Kicking Horse, British Columbia – Big Mountain Terrain, Small-Town Soul

Mountainwatch | Arkie Elliss

 Tucked into British Columbia’s Selkirk and Purcell ranges, Kicking Horse Mountain Resort”,is renowned for its steep, technical in-bounds terrain and deep powder. Just 15 minutes from Golden, it’s the kind of place that attracts skiers and snowboarders who care more about the mountain than the scene.

Thredbo local Arkie Elliss has spent the past four winters at Kicking Horse. The terrain keeps bringing her back – but so does the tight-knit ski culture of Golden. Last winter was a season of consistent snowfall, a season where she got to experience what the locals call a “good season.”

The 2025-2026 season at Kicking Horse was insane. From the very start, it just kept dumping – sleeper powder days every other day throughout December. Storms stacked consistently, pushing the month into record-breaking snowfall.

It was my fourth season at Kicking Horse, and I finally got to experience what the locals call a “good season.”

Storm cycles continued into early January, bringing cold, dry, light snow—cold smoke that lingered for days after each storm. The snowpack built quickly, filling in lines that had previously been too exposed. Rocks disappeared, landings softened, and cliff and pillow features became far more forgiving. It turned Kicking Horse into a true freeride playground.

There’s a reason I keep coming back. Kicking Horse has some of the most insane inbounds freeride terrain anywhere, and last season even more options opened up. From the bowls to the steep chutes on CPR Ridge North, to the gladed trees on Redemption Ridge, the possibilities felt endless. Every run seemed to reveal something new to hit—lines appearing everywhere you looked. No matter how much you skied, it never felt like you’d even scratched the surface.

I had so many incredible days where I’d message my dad and say, “I just skied the best run of my life.” But there’s one day that sums up the whole season.

It was the first day Feuz Bowl opened, and four friends and I managed to get the rope drop down a run called Compton’s. It was unbelievable—some of the deepest, driest snow I’ve ever skied. Effortless face shots with every turn, the kind where you’re half blind and just hoping for the best. We were all yelling, going wild the whole way down. At the bottom, we regrouped, buzzing, barely able to explain how good it had been—but the stoke was written all over our faces. It’s a moment I’ll never forget.

Kicking Horse can be incredibly rewarding if you’re willing to put in a bit of effort, with multiple bootpacks that open up even more terrain. T1 and T2 are especially good a few days after a storm, when you can still find fresh lines long after everything else is tracked out. Off the Stairway chairlift, Whitewall and Ozone offer technical terrain that’s absolutely worth the hike.

The freeride culture feeds into all of this. Kicking Horse and the nearby town of Golden attract a certain kind of skier. It’s not about fur-lined jackets or flashy setups, but about people who genuinely love skiing and  snowboarding and want to push themselves on steep, technical terrain. They’re out there every chance they get, their passion and stoke spreading across the mountain.

Ella Grey is a classic example—an 18-year-old, born-and-bred Golden/Kicking Horse local who feels lucky to have grown up in Golden.

“Growing up in Golden is incredibly unique,” says Ella. “The special part of Golden is that the community is connected by something bigger—the mountains. They unite everyone in their own way through a mutual love for the outdoors.”

“The people are my favourite part about skiing at Kicking Horse. The feeling of knowing not only the place and the terrain, but also the lifties, the management, the café workers—it makes Kicking Horse more than just skiing.”

One of the best things about Kicking Horse is its freeride terrain, which is why it hosts multiple events, including Freeride Challenger competitions, Freeride Qualifiers, and junior events. These attract incredibly talented athletes and create an atmosphere full of energy, inspiration, and progression.

Off the hill, Golden is refreshingly laid-back—a town that doesn’t try to be anything it’s not. It’s full of good people and a strong ski community. There are a few great spots to unwind after a day on the mountain, including Whitetooth Brewery and The Bar. Reposados and Nagomi are two of my favourite places to eat—nothing fancy, just quality meals that hit the spot.

That laid-back vibe carries onto the mountain as well. Skiing with friends from Golden reminded me what it’s all about: no ego, no pressure—just getting out there and having fun. It’s not about impressing anyone; it’s about making the most of every run. That attitude is a big part of what makes Kicking Horse special.

Tessa Treadway is a single mum with three energetic sons who settled in Golden after “spending years on the road chasing snow and ski adventures.” The “no pretensions” vibe of Golden is one of the reasons they now call it home.

“We also loved the fact that Golden was, and still is, a real town,” says Tessa. “It represents such a wide demographic of ages, interests, and hobbies. Some of the ski towns we spent time in felt like every person living there fit the exact same description.”

“Spending time on the ski hill with my kids is my favourite thing in the world. Getting to share my love for skiing and the mountains with them—and seeing that they’ve developed a wild love for it too—is incredibly rewarding.”

“Skiing with Malto, my six-year-old, this winter, he stopped and told me, ‘Mom, Kicking Horse is the best because it’s not fancy.’ I have to agree with him. It is absolutely world-class skiing, in some of the wildest inbounds terrain, but somehow still so quiet—zero attitude and hardly ever a lift line. Nothing fancy, just great skiing.”

By the end of the season, it wasn’t just the big powder days that stood out—it was the consistency. Week after week of great skiing, where even on quieter days you could still find something soft, something fun, something worth remembering. It’s the kind of place that keeps delivering if you’re willing to explore, and that’s what made this season feel so different—not just a few highlights, but a full winter of proper conditions.

Kicking Horse has a way of staying in your head. After a winter like this, it’s pretty obvious why I keep coming back.

Head to Mountainwatch Travel for info on Kicking Horse 2026-2027 season packages