Kicking Horse Information

Apres-ski

The après-ski scene in Kicking Horse is generally quiet, but there's a far wider selection down in Golden for those willing to travel slightly further afield.

The rustic Local Hero pub in Winston Lodge (tel: +1 250 344 7272; www.winstonlodge.com) is a key venue for après-ski in Kicking Horse. A short walk from the base of the slopes, it offers draught Canadian beers, an excellent selection of Scottish malt whiskies and regional wines.

Down in town, the Riverhouse Tavern (tel: +1 250 344 4660) across the pedestrian bridge over the Kicking Horse River, serves good beers at affordable prices, making it a favourite for locals and tourists alike.

Eating out

There are half a dozen places to eat around Kicking Horse's base and slopes, and these manage a surprisingly good choice of dishes. However, if the selection leaves a bad taste in your mouth, there's an additional 50 cafes and restaurants in the wider Golden area too.

Among the local options is Eagle's Eye, (tel: +1 250 439 5413), Canada's highest restaurant, located at the gondola's top station. This eatery offers high-quality food made primarily from local ingredients, including salmon, buffalo and caribou.

Down at the base, the aforementioned Corks in the Copper Horse Lodge is great for a filling pasta dish, while Winston Lodge (tel: +1 250 344 7272; www.winstonlodge.com) is a good option for Scottish-Canadian fusion cuisine.

Down in Golden the Cedar House Restaurant (tel: +1 250 344 4679; www.cedarhousechalets.com) consistently graces the lists of Canada's top 50 restaurants, Nagomi Sushi (tel: +1 250 344 4550) is the spot for Japanese cuisine, and Bacchus Books & Café (tel: +1 250 344 5600; www.bacchusbooks.ca) is an excellent option for vegetarian diners.

Resort Information

Beyond the slopes

Kicking horse's base is small and compact with a handful of shops, bars and restaurants but not a lot else. This intimate atmosphere is actually a draw for many skiers, but those who may find themselves twiddling their thumbs can catch a shuttle to the town of Golden, which is a short drive away.

Within Kicking Horse, there is a small ice rink and a full-scale snow tubing operation at each end of the resort's base. Snowshoeing equipment can also be rented on-site and there are also snowmobiling tours operating from the base area.

For the more adventurous, climbing is popular in the wider region and there's an excellent indoor climbing centre, The Dogtooth Climbing Gym (tel: +1 250 344 6444; www.dogtoothgym.com) on the road down to Golden. Ice climbing is offered at a major centre at nearby Raven's Call to the east of the resort.

Family fun

Kicking Horse has increased its efforts in attracting families in recent years, by adding a number of activities such as tubing and ice skating.

There's a non-ski day care centre for youngsters aged from 18 months to five years old, and a ski school is available from age three in specially tailored classes. For the youngest children, semi-private classes (with a maximum of three children per instructor) are offered. There's also a valet service from the main resort accommodations that collects children in the morning and returns them at the end of the ski day.

Retail therapy

There are limited shops in Kicking Horse ski resort, but the resort's general store is an excellent emporium that manages to stock gourmet items, British favourites and souvenirs in addition to grocery essentials and other goodies. There's also a good ski shop and several souvenir outlets selling Kicking Horse signature items. For a wider selection of several dozen shops, head down to Golden.

Splashing out

Heli-skiing is an option in Kicking Horse with Purcell Helicopter Skiing (tel: +1 250 344 5410; www.purcellheliskiing.com). A variety of choices are available, including full holidays with ski-in/ski-out accommodation, lift tickets and daily heli-ski trips from the nearby Purcell Helipad in Golden.

Hotels

Kicking Horse offers a selection of largely high-quality lodging, most of it slopeside at the base of the resort. There are more options in the wider area surrounding the Golden Valley.

Luxury

Moderate

Cheap