Kicking Horse Mountain Resort

Champagne powder, steep chutes and a gondola to the ridge.

Kicking Horse sits above Golden with 4,314 vertical feet, a gondola to the ridge and more than 85 inbound chutes. Light, dry snow and small crowds make it a favorite for advanced skiers, while the base village stays quiet. Eagle’s Eye, Canada’s highest restaurant, waits at the top of the gondola.

The mountain

Vertical drop

4,314 ft

Summit

8,218 ft

Skiable terrain

3,486 acres

Trails

120

Lifts

5

Average snowfall

287″ a year

Longest run

6.2 mi

Terrain mix

• Beginner 20%
• Intermediate 20%
• Advanced 60%

What’s here besides skiing

• Heli skiing
• Snow tubing
• Snowmobiling
• Cross-country
• Snowshoeing
• Kids programs

Holidays and events

2026–27 dates where they’re posted. “Usually” means the date follows past years. Confirm before you go.

• ChristmasSaturday before Christmas (annual)Usually

  Ski with Santa

  Santa and his elf take laps on Catamount and Jelly Bean in the morning, hand out candy canes and stop by the Whitetooth Grill at lunch.

• ChristmasDec 25, evening (annual)Usually

  Christmas Dinner at Eagle’s Eye

  A Christmas buffet at 7,700 ft, reached by gondola. About $100 per adult last year; book early.

• New Year’sDec 31, 6:30–9:30 pm (annual)Usually

  New Year’s Eve Celebrations

  A free family evening in the gondola plaza: rail jam under the lights, a fire show, a torchlight parade down the slopes and fireworks at 9 pm.

• Opening dayMid-December (projected Dec 11)Usually

  Opening Day

  Season opener with a raffle for the first gondola ride.

• Pond skimClosing weekend (annual)Usually

  Sunsplash Funkfest

  Dummy Downhill on Saturday, a Slush Cup pool skim on Sunday for local search and rescue, and a patio party with live music.

Where to stay

• ski-in/ski-outPalliser Lodge

  One- and two-bedroom condo suites in the glades beside the village, with full kitchens, balconies and private hot tubs in some units.

  Slopeside
• lodgeCopper Horse Lodge

  Eleven-room lodge a short walk from the gondola, with a lounge, a barrel sauna and an all-day snack bar included.

  5 min walk
• lodgeEagle’s Eye Suite

  A single suite inside the Eagle’s Eye restaurant at 7,700 ft, with a host and private chef. Available Dec 18 to Apr 10.

  Top of the gondola
• hotelPrestige Golden Hotel

  Straightforward hotel on the edge of Golden, the budget-friendly base.

  15 min drive
• innVagabond Lodge

  Boutique inn steps from the gondola, with a sauna, an outdoor hot tub and a locally sourced breakfast.

  Steps from the gondola

Rates are typical winter lows before taxes and fees, and change constantly. Book on the property’s own site.

Things to do

• CMH Purcell day heli-skiing · 10 min drive

  Day heli-skiing on a 495,000-acre tenure in the Purcells and Selkirks, in small groups of up to eight.

• Golden Snowmobile Rentals · Golden

  Guided trail tours for families and backcountry rides for all levels, on new machines.

• Dawn Mountain Nordic Centre · 1 km from the resort

  33 km of groomed classic and skate trails plus a 4 km snowshoe loop, with a heated chalet. Pay the trail fee at the kiosk.

• Tubing at Kicking Horse · At the base

  Tube lanes in the base plaza served by the Jelly Bean lift. Tickets at Guest Services.

• Eagle’s Eye Restaurant · Top of the gondola

  Canada’s highest restaurant, at the top of the gondola. Lunch needs a lift ticket; dinner reservations include the ride up.

• Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Centre · 15 min drive

  Meet resident wolves and learn about them, just outside Golden.

• Radium Hot Springs · ~1 hr 15 min drive

  Parks Canada hot pools in Kootenay National Park.

Après and nightlife

• Whitetooth Grill

  Pizza and cold beer in the day lodge, with open-mic après on Fridays, live music on Saturdays (3–5 pm) and happy hour to 6.

• Whitetooth Brewing Company

  Golden’s craft brewery and taproom, the town’s go-to post-ski pint.

• Rockwater Grill & Bar

  Downtown Golden bar and grill with live music and a riverside patio.

Getting there

• Calgary International (YYC) · about 2 hr 45 min drive
• Calgary · about 2.75 hr
• Banff · about 1.5 hr

Directions in Google Maps