everyone and the lift lines are totally reasonable. We stay right on the hill so it's ski in and ski out. And you can't beat having a pint on the top of the mountain before ripping down! We pass world class mountains (sunshine, lake Louise, nakiska, marmot basin) to go to kicking horse since its just the best hands down!
Family Friendliness
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First time ever at kicking horse station. Been there for the opening day the 13th December 2024. The top runs was amazing in the morning. Lots of snow but still early season at somes places. Lots of potential for natural drops and steep narrow couloir runs! Go there early because it gets tracked out in the afternoon.
Family Friendliness
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Simply the best resort in the world for off-piste, big alpine skiing. The resort is serviceable in other areas, however the only reason youd come to Kicking Horse is to ski the most ridiculous alpine bowls any resort has! SO MUCH FUN!! My favourite resort in the world by a mile, you can never get bored of it!
Family Friendliness
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Ski School Quality
Accommodation Options
Kicking Horse is of course known for it's expert terrain, bit this resort truly does have it all. Due it's small size and remote location, it is never overly crowded, and it attracts a dedicated staff team that return year after year after year, making it highly unique amongst other top resorts in the rockies. The mountain has a very community-based feeling as a result, and this makes it an incredibly welcoming place for families to come visit. Despite the primarily intense terrain, there are a number of more accessible green circle runs, and this provides a steady increase in challenge for those working to build-up their skill-level.

For experts, there are a number of world-class glades, mogul fields, and bowls that make the terrain even at other high-end resorts like Fernie or Kimberley, pale by comparison.

The main downside of kicking horse, is the lack of lift access, as there is only 1 main gondola, as well as 3 small, slow-moving chairs. As a result, to access some of the best terrain, you do have to be patient and be willing to hike to some of the bowls (which is highly worth it).

All in all, Kicking Horse is a 5 star resort. Despite its remoteness and more limited infrastructure, it delivers like no other resort in BC. If you love to ski or board, you can't miss this resort.
Family Friendliness
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Eating Out
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Value for Money
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Quiet Slopes
Lift Efficiency
Ski School Quality
Accommodation Options
Amazing terrain. Best blacks and double blacks anywhere. Great spot on a good snow year, otherwise bring the rock skis and youll still have a blast. If youre a throw your kid into the deep end kinda parent, this is the perfect family ski resort to plan your next vacation. Lines are never long, and like sex, when its good, its UNBELIEVABLE.. but when its bad, its still pretty damn good.

Highest elevation restaurant in Canada is at the top of the gondola, so grab a bite if you want the memory. Top notch spot but pricey for some. Otherwise theres plenty of places to eat at the bottom, or the yurt midway that serves food, beer, coffee, etc.

Only downside is the lack of lifts.. but Im sure youll find what youre looking for. . Skied around 100 days there and I still havent found everything there is to shred.

Enjoy!

(People from Golden will say its terrible, dont go here for a reason.. to keep the lines small.. lets hope I dont get jumped for leaving a favourable review.. I just want them to make more money so they can put in a new lift or two..)
Family Friendliness
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Mogul Fields
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Quiet Slopes
Lift Efficiency
Ski School Quality
Accommodation Options
Ive been going here for the Last 15yrs with my Boys? Really enjoy it my boys Snowboard and I ski, they go there own way and have a Blast
Family Friendliness
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Absolute gem hidden just inside of the BC and AB border! Thrill seekers beware; you may become addicted to the gnarly terrain and amazing snow! Something here for all rider type, abilities, and ages! Stunning 360 views of the mountains and valleys! 10/10 recommend KHMR for a wild ride! Accommodation available right at the base of the resort with a few different restaurants and a cafe, as well as a general store with a liquor store located within it as well!
Family Friendliness
Off-Piste
Snow Parks
Eating Out
Après-Ski
Value for Money
Groomed Runs
Tree Runs
Mogul Fields
Powder Zones
Quiet Slopes
Lift Efficiency
Ski School Quality
Accommodation Options
Kicking horse is a beast of a mountain. Has the best easy access chutes. Great gnarly terrain. Not for the faint of heart. Dont bring your beginner friends.
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Unbelievable off piste terrain thats hard to believe its still in bounds of the resort. Incredibly challenging in the best way and not nearly as busy as the most other western Canada resorts. Great snow and the best terrain Ive seen. Better than BANFF,Revelstoke, etc.
Family Friendliness
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Quiet Slopes
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Ski School Quality
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The resort is nothing impressive, but the terrain is unreal. This is a resort for expert riders. There are options for beginner through intermediate riders, but not tons. Although the amount of amazing expert level terrain is amazing, especially if you're willing to boot pack a bit
Family Friendliness
Off-Piste
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Eating Out
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Quiet Slopes
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Ski School Quality
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This mountain is not for the faint of heart. Hectic terrain, plenty of cliffs, rocks and jumps to launch yourself off and plenty of powder to catch you.

Most of the mountain is difficult terrain so can be tricky for the less advanced but a good way to improve your skills quickly.
Family Friendliness
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Eating Out
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Quiet Slopes
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Ski School Quality
Accommodation Options
Great staff. Perfect maintenance and service. Family friendly and safe riding. Enjoyed our family time riding. We had a fun riding experience at Kicking horse. Weather was great would definitely recommend a trip to Kicking horse
Family Friendliness
Off-Piste
Snow Parks
Eating Out
Après-Ski
Value for Money
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Tree Runs
Mogul Fields
Powder Zones
Quiet Slopes
Lift Efficiency
Ski School Quality
Accommodation Options
Massive expert terrain. If you line challenging slopes and agressive freeride, kicking horse is the go to.
I would say there are no true begginer terrain when compared to other mountains therefore not family friendly. Accomodation options are limited but will do. Food at the base is pretty good and price is fair.
Most of the areas are left "natural" with just a few groomed runs.
The lift efficiency is bad as technically there's only the gondola at the base and one chairlitft that takes you from mid-mountain to the top. Only one out of the 4 bowls lead you to this chairlift so pretty much most of the runs you'll need to ride all the way to the base and take the gondola back up.
For the infrastructure and lower than usual level of work being done at the slopes, it is a bit pricy as it costs about 20-30% more than resors like Lake Louise and almost 40% more than Big White.
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Accommodation Options
Amazing off piste skiing and lots of double diamonds, but there is way to many Moguls on the lower half of the mountain also there is lot of walking involved
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Has some of the steepest terrain in the northern hemisphere. Great on a powder day and good options for the back-country
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Not everyones cup of tea. I gave it five stars because I ski with people my age, and were all backcountry/freeride skiers. Wouldnt recommend for families with young kids or beginners as the greens and blues are quite limited.
Family Friendliness
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Best resort in Canada. Steep, narrow and deep. Snow is perfect when there is fresh. Terrain is amazing.
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Kicking Horse is by far the most technical, difficult and extreme mountian in Western Canada . The lower section is rather normal longer runs good moguls but few options for beginners or family's. The entire resort has only 10 blues and a few greens. There are 149 black and double black runs. They are a bit short but true blacks. The upper mou tain is extreme , 5 bowls all steep. Good snow. High elevation , be ready for cold. Spring is best with lots of late season storms.
Family Friendliness
Off-Piste
Eating Out
Après-Ski
Value for Money
Groomed Runs
Tree Runs
Mogul Fields
Powder Zones
Quiet Slopes
Lift Efficiency
Accommodation Options
went to kicking house in 2023/2024 season and it was some of the best skiing ive done all over the mountain. so many untouched areas even after going nearly a week without snow. the staff are great, compared to revelstoke where they took a buddies pass on our last gondola ride up because they thought he was someone else. leading us to go down to re-instate his pass, making us miss last gondola ride up. great mountain with tons of options for skill level and snow quality.
Family Friendliness
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Eating Out
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Value for Money
Groomed Runs
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Mogul Fields
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Lift Efficiency
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Its so good we go there once a year for family week theres no line up and challenging run easy access to the slack country
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