Location: Revelstoke Mountain Resort is located in North America’s ‘deep snow capital’ in the heart of British Columbia. It was voted Canada’s Best Ski Resort in 2020, which is most likely due to its 3,120 acres of skiable terrain that includes the longest vertical ski hill in North America, trumping Whistler in 2008 when their gondola was extended to 1,713 metres.
Revelstoke attracts skiers and snowboarders from all over the world who are in search of some serious powder – and, with an average of 18 metres of snow per season, it’s safe to say that they don’t lack in the white stuff.
With only one hotel on the ski hill with ski in / ski out options, most visitors either stay here or stay in town, riding the ski bus up to the hill each day and enjoying the restaurants and bars in town each night.
Photo by Hywel Williams
Getting there: The closest airport is Kelowna which is an hour’s flight from both Vancouver and Calgary. Daily international flights depart London Heathrow to both Vancouver and Calgary with Air Canada. WestJet has direct flights to Calgary from London Gatwick, three times a week.
Revelstoke is 2 and a half hours from Kelowna Airport by shuttle bus, private taxi or rental car. Or if you’re flying into Calgary then it is a 5-hour drive from the airport (although you gain an hour as there is a time change from Mountain Standard Time to Pacific Standard Time); but you can break up the journey by visiting Banff, Lake Louise and Kicking Horse along the way.
Where to stay: The Sutton Place Hotel is the only ski in/ski out option in the resort. It’s handy for guests who want to be on the first lift as you can practically roll out of bed and onto the slopes. The rooms are various sizes from studio suites through to three-bedroom suites. The downside of the convenience of being located on the slopes is that the ski hill is a 10-minute drive from downtown where you’ll find most of the restaurants and bars. There are limited options at the base station so a hire car is recommended to avoid taxi costs into town.
We love the Best Western which is located on the edge of downtown Revelstoke. The large, modern bedrooms are very comfortable and the hotel has a swimming pool to soothe those aching muscles post ski. The ski bus stops conveniently right outside the door but the hotel also provides a free shuttle into town to enjoy the bar and restaurant at their sister hotel, the Regent Inn. This is usually full with CMH Heli Skiing guests so you’ll meet lots of other keen skiers if you hang out here.
The nicest hotel in downtown Revelstoke is the Explorer’s Society – Revelstoke’s premier boutique hotel. We highly recommend it for anyone looking to add a bit of luxury to their trip. The 9 bedrooms are very stylish and there’s a private rooftop guest lounge and an acclaimed in-house restaurant.
Photo by Hywel Williams
Highlights: Nothing will compare to skiing at Revelstoke (unless you already have experienced the powder delights of heli skiing). Deep powder and endless tree runs make Revelstoke a playground unlike anything you’ve experienced before in Europe. Enjoy it before others cotton on. You’ll have much more fun if you’re willing to hike a bit to get over into the North Bowl. For those who wish to stay on piste then we’d highly recommend taking the Stoke Chair up to the highest point in the resort and taking the top-to-bottom ‘Pitch Black’ run.
Downsides:There is lots of terrain to ski however most of it is not suitable for beginner skiers. Also, the town hasn’t quite got the buzzy atmosphere for a great apres ski; you can expect some fun sports bars however the nightlife is limited. If staying downtown and a light sleeper then you might want to take some earplugs for the nightly Trans Canada Pacific railway that rolls through town.
Best piste run: All of it – it’s been said Revelstoke offers the best resort skiing in the world – and with it’s new award for Best Canadian Resort in 2020 it’s not just us that can vouch for that.
Photo by Hywel Williams
Best mountain restaurant:The MacKenzie Outpost is a relaxed outpost offering spectacular views over the Columbia valley with a sundeck and delicious burgers on offer. It is perfect for a quick bite to eat, and other skiers come and bring their own packed lunches so they can go a-trekking. If you’re wanting more of a sit down affair then the Revelation Lodge is the other mountain eatery on offer – and if you get stuck into too many beers you can always download on the gondola….!
Best restaurant in town:The Regent Inn’s 112 Restaurant offers some of the best steaks in Canada. Locally sourced produce and hearty hospitality. The Old School Eatery is also fantastic if you’re looking for something other than steak plus they have a fantastic cocktail menu!
Best après bar: Options are limited here but head through the swing doors of the Regent Inn restaurant and you’ll find the best sports bar in town.
Best off piste run: The North Bowls are a 30-minute hike from the Stoke chair but offer unlimited fun. Steep chutes and tree skiing galore.
Photo by Hywel Williams
If you are looking for ideas to warm up your skiing legs before your heli skiing, do contact the powder skiing experts at Pure Powder for any information on skiing in Revelstoke!