Kicking Horse boasts the fourth highest vertical drop in North America and a unique mix of terrain. You’ll find everything from gentle, beginner-friendly slopes to long cruising downhill runs and extremely steep faces, bowls, and heli-skiing options. In winter, you can also opt for cross-country skiing, tubing, ice skating, snowshoeing, or snowmobile tours.
During the summer months, the gondola remains open delivering visitors to 7,700 feet (2,347 meters) for sightseeing, hiking, and thrilling downhill mountain bike adventures. The resort also has a Via Ferrata climbing route and a disc golf course, but the highlight is the Kicking Horse Grizzly Bear Refuge, where you can meet Boo, the resident grizzly bear.
Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is located 171 miles (275 kilometers) east of Calgary and 90 miles (145 kilometers) west of Banff. The closest major airport is in Calgary and the resort operates a weekly shuttle to and from Calgary International Airport during the winter months. In summer, the resort is most easily accessed by car.
Ski season runs from early December through mid-April with the most reliable conditions in January and February. Compared to Whistler and Revelstoke, Kicking Horse is more remote and less crowded, but visit mid-week to ensure short lift lines. The best time to visit Kicking Horse for summer activities is the end of June through early September.
Boo and his brother—Cari—were born in the wild, but orphaned in 2002 when their mother was shot by a poacher. The Kicking Horse Grizzly Bear Refuge was designed specifically for the two cubs by the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. Sadly, Cari did not survive his first winter, but Boo has lived at the refuge ever since.
