REVELSTOKE RESORT GUIDE
Images courtesy of Royce Sihlis & Hywell Williams
Revelstoke Mountain Resort Overview
A gem on British Columbia’s revered Powder Highway and one of the newest resorts in North America, Revelstoke Mountain Resort is a dependable, early-season powder destination. With big mountain vibes and small town, Victorian charm, the opening of Revelstoke resort in 2007 turned this sleepy backwater into a world-class destination. An attraction of note: Revelstoke Resort boasts the longest vertical descent of any ski area in North America at 1,713 meters or 5,620 feet! If that's not enough, phenomenal access to untrammeled backcountry terrain via the cat and heli skiing operations is accessible directly from the base village. Revy's terrain encompasses steep, lengthy groomers, moguls, glade and tree skiing, and 4 immense alpine bowls for powder lovers. With 30-40 feet of powder per season and a rich railroad and mining history,
Revelstoke should rank highly on any powder-lover’s list. Though it’s a little tricky to get to, it’s worth the haul and can be combined with a thrilling road trip itinerary along the Powder Highway. There are luxury ski-in-ski-out condos at the base and plenty of more affordable options along Highway 1 or motels and hotels in the town of Revelstoke itself. We've had a wonderful stay at the Valley Retreat Revelstoke BnB, just down the street from the resort.
Revelstoke participates in the Mountain Collective and IKON season pass programs.
Snow Reliability
Snow-Making & Grooming
Ski School
Travel Convenience
Accommodations
Terrain Variety
On Mountain Dining
Extreme / Off-Piste Terrain
Quick Take
Let's Go
Powder hounds rejoice — take your pick from in-bounds turns at Revelstoke, book a heli or cat-skiing package, or the First Tracks experience for pre-public turns
Weekdays are fairly mellow
Revel in Revelstoke's eclectic and rustic ski town with its approachable vibe and Victorian charm
Just one of many incredible resorts on B.C.'s Powder Highway, road trip to Revy and other wold-class destinations like RED Mountain, Whitewater, and Kicking Horse
Can you shred North America's longest vertical drop without stopping?
Hesitations
Some storms trend warm, affecting snow quality—check the forecast and pack your Gore-Tex
Powder weekends are crowded—arrive early!
The mountain highways accessing Revelstoke are often plagued by closures and challenging driving conditions. Rogers Pass is one of the most avalanche-prone roadways in North America. Avoid becoming ‘Revelstuck’ by checking Drive BC for road conditions or dial 1-800-550-4997. Do not attempt this drive without proper tires and a 4WD or AWD vehicle.
Limited beginner terrain
Insider Tips
Start your day with the best coffee and snacks at La Baguette (with locations in the base village or the town of Revelstoke) or Dose (in town)
Consider an early-season trip in Dec or Jan to increase your chance of legendary powder conditions and cold smoke temps
Start your squat and lunge routine a couple weeks before you head to Revelstoke—your legs will thank you once you’re there!
If the visibility is poor, make for the trees; the plethora of gladed runs (13 dedicated glade areas) means you can continue shredding in flat light or foggy conditions
In the early AM, hit the freshly groomed Snow Rodeo run from top to bottom; this is the quintessential Revelstoke experience, and you’ll enjoy a velvety smooth, true fall-line pitch with serious vert and epic views
Consider booking the affordable First Tracks program for a 45-minute bump up the hill prior to public access in the AM.
Trail Map
For an in-depth breakdown of Revelstoke's terrain, head to our Mountain Guide. Top trails and mountain stats included.
Getting To & Around
Difficult to get to, harder to leave, Revelstoke is an idyllic winter wonderland. It’s probably best to rent a 4WD or AWD vehicle to maximize your time here or just spend a whole week road tripping the B.C. Powder Highway.
Getting To
Closest Major City: Calgary, BC
Distance: ~410km East, Travel time: ~5-6 hours drive
Closest City: Kelowna, BC
Distance: ~200 km South East, Travel time: ~2-3 hours drive
Closest Town: Revelstoke, BC
Distance: ~6 km North, Travel time: ~10 mins
Neighboring Resorts
Closest Neighbors (Ikon Pass)
Lake Louise (~230 km, ~3 hours drive)
RED Mountain (~290 km, ~4-4.5 hours drive)
CMH Heli-Skiing
Closest Neighbors (Epic Pass)
Kicking Horse (~165 km, ~2 hours drive)
Kimberley (~390 km, ~4.5 - 5 hours drive)
Other Nearby Resorts
Silver Star (~175 km, ~2.5-3 hours drive)
Whitewater (~180 km, ~3 hours drive)
Big White (~255 km, ~3.5 hours drive)
Travel by Plane
Closest airport: Kelowna International Airport, B.C. (YLW)
YLW has direct flights to 20*25 major cities in the Northwestern U.S., British Columbia and Alberta; it is also accessible by private plane
~2.5 hours drive to the resort
Other nearby regional airports: Revelstoke Airport (YRV)
YRV is a small regional airport that services private planes only
Closest major commercial airport: Calgary International Airport (YYC)
~260 miles South West, ~5-6 hrs
Travel By Bus
There is a regular shuttle service between the resort and the town of Revelstoke (~10 minute journey)
The Stoke Shuttle runs from Kelowna International Airport to Revelstoke 6x daily. Adult tickets are $123 round trip and must be booked in advance here
Travel by Car
We prefer to have a car here. The drive to Revelstoke is beautiful, but do not skip on a 4WD vehicle as B.C. mountain passes and highways can be treacherous
Pros: Parking is free and covered parking is offered to guests of Revelstoke's lodging property; access to wider selection of restaurants, stores great for combining Revelstoke with a visit to resorts along the Powder Highway
Cons: Roads can be treacherous
Ride shares: (e.g., Uber, Lyft) are not reliable here
