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
Great vibes good locals. They have a resident grizzly bear . Obviously he is pretty sleepy in the winter but has a fenced area and wakes up in the spring. You can see him being a bear from the gondola. Good coffee and best views in the west.
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There is so much great terrain here. The gondola gets you to the top quickly and there is some upper terrain you can stay with. But if you go all the way down the 4k verts, it gets less steep down below. I enjoy it anyway. The hike to sidecountry bowls greatly increases your options. This is a mountain I could spend the rest of my life on. It can get crowded in the gondola line but you'll get a lot of skiing in regardless.
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Kicking Horse is a playground for expert skiers and those looking to push themselves out of their comfort zones. With only a few strategically placed lifts and several very reasonable hiking paths, skiers can access a massive amount of terrain across several bowls featuring anything from wide open bowls to steep and narrow chutes, and best of all, once you get to your run youll pretty much have the place to yourself. Visiting kicking horse is an absolute must for any adventurous skier and a great place to conquer fears!
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Kicking horse is one of the best resorts Ive been to. They have one of the best off piste runs in Canada. The best snow guarantee and a great apre ski opportunity in Golden, the town next door. Furthermore their grooming system is great. So as a beginner or expert in skiing you have the most fun on earth. Most of them are not icy.
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More of an advanced Mountain great steep off piste terrain
Good restaurant at top of hill
Fantastic Heli skiing in area
Groomed Run are good but its more about th off piste skiing at kicking horse
Accommodation in Golden is adequate but not to the level of other resorts same with the apres its there but not the same level as sun peaks of revelstoke.
But if your there to ski and not too worried about the peripheral activities then Kicking Horse is a good choice.
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Love to bring a lunch and snack in gondola so eat at top restaurant at end of day
Bowls , chutes , hike into powder its not for beginners and you wont find the yetis!!!
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Amazing terrain for advanced and expert skiers. Gondola right to the top to access almost everything with short hikes to the rest. Some of the best big mountain terrain in BC!
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Kicking horse is an intense ski resort. It is not for beginner, or even intermediate riders. To get the most of kicking horse you need to hike as most of the terrain is not lift accessible. This is not a con, it is a pro. It is part of makes this resort fantastic. You will not find a resort with more inbounds untouched powder and in bounds gnarly terrain. If you want to push yourself, go to kicking horse and get a local to show you around. I spent one season here a few years ago and it is still home to the craziest lines I have skied to date
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This is one of the most fun ski resorts Ive been to. Great terrain with a lot of difficulty. Big wide area with lots to explore. I highly recommend checking it out
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Lots of advanced terrain and untouched slopes if you are willing to hike for them. Not much beginner terrain so not a great hill for beginners and families.
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If the snow is good, there is nowhere better in the world!
The vertical of Kicking Horse is immense, and despite the number of lifts the amount of ski area is incredible.
Makes you feel like youre in your own Warren Miller film.
Not much of a town with apres etc, but for a skiing Mecca like this its a sacrifice youre willing to make for a couple of days.
An easy day trip from Banff.
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This resort changed my worldview on what is possible for inbounds skiing. Terrain is unbelievable
Took some advanced ski lessons and it was totally worth it. A few days here took my skiing to another level
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Kicking horse can be a good mountain only when pow days, definitely not the mountain you want to go for bad snow conditions.
Lot of out-of-bounds accesible terrain and variety of bowls to ski.
Mountain is lacking on lifts, only got one gondola and two chairs.
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So i got at this resort call kicking horses the customer service was very efficient and its was not crowded at all!
After get right in the gondola no waiting time walk right in it!

Once at the to you realize how nice the ski resort is for big terrain skiing some steep stuff that usually you can almost just find in the backcountry and you can ride pretty much everything!

Ski some very good stuff i just found that the resort should do more buching there is a lot of wippe
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This mountain is a hidden gem because its a formerly mostly locals mountain now with tourism. it is super quiet every day. With endless terrain, the locals are very nice if you make sure to be nice to them. It is difficult to ride with little snow at the beginning and end of the season, as there is so much rocks and trees. But the rocks and trees overall is a whole part of the big mountain experience.
Love it here and definitely want to keep coming back.
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Great resort for advanced skiers looking for a challenge. Steep runs and powdery runs, this mountain has it all. Great resort!
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Best resort in Canada hands down. Super quiet, no groomed runs, really steep, great snow what more do you need?.
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Kicking horse is over rated, don't go. You'll have just as much fun at whistler or banff
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