Kicking Horse - Reviews & Ratings - >100k User Submitted Reviews
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351,166 resort ratings from real skiers
Expert Analysis & Reviews

The Skiers' Guide to Kicking Horse

Top Rated for
4.83 (122 Ratings)
Off-Piste
4.74 (126 Ratings)
Powder Zones
4.52 (64 Ratings)
Experts
4.50 (50 Ratings)
Advanced
4.49 (128 Ratings)
Overall Rating
4.48 (126 Ratings)
Quiet Slopes
Overall Rating
4.49
From 128 Reviews
129
Total Runs
3904
Bottom Elevation
8219
Top Elevation
3486
Skiable Terrain

Kicking Horse Reviews & Ratings

4.49 (128 ratings)
Overall Rating
4.29 (125 ratings)
Value for Money
4.48 (126 ratings)
Quiet Slopes
3.43 (114 ratings)
Après-Ski
3.97 (104 ratings)
Accommodation Options
3.69 (110 ratings)
Family Friendliness
3.73 (126 ratings)
Groomed Runs
4.74 (126 ratings)
Powder Zones
4.31 (127 ratings)
Tree Runs
3.82 (119 ratings)
Mogul Fields
4.83 (122 ratings)
Off-Piste
2.40 (98 ratings)
Snow Parks
3.83 (126 ratings)
Lift Efficiency
3.60 (114 ratings)
Eating Out
3.99 (67 ratings)
Ski School Quality
4.50 (2 ratings)
Beginners
4.25 (12 ratings)
Intermediates
4.50 (50 ratings)
Advanced
4.52 (64 ratings)
Experts
4.34 (35 ratings)
Snowboarders

All Reviews

Kicking Horse Review Summary

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
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..)
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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
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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
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Eating Out
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Mogul Fields
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Lift Efficiency
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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.
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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
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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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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
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Value for Money
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Tree Runs
Mogul Fields
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Ski School Quality
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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.
Family Friendliness
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Tree Runs
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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
Family Friendliness
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Eating Out
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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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Mogul Fields
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Quiet Slopes
Lift Efficiency
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Best resort in Canada. Steep, narrow and deep. Snow is perfect when there is fresh. Terrain is amazing.
Family Friendliness
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Eating Out
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Mogul Fields
Powder Zones
Quiet Slopes
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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
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Value for Money
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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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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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Kicking horse has an insane amount of powder and is great for intermediate to expert level skiers. There are tons of runs and it is not overly crowded. The peak is very steep and open with tons of room to pick your line. I highly recommend kicking horse to any of my friends
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This is a difficult resort to review.

If you are advanced, the snow is plentiful, and you don't mind some hiking, then this is the ultimate destination.

If you prefer groomers, or have people in your group that are green or blue skiers, then don't come here.

Nothing better than a bluebird pow day here.
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Super wide groomed areas as well as great back country slopes. Double Black bar ideal for apres ski at base or Eagles Eye at the gondola top for excellent dining. Music at Whitetooth grill is a must.
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Eating Out
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Awesome mountain to play and have some big runs down to steep terrain.never busy always find your fresh lines
Family Friendliness
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