Turn your winter a whiter shade of Golden and head to British Columbia to seek out what makes Golden and Kicking Horse Country a winter ski adventure paradise. Golden lies in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, nestled between the Rocky and Columbia Mountains, a three-hour drive from the Calgary International Airport, and boast some of the driest and most abundant champagne powder in Canada. Surrounded by six of the country’s most stunning national parks — Banff, Glacier, Yoho, Jasper, Kootenay and Mount Revelstoke — Golden offers some of the best scenery and outdoor adventure anywhere in the world. Not only is Golden a place of spectacular views but it’s an authentic mountain town offering a rich history and a vibrant arts and culture scene with live performances, art exhibits and the annual Snow King’s masque parade.

Only 15 minutes from downtown Golden is Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, otherwise known as the “Champagne Powder Capital of Canada;” and it’s all that, and so much more. Kicking Horse boasts the fourth highest vertical in North America at 1,260 meters (4,133 feet) and has more than 1,133 hectares (2,800 acres) of skiable terrain, 126 runs, four alpine bowls, 85 chutes, and amazing groomed runs down rolling terrain. But that’s not all, there is a tube park and skating rink on resort, as well as concerts and events, including one of the top freeride events in North America, the four-star Freeride World Qualifier named ”Wrangle the Chute.” Only a short distance from the Kicking Horse plaza is the Dawn Mountain Nordic Centre which boasts over 30 kilometres of manicured skate and classic cross-country ski trails, a beautiful timber frame day lodge and warming hut. In recent years, they have even included several snowshoeing trails that work their way through the pristine wilderness. 

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