Itineraries – Kicking Horse Mountain Resort

SUMMER ITINERARIES

Plan Your Summer Adventure

Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is your gateway to unforgettable summer adventures in Golden, BC. From scenic gondola rides and alpine hiking to mountain biking, dining, and wildlife experiences, there's something for every kind of explorer. Choose from a variety of attraction passes and ticket options to make the most of your visit and experience everything the resort has to offer.

GRIZZLY BEAR REFUGE

This ticket will give you access to the Catamount Chair lift which takes you to the Grizzly Bear Refuge located on the lower mountain. The chairlift runs from 9:45am-4pm, (Core Summer – see HOO for early and late season hours), and takes about 15min to get from the base to the refuge. The interpretive tours are 45-60mins long, and are offered at 10:00am, 12:30pm and 2:30pm. Guests can also follow the signs for a self-guided tour with Q&A with the Rangers in between tour times. Guests with a GBR ticket can access the refuge and ride the Catamount chair all day and may stay at the refuge for as short or long as they like during operational hours. GBR tickets can be upgraded at Guest Services to include access to the Gondola and hiking/sightseeing/Restaurant.

SIGHTSEEING

This ticket will give you access to the Golden Eagle Express Gondola which takes you to the Summit of Kicking Horse Mountain, where you will find the Eagle’s Eye restaurant (Please note: the Sightseeing ticket is not a guarantee for dining at Eagle’s Eye Restaurant. Guaranteed seating at Eagle’s Eye requires a reservation) and the Kicking Horse hiking trails. The Gondola ride up is approximately 18 minutes each way and runs between 10am and 4:30pm (Core Summer – see HOO for early and late season hours). Eagle’s Eye restaurant has limited open hours and reservations are highly recommended, find hours of operation and make a reservation online here. The hiking trails at Kicking Horse all begin from the top of the gondola, and range in difficulty and length of time. Find more information about our hiking trails here. If your plans for the day include a hike as well as visiting Boo at the Grizzly Bear Refuge, be sure to allow yourself ample time to ride each lift, complete your hike/sightseeing activities and give yourself at least 45min at the refuge. We recommend a minimum of 3hrs to experience both attractions; Sightseeing tickets can be upgraded to include access to the Grizzly Bear Refuge via Catamount chair at Guest Services prior to 2:30pm; plan to be on the gondola back down the mountain by 2:00pm to allow time to catch the last tour at the Grizzly Bear Refuge.

ADVENTURE PASS

This ticket will give you access to both the Catamount Chair lift to the Grizzly Bear Refuge and the Golden Eagle Express Gondola for hiking, sightseeing and the Eagle’s Eye restaurant. A minimum of 3hrs is advised to make the most of this ticket. The Adventure pass is only available for purchase until 2pm to ensure guests have time to attend all the attractions included in this ticket product. Please review our example itineraries below:

EXAMPLE ITINERARIES

3 HR MORNING

Start your day with a scenic, open air ride up the Catamount Chairlift (15min) and visit to see Boo at the Grizzly Bear Refuge. Morning tour time is 10:00am and is approximately 40-50min long. Following the tour, hop back on the Catamount Chairlift back to the base. Once at the base, head over to the Golden Eagle Express Gondola and ride to the summit (18min). Choose from a variety of short hikes, listed below, ranging from 30min to 1.5hrs return. If your time allows, make a reservation at the Eagle’s Eye restaurant for a post hike beverage and/or snack, you’ve earned it. Your gondola ride down, when you’re ready, will be approximately 18 minutes.

PLAN YOUR DAY

9:45am Catamount Chair to Grizzly Bear Refuge

10:00am Guided Refuge Tour

11:00am Catamount Chair down to Plaza (Gondola Base)

11:15am Golden Eagle Express Gondola ride to Summit

11:30am Embark on a hike (avg 60min return)

12:30pm Golden Eagle Express Gondola ride to Base (18min)

3 HR AFTERNOON

Start your afternoon on the Golden Eagle Express up to the Summit (18min). Choose from a variety of short hikes, listed below, ranging from 30min to 1.5hrs return. If your time allows make a reservation at the Eagle’s Eye restaurant for either a pre or post-hike bite. You’ll want to be on the Golden Eagle Express Gondola back to the base by 2:15pm at the latest to get on the Catamount Chair up to the Grizzly Bear Refuge (15min) to catch the last guided Refuge tour at 2:30pm. The last ride up on the Catamount Chairlift to the Refuge is 3pm. Following the tour (40-50min), you’ll download on the Catamount Chair back to the plaza.

PLAN YOUR DAY

12:30pm Golden Eagle Express Gondola ride to Summit (18min)

12:50pm Embark on a hike (avg 60min return)

1:50pm Golden Eagle Express Gondola ride to Base (18min)

2:15pm Catamount Chair to Grizzly Bear Refuge (15min)

2:30pm Guided Refuge Tour (45-60min)

3:30pm Catamount Chair down to Plaza

SUGGESTED SHORT HIKES

30 - 60 Minutes

DOGTOOTH RIDGE

Rating: Easy to More Difficult

Return Time: 30 min to 1 hour (Depends on turnaround point)

Description: Follow Its a Ten road for approx. 200m, then follow the trail up to the left and along the ridgeline. At the Y intersection, go right to the top of the Blue Heaven Lookout. Wildflowers and fantastic mountain vistas can be found all along this trail.

TERMINATOR RIDGE

Rating: Easy

Return Time: 30 min to 1 hour

Description: From the Gondola top, head east along CPR Ridge and then follow the signs south for Terminator. This well-defined trail cuts below Terminator Peak and heads to the Super Bowl saddle. Along this trail enjoy the spectacular views down into Canyon Creek and across to the stunning Purcell Mountains. Upon reaching the saddle you’ll be able to look back down at the town of Golden, Kicking Horse Canyon and the Rocky Mountains.

T2 PEAK

Rating: More Difficult

Return Time: 30 Minutes - 1 Hour

Description: From the Super Bowl Saddle, continue following the main ridge up through a light scramble section. The trail culminates on T2 summit lookout, at the top of an alpine meadow. Enjoy the spectacular views of the Columbia wetlands to the south with the Rocky and Purcell Mountains on either side.

CPR RIDGE

Rating: Easy

Return Time: 20-30 Minutes

Description: This trail begins at the top of the Golden Eagle Express Gondola and heads east down the ridge, parallel to the gondola line. Be sure to take in the lookout points offering spectacular views of the Columbia River Valley, Blaeberry Valley and Rocky Mountains.

VIA FERRATA

Included with your Via Ferrata Tour is an Adventure pass for the day. This ticket will give you access to both the Catamount Chair lift to the Grizzly Bear Refuge and the Golden Eagle Express Gondola for hiking, sightseeing and the Eagle’s Eye restaurant, (Seating at Eagle’s Eye is not guaranteed without a reservation).

MORNING TOURS

If booking a morning tour, 10:15am Ascension or 10:45am Discovery, you will want to take advantage of the other attractions after your Via Ferrata. The last guided tour at the Grizzly Bear Refuge is at 2:30pm, so you will need to down load on the Golden Eagle Express Gondola (approximately 18min ride to the plaza) by 1:50pm at the latest, once at the base head over to the Catamount Chairlift and catch your ride up to the Grizzly Bear Refuge (15min ride to the Refuge, last ride up is at 3pm) to catch the last guided tour at 2:30pm. The guided tours are approximately 40-50min; once complete, you’ll download on the Catamount chair to the base.

ASCENSION TOUR - 10:15AM

9:30am Arrive at KHMR Guest Services to check in and collect Adventure Passes

9:45am Golden Eagle Express gondola to the summit (18min) to meet your guide

10:00am Ascension Tour (3hrs)

1:00pm Enjoy a snack at Eagle’s Eye restaurant, or head back down the mountain on the Golden Eagle Express Gondola

2:15pm Catamount Chair lift to the Grizzly Bear Refuge

2:30pm Guided Refuge tour (40-50min)

DISCOVERY TOUR - 11AM

9:30am Arrive at KHMR Guest Services to check in and collect Adventure Passes

10:00am Golden Eagle Express gondola to the summit (18min) to meet your guide

10:45am Discovery Tour (up to 2hrs)

1:00pm Enjoy a snack at Eagle’s Eye restaurant, or head back down the mountain on the Golden Eagle Express Gondola

2:15pm Catamount Chair lift to the Grizzly Bear Refuge

2:30pm Guided Refuge tour (40-50min)

AFTERNOON TOURS

If booking an afternoon tour, 1pm Discovery or 2pm Pioneer, you will want to take advantage of the other attractions before your Via Ferrata. We would recommend arriving at KHMR for 9:30am, signing in and picking up your adventure passes for the day; plan to load the Catamount Chairlift at 9:45am (15min ride) to take advantage of the first guided tour at the Grizzly Bear Refuge (10am). The guided Refuge tours are approximately 40-50min long. Following the tour, you’ll hop back on the Catamount chair to the plaza/gondola base (15min). From there, you’ll have time to have a bite to eat at one of the restaurants in the Plaza, or head up the Golden Eagle Express (approximately 18min ride to the summit) to the Eagle’s Eye restaurant for an early lunch (reservations are highly recommended). You’ll meet your Via Ferrata guide at the top of the Gondola at your Tour time.