RED MOUNTAIN

Thanks to considerable terrain expansion over the past 10 years, Red Mountain has really popped up on many skiers' radars as a must-ski powder destination. Spread across three mountains (Granite, Red, and Grey Mountains), plus an extra peak of cat-skiing terrain, Red provides a good variety of terrain for all ability levels. Wide-open groomed runs, inbounds cat-skiing and perfect tree runs; over 110 varying courses that allow you to explore 360 degrees of the largest resort peak, Granite (Red Mountain itself has a 270 degree descent). A vertical drop of 890m also means super fun treeskiing and long interconnected runs from peak to base.

The highlight has to be its incredible fall line tree skiing, with Red boasting some of the best gladed tree runs in North America. Advanced and expert powder fiends have an endless number of lines to ski, with powder conditions that generally last well into the afternoon. Well-spaced trees allow for a perfect introduction to those new to skiing in the trees. For the best powder runs, head over to Grey Basin on Granite Mountain, with plenty of steeps, chutes, and tight trees to make you feel like your way out in the backcountry. Red itself also has some steep pitches to explore, with Paradise, Pale Face and War Eagle our favourites to ski.

At 2877 acres of pristine skiing, Red already has most of the desired terrain covered, however the resort also runs snowcat shuttles daily from the top of Grey Mountain, allowing access to an additional 200 acres of powder skiing. A mix of off-piste open slopes, wide trees, and a bounty of fresh lines, this area offers amazing skiing options for advanced skiers. This zone is patrolled and avalanche managed, so all you need to focus on is choosing the best line. Mr Kirkup Cat Skiing is only $10 per person per ride, and operates daily 10AM – 2PM, weather permitting.

Only about 18% of the resort is suited to beginners who are recommended to stick to the Grey and Granite Mountains, with plenty of green run options. Some of the longer runs are definitely leg-burning, so can be a bit exhausting for the little ones to complete peak-to-base runs. The recently opened up Topping Creek Chair has opened up some great new intermediate terrain on the right side of the mountain Terrain park-wise, the Rockstar Park boasts progressive new features and setup, including a huge wall ride, and is super close to the main base area.

The snow quality at Red varies between each mountain in the resort, but powderhounds are generally chuffed with the heavy snowfall (up to 7.5m annually), especially when it's a good ol' BC powder day! The best part about this unspoiled resort is the distinct lack of crowds (it's almost unbelievable to be honest), so no need to fight for fresh lines.

Red Mountain has all the standard facilities and services one will find at the base of a resort, all conveniently compacted into a large day lodge. The one bonus is all the amenities are relatively affordable, including rentals, childcare (available by the day, half-day, and hour), and rentals. There are a range of cafeteria style options and smaller cafes for lunch options, with a variety of food to suit even the most picky eater (from soups, to sandwiches, burgers, and other goodies).

The Snowsports School offers a great range of group and private programs for kids, and the beginner lessons include lift tickets and rentals. Lessons are available from the age of 3. Unfortunately, there are no standard group lesson options for adults other than beginner levels.

Staying on-mountain is defintely more convenient for families, however, if you require a few more options and access to supermarkets and local restaurants, staying in Rossland is recommended. The free resort shuttle from town to the base area is only a 5 minute drive.

For families and those who simply want ease of access to the slopes, staying on-mountain is a great option. There is a variety of cabin, lodge, and condo accommodation options to choose from, many with hot tubs, and either slopeside or only a short walk to base of the resort. The only downside to staying on-mountain is the lack of restaurant and bar options at night, which can get a bit repetative after awhile.

Slalom Creek is a perfect choice for those wanting ski-in/ski-out and a bit more luxury to their ski holiday, while Morning Star caters to a mid-range budget. The new Josie Hotel opening this season at the base of the resort provides another wonderful choice for on-mountain accommodation, and comes with a stunning outdoor slopeside pool to relax in after a day on the slopes.

A lot of skiers choose to stay in nearby Rossland, only a few kilometres from the resort. It's only a small mining town, however, it's rich with tradition and the locals are friendly and laid-back. There is more variety in the way of nightlife, shopping and facilities, and you'll experience true Canadian mountain town culture. Rossland has accommodation ranging from hotels, motels, B&B's and hostels, as well as more deluxe rooms and suites (some with kitchenettes) at the Prestige Mountain Resort.

Find a great map of the Red Mountain Resort Area and location of our favourite condo options here.

Being located along the 'Powder Highway' has its advantages when it comes to extra activities for the skier and snowboarder. There are a number of world-class cat-skiing and heli-skiing operations near Red Mountain, perfect for those wanting to tick off their bucket list. 

Big Red Cats is one of the world's largest cat ski operations, with over 20,000 acres of untracked glades and bowls to explore. The tours start right from the base area of Red. Ski between 10-18,000 feet of vertical per day under the instruction of qualified guides, and experience the famous BC powder without the hefty price-tag.

Snow Water Heli-skiing is a well-known operation near Red. Jump in the heli to the peaks of one of the 3 mountain ranges and ski incredible alpine bowle, steep chutes, glades, and perfectly spaced trees - and of course, champagne powder!

Experience the ultimate in backcountry skiing with an incredible 3 or 4 day trip to the historic Baldface Lodge. We'll known among the skiing and snowboarding community, Baldface (created by snowboarding legend, Craig Kelly) is a cat-skiing mecca. Fly via heli to the lodge for an all-inclusive, once in a lifetime skiing experience.

Red Mountain and the surrounding mountains and valleys also offer fantastic cross country skiing, as well as plenty of backcountry touring options. Summit Mountain Guides are highly recommended for those wanting to take their skiing to the next level and seeking a more personalised backcountry experience.

For the families, Get Lost Adventure Centre offers a range of fun activities for those down days at the resort. Try your luck at fishing, join a cave tour, or take a white-water rafting adventure through the wilderness.

Red Mountain is located along the famous 'Powder Highway', just outside Rossland, British Columbia. This region of BC, which also includes the likes of Revelstoke, Whitewater, Kicking Horse, Panorama, and Fernie, is renowned for incredible mountains, mammoth amounts of powder snow, and some of the best backcountry heli-skiing and cat-skiing in the world.

The easiest option to get there is to fly into the closest airport, Castlegar, and jump on one of the daily resort transfers (barely 35 minutes drive to Red from the airport). Airport transfers are also available from Spokane (located in Washington state, USA), a great option for those on a multi-resort trip.

If staying in Rossland itself, there is a free resort shuttle bus to get you up to the mountain each morning and back in the afternoon. It can be a little crowded with locals and visitors alike, so we'd recommend getting up earlier if possible.

From Vancouver or Calgary, it's about a 7 hour drive, however, if you have the time we'd highly recommend the trek. Some of the best scenery in Canada is along the 'Powder Highway', and you can experience some wonderful local mountain towns and hospitality along the way.

With almost 7m of average annual snowfall, anytime is a great time to go to Red Mountain. The resort opens 09 December and runs through to the start of April. February and March are best for powder skiing, and have clearer weather (more bluebird days!), perfect for cat-skiing and heli-skiing. January can be bitterly cold in British Columbia.