The Tri-Mountain Trip: A Guide to Revelstoke, Kicking Horse, & Sunshine
For many of us, the quantity of our trips to the mountains seems to decrease with each passing season. Although we often think of ourselves as a mountaineer, an adventurer, a traveler (rather than a tourist), the commitments of life often claw us away from our nomadic dreams. When our duties and obligations tower over the opportunities to ski, we must maximize the days we have.
Here’s a 4-day, 3 mountain adventure from Edmonton to Revelstoke, Kicking Horse and Sunshine Village, so you can make the most of your time in the mountains. It also includes a few recommendations for how to best combat your hunger during the 4 days.
Day 1: Travel to Revelstoke
The first day is a straight travel day through the familiar sights of Banff National Park and the winding roads past Golden until you reach the town of Revelstoke. Don’t worry if your adventurous side feels the urge to stop at any of the aforementioned places, we will be back shortly. If possible, leave AS EARLY as you can. As much as you love the sight of snow on the way up the resort, driving through a white out on the highway is almost always precarious. Be prepared to slow down through Roger’s Pass and ensure you have time to check-in at a reasonable time.
When you arrive at the hotel, check in for one night and lay your gear out so you are ready to go in the morning. After that, get ready to explore the town of Revelstoke. The town is blessed with two great Mexican restaurants, The Taco Club on Mackenzie Ave and Cantina del Centro on 1st Street. The Taco Club offers incredible Latin street food, including some delicious churros. If you’re feeling adventurous, you might try one (or two) of their tequila flights. Cantina del Centro is a familiar sight to those of us fortunate to have spent time on Baker Street in Nelson or have cruised downtown Kelowna. This location offers the same high quality food to be found at their other locations. The Baja Tacos are a stand out on the menu, and if you’re like me and driving makes you hungry, you might order both the fish and the shrimp versions. The Hamburguesa sits isolated atop of the menu, but it should not be underestimated, the jalapeno relish creates a unique flavour not to be found at any other place.
Up next, The Village Idiot is the perfect place to get stoked for the day of skiing that awaits you. With a well stocked food/drink menu, it welcomes everyone with their own unique tastes. For the beer drinkers, it has a grand selection of draught beer. A craft aficionado will find many of the stand outs from Fernie Brewing and Phillips Brewing, whereas a simple man like me (with a taste for Guinness) will be content with a properly poured pint of the proper soup. If beer doesn’t sit right with you, you might try one of their cocktails such as their “Idiot Sangria” or one of their many “Rad Caesars.” Upon entering, you are thrust into a place that feels familiar, yet exciting. There are chairs made from well used 80s skis, ski run signs and skateboards hang on the walls and a group of the coolest looking locals will almost certainly be at a table discussing another excellent day on the slopes. It is a celebration of the sport and it strives to make any skier feel at home. You might stay here for 1 drink or maybe several. Tomorrow is a big day so make sure you arrive back at the hotel for a good night’s sleep.
Day 2: Revelstoke to Golden
You wake up refreshed (hopefully), as your eyes adjust to the ceiling of the hotel, you realize the phone in your brain is ringing. The mountain is calling! Or maybe, that ringing is the result of too many Idiot Sangrias last night. You may be craving a Rad Caesar. Once you step outside, you feel the crisp mountain air fills your lungs and revitalizes your system. By the time you get to your vehicle, all the fatigue has been drained and you are ready to ride. The drive up the mountain is about 10-15 minutes, but as an experienced adventurer, you know to get there early.
This mountain is stellar. It offers the greatest vertical descent in all of North America (yes, even greater than Whistler). On average, it gets 257 inches of fresh BC powder. Each skier will find a run that suits their ability. A more experienced skier may hike at the top of the Stoke chair and find an untapped treasure trove of sick lines. A beginner might opt to stay on the lower half of the mountain, cruising down smooth, groomed runs while being energized by the vast view of the mountains in front. By the end of the day, you might even find this to be your favourite resort. I know I certainly do each time I visit. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. After a solid day of riding, we are going to ski back to the vehicle, load up and make our way to the next mountain.
Golden is about two hours (give or take) from Revelstoke. When you arrive, check in for two nights. After a day of skiing and a long car ride, you will be in the mood for a hearty meal. Indian Kitchen (located just off the Trans-Canada Highway), is an underrated gem. The ideal way to enjoy this Bar and Grill is to order several items and share them with your party. Be sure to try the stuffed naan as well as the lamb tikka. If Indian food isn’t your jam, or you want to relive those glorious memories from The Village Idiot a day prior. Golden offers a similar spot, with its own unique flair and atmosphere, The Wolf’s Den. Where The Village Idiot furnishes its menu with specialty Caesars, The Wolf’s Den provides specialty coffees. For the caffeine sensitive, a plethora of draught beers (including a gluten-free Irish cider) are available. This rustic restaurant offers large portion sizes, premium meat and a wide selection of entrees for any and all tastebuds.
Day 3: Kicking Horse
Hopefully, you got a good night’s sleep. This mountain can push your limits if you let it. The resort is about a 15 -20 minute drive from town, but you will want to get there early. To access the majority of the terrain, you will ride the Golden Eagle Express to the very top. Skiing from the top of this lift to the bottom can be a grind and as such, can be tough on the feet. It is important to stay hydrated to prevent cramping and ensure you received a proper boot fitting from one of our experts before the trip. That being said, those long runs from the fresh snow at the top to the groomers at the bottom, although tiring for the body, are rejuvenating for the mind. Do a few hot laps on the Stairway to Heaven chair while the powder is still fresh. Explore all this unique mountain has to offer and if you feel exhausted stop in at the Eagle’s Eye Restaurant for some grub and unbeatable views.
Like Revelstoke, Golden offers an incredible selection of restaurants to suit any traveler’s needs. A staple for many skiers, is the aptly named The Bar and Grill. A simple name, yet this place is anything but ordinary. A great selection of food and drinks, and enough ski decor to ensure that every rider feels welcome. Another option for those who crave a unique selection of alcohol is the Stolen Bells Distillery, offering high quality grub to compliment their superior cocktails. For a truly “Golden” experience (get it?) the Island Restaurant is nestled in a cozy bi-level log cabin featuring burgers, pasta and pizza and includes fantastic views of the Kicking Horse River.
Day 4: Golden to Banff to home
Brace yourself, this is a long day. You wake up early and book it out of the hotel for the 1.5 hour drive to Sunshine Village (or 1 hour if you prefer Louise), either way, we are entering Banff National Park to ski a more familiar mountain. You will want to prebook your tickets so you can get up the mountain and do as much skiing as possible. This park has so much to offer and it is easy to forget that we share a province with several internationally respected mountain resorts. This final ski day is a chance to let it all out before you return to “normal” life.
For those of us on a time crunch (or the truly energetic), driving home after a day of skiing is an option. For those who want to push this 4 day trip to 5 days and stay the night in Banff/Canmore, you will be in need of a robust meal. I’m sure many of us have our staples that we visit each time we enter Banff/Canmore, but I will highlight two of my personal favourites. In Canmore, Rocket Pie Pizza offers the best pizza on this side of the Mediterranean (or is New York more famous for pizza? Either way, it is incredible) and exquisite calzones. In Banff, head to St. James Gate Irish Pub for some mighty craic! As a self-proclaimed Irish Pub enthusiast, this is one of my favourites on this side of the pond. For the seafood lovers, try the fish and chips with a classic pint of Guinness.
Final Thoughts:
Although I’ve included a variety of restaurant recommendations, this isn’t to say that places that didn’t make the cut are bad. I can honestly say that I have never had a bad meal in Revelstoke, Golden, Banff or Canmore. Those listed were just a few of my personal favourites.
I’ve done this 4 day trip numerous times over the years, it started with leaving on a Thursday and coming home on a Sunday. But this itinerary is not set in stone. One year, Revelstoke was dumping powder, so we opted to stay an extra day there and skip a day at a different mountain. Some in your group may not be up for the long trek to Revelstoke and may opt to only drive as far as Golden and spend two days at Kicking Horse. The truly adventurous may add a day or two and start the journey even further into BC, driving to Sun Peaks, then trailing back to Revelstoke. Either way, it is important to remember that we have access to world class resorts, and the choice to ski them is up to us. Make time to do the things that you love and ensure that you explore all that this beautiful country has to offer.