Revelstoke vs Kicking Horse: which should you book?
Book Revelstoke if you want the biggest vertical in North America, a vast serious mountain and a real railway town at its foot. Book Kicking Horse if you want concentrated steep terrain, light dry powder and a no nonsense skier's mountain on a tighter budget. Revelstoke is the bigger, deeper experience, while Kicking Horse is the sharper, steeper hit.
By the Ski Resorts for Kings editorial team · Last reviewed July 2026
The short answer
Revelstoke wins on size, vertical and the town. Kicking Horse wins on concentrated steeps and value. Two serious British Columbia mountains, both poor for beginners.
These are two of British Columbia's most uncompromising mountains, a couple of hours apart in the Columbia and Selkirk ranges, and both are built for skiers who like it steep and snowy. Revelstoke offers the greatest lift served vertical in North America, a huge spread of terrain and a genuine, characterful railway town below. Kicking Horse, above the small town of Golden, is famous for its light, dry powder and a wall of steep chutes reached from the Stairway to Heaven lift.
For a traveler who loves wild scenery and a place with a pulse, Revelstoke is the richer trip, a real town of cafes, river and railway history under enormous peaks. But Kicking Horse delivers a purer, more intense skiing day if all you want is to point it down something steep in cold smoke snow.
The numbers side by side
| Revelstoke | Kicking Horse | |
|---|---|---|
| Resort base | around 510 m | around 1,190 m |
| Top lift | around 2,225 m | around 2,450 m |
| Vertical | around 1,700 m, the most in North America | around 1,260 m |
| Terrain character | Vast, varied, serious | Concentrated, steep, expert |
| Snow | Deep, reliable Columbia snow | Light, dry Champagne powder |
| Village style | Real railway town nearby | Small base plus the town of Golden |
| Day pass | Around $110 to $130 | Around $100 to $120 |
| Nearest airport | Kelowna, roughly 2.5 hours | Calgary, roughly 3 hours |
The skiing
Both are expert leaning mountains, but they reward different appetites. Revelstoke is enormous and varied, with the biggest vertical on the continent, long top to bottom descents, tree skiing, bowls and easy access to cat and heli operations, so a strong skier can roam for days. Kicking Horse is smaller but ferociously steep, a compact mountain where the Stairway to Heaven lift opens a fan of chutes and couloirs that few resorts can match for sustained pitch. Neither is kind to beginners, who will find slim pickings at both. Winner: Revelstoke for size and variety, Kicking Horse for pure steepness.
The town
Revelstoke wins this comfortably. It is a real town, a historic railway settlement with good restaurants, breweries, a river and a heritage main street, a place to live in for a week rather than just sleep. Kicking Horse has a small, quiet base area, and the nearby town of Golden is functional and friendly but modest. For atmosphere and a sense of place, Revelstoke is clearly ahead. Winner: Revelstoke.
Cost
Both are serious mountains with serious lift prices, and a week at either, with flights from outside North America, typically lands in the $4,000 to $8,000 per person band. Kicking Horse, with its smaller base and the cheaper lodging of Golden nearby, generally works out a little easier on the wallet. For value per vertical foot, Kicking Horse edges it. Winner: Kicking Horse, narrowly.
Families
Neither is a natural family resort, and both lean hard toward advanced terrain. Revelstoke is the better of the two for a mixed family only because its sheer size includes more groomed cruising and a wider spread of green and blue runs. Kicking Horse has limited easy terrain and is best left to confident skiers and teenagers. Winner: Revelstoke, though neither is ideal for young children.
Apres and evenings
Revelstoke wins again, on the strength of its town. After skiing you have proper restaurants, breweries and bars within walking distance, a real evening rather than a single lodge. Kicking Horse has a pleasant but limited base, and the action moves down to Golden, which is quiet. For a sociable week off the mountain, Revelstoke is the clear pick. Winner: Revelstoke.
Access
Kicking Horse is the simpler arrival for most overseas visitors, roughly three hours from Calgary along the Trans Canada Highway, a single straightforward drive. Revelstoke is around two and a half hours from Kelowna or a longer haul from Calgary, and winter driving on these mountain roads can be slow. We give access narrowly to Kicking Horse for the cleaner Calgary connection. Winner: Kicking Horse, narrowly.
The verdict
Book Revelstoke if you want the biggest vertical in North America, a vast and varied mountain and a real town to come home to, and you are a confident skier who values scale and atmosphere. Book Kicking Horse if you want concentrated, world class steeps, light dry powder and a simpler, slightly cheaper trip, and you do not need a lively base. Strong skiers chasing variety and a town should choose Revelstoke, while steep skiers on a tighter focus will love Kicking Horse. Read our full reviews of Revelstoke and Kicking Horse before you book.
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Common questions
Is Revelstoke or Kicking Horse better for skiing?
It depends on what you want. Revelstoke is vast and varied with the biggest vertical in North America, while Kicking Horse is smaller but ferociously steep, with a famous fan of chutes off the Stairway to Heaven lift. Both are expert leaning.
Which has more terrain, Revelstoke or Kicking Horse?
Revelstoke, by a wide margin. It has the greatest lift served vertical on the continent, around 1,700 m, plus bowls, trees and long descents. Kicking Horse is more concentrated and compact.
Which has better powder, Revelstoke or Kicking Horse?
Both are excellent. Revelstoke gets deep, reliable Columbia snow, while Kicking Horse is famous for lighter, drier Champagne powder. The choice is depth and consistency versus that dry cold smoke quality.
Which has the better town, Revelstoke or Kicking Horse?
Revelstoke, clearly. It is a real railway town with restaurants, breweries and a heritage main street. Kicking Horse has a small base area and the modest nearby town of Golden.
Are Revelstoke or Kicking Horse good for beginners?
Not really. Both lean hard toward advanced terrain. Revelstoke has more groomed cruising thanks to its size, but neither is a natural choice for young children or nervous first timers.
Which is easier to reach, Revelstoke or Kicking Horse?
Kicking Horse is the simpler drive for most, roughly three hours from Calgary. Revelstoke is around two and a half hours from Kelowna or a longer haul from Calgary on mountain roads.