The Incident Investigation Report related to the March 10 incident has now been released by Technical Safety BC (TSBC). This report is a public document and is available for anyone to review. All TSBC investigation reports can be found on their website: TSBC Website

Resorts of the Canadian Rockies and Kicking Horse Mountain Resort place safety as our top priority and will continue to meet or exceed all regulatory requirements. We remain committed to safely providing our staff, guests, and community with the opportunity to recreate and enjoy the mountain we all love so much.

So, you’ve decided to take on Kicking Horse with kids in tow. Whether your little ripper is taking their first wobbly turns or confidently bombing past you before you’ve even buckled your boots, Kicking Horse has something for every family—yes, even those who consider putting on tiny mittens a full-contact sport!

Step 1: Start Small – And Bribe Accordingly

Before you tackle the mountain, warm up in the Learning & Adventure Centre. This zone is ground zero for first turns and comeback tours—perfect whether you’re a total beginner, or a parent dusting off skills last seen when neon one-pieces ruled the slopes (and let’s be real, they’re making a glorious comeback). The Jelly Bean Express magic carpet makes those first attempts at gliding fun, easy, and (relatively) tear-free.

Parent Pro Tip: Pack pocket snacks. A well-timed granola bar has been known to prevent lift-line tantrums.

Want a little more kid-free time? Book them into daycare or an adventure lesson. They’ll get amazing care and professional instruction, and you’ll get a few guilt-free runs!

Step 2: Graduate to the Catamount Chair – But Don’t Rush It

Once your mini rippers have mastered stopping, it’s time to hit the Catamount chairlift. This is where things get exciting—but still manageable.

• Mid-Mountain Stop: Ease into it. Hop off halfway and let them test their skills on a mellow, confidence-boosting run before tackling the full chair.
• All the Way Up: Ready for more? Ride to the top of Catamount and explore some easy-to-intermediate trails. And here’s where Kicking Horse throws in a little magic—the Secret Kid’s Entrance! Hidden along the trail, this special kid-approved, banked turn run comes with fun animal signs and just enough adventure to make them feel like they discovered a hidden portal.

Parent Pro Tip: Go through it yourself. No shame. It’s fun!

Step 3: The Big League – But Make It Chill

You’re feeling bold. The kids are hyped. Time to take the gondola to the summit for unreal views and a victory lap down “It’s a Ten“—Kicking Horse’s 10-kilometre scenic cruiser.

• The Ride Up: The gondola offers a breathtaking 360-degree panorama—a great moment to snap a family pic.
• The Glide Down: “It’s a Ten” is a long, gentle, easy ride with stunning views. Perfect for families looking to soak it all in without white-knuckling their way down a double black.

Photo credit © Maur Muzza Mere

Parent Pro Tip: “It’s a Ten” is a great trail for a friendly race—winner picks where to stop for hot chocolate.

Beyond the Slopes: Keep the Fun Rolling

Make après-ski a reward. Whitetooth Grill, Eagle’s Eye Restaurant, and Heaven’s Yurt are all family-friendly and delicious. And, if bedtime goes smoothly, maybe you and your partner tag-team for a Friday or Saturday evening shuttle into Golden—just saying.

Ready to Tame the Horse?

Kicking Horse might have a reputation for gnarly expert terrain, but it’s also an incredible family destination if you know where to look. Start slow, build confidence, and make the most of midweek deals by booking through Central Reservations—that way, you get the best value on multi-day lift tickets, rentals, and accommodations.

👉 Book now and make family ski memories that don’t involve parking lot meltdowns!

Snow is whispering its return across the peaks above Golden, BC! If you want your 2025-26 ski season at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort to be legendary, now is exactly the time to get your plans set.

From gondolas spinning again, to early-bird perks for pass holders, here’s your full pre-season checklist to maximize your time on snow and minimize your stress.

Lock in a Season Pass + Early-Bird Perks

• The sale for 2025-26 Winter Season Passes ends October 17, 2025. After that, regular pricing kicks in. For example, the Adult pass is $1,899 during the Fall/Early Bird Sale — that’s $530 off the regular price.
• RCR Rockies Card Access: As a pass holder, you get discounts on full-day, full-mountain lift tickets at other RCR resorts — awesome if you plan ski trips to Fernie, Kimberley or Nakiska.
• Discount “Friends & Family” lift tickets (think RCR 4-Area lift ticket at ~$129 with no blackout dates).
• Gear & tune-ups: Pass holders get deals like Buy 2 Get 1 Free Tune Up for full tune-ups (edges/base, stone grind, hot wax), and 10% off tune ups.
• Other Discounts: Retail, food & beverage, lockers, priority parking, etc. All of which add up over the season.

2. Book Lodging That Puts You on the Mountain

You don’t want to spend your winter mornings wishing you were closer. Base lodging = better first tracks!

• Glacier Mountaineer Lodge and Palliser Lodge are on-mountain accommodations you’ll love: full kitchens (great for meals or warming up late), fireplaces or scenic balconies, ski-in/ski-out access, hot tubs, ski storage, etc.
• For something uniquely special: Eagle’s Eye Suite is perched up high at ~7,700 ft; it includes a private chef, dinner + first-tracks lift ticket, views that stop you in your tracks!
• Central Reservations through RCR is the go-to place for lodging packages. Call 1-800-258-SNOW (7669) or visit the https://skircr.com/contact-us/ Mention that you have (or plan to buy) a season pass—it sometimes unlocks lodging discounts or perks.

3. Travel, Access & Logistics

• Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is located in the Town of Golden, BC and is accessible via the Trans-Canada Highway. Check Alberta and British Columbia road reports, especially for weather or potential closures. Winter tires will be mandatory or highly encouraged. Check out the “Getting to Kicking Horse” page for details.
• If flying, book earlier—Golden is remote; flights into Calgary + drive. Also reserve rental vehicles ahead.
• Consider a car-free trip and use the Champagne Powder Shuttle.

Photo: Tourism Golden

4. Gear, Tune-Ups & Safety Prep

• Book your tune-ups now: edges, base, wax. Pass holders: don’t miss the Buy-2-Get-1-Free offer, and 10% off tune-ups.
• Double-check bindings, get boots fitted, make sure your helmet is in good shape.
• If renting, reserve the size/brand you love ahead of opening — demand spikes fast.

5. Lessons & Guided Tours

I’m a believer: no matter how many seasons you’ve got on snow, riding with a pro or taking a lesson changes everything.

• For first-timers or little shredders, instructors help you start smart — Catamount chair greens become fun, not frustrating.

• Intermediates get tips and confidence for blues and entry into alpine terrain.
• Experts: guided tours get you to the best stashes and safest lines in bowls and ridges you might not otherwise find.Here’s where everyone fits in:
  

  Ability Level	What You’ll Want	Why It’s Great Here
  Beginner / family	Beginner area & green runs off Catamount Chair (~20% of terrain)	Wide, gentle slopes for learning; easy transitions.
  Intermediate	Mid-mountain lifts, blue runs (~20%)	Scenic groomers, rolling terrain, confidence builds.
  Advanced / Expert	Golden Eagle Gondola + alpine bowls (Crystal, Bowl Over, Feuz, Rudi’s, Super Bowl)	Big lines, steep chutes, breath-taking terrain.

  Even if the bowls intimidate you now, season pass holders can gradually step up — and one day, those panoramic views from the top will be totally worth it!

Pre-Season Checklist for Kicking Horse

✅Buy Your Pass Before October 17 – Save $530 on Adult Season Passes + get perks (Friends & Family tickets, tune-up deals, food/retail discounts).

✅Book Lodging Early – Secure ski-in/ski-out at Glacier Mountaineer Lodge or Palliser Lodge, or splurge on the Eagle’s Eye Suite.

✅Plan Your Travel – Winter tires, check road reports, book flights/cars ahead, and look into shuttle/lodging transfer options.

✅Prep Your Gear – Wax, tune, check bindings/helmets, and reserve rentals early.

✅Lock In Lessons – Ski School pros build skills + confidence. Guided tours unlock the best lines safely.

Make This Season Legendary

Snow is coming fast. Don’t wait — secure your pass, lodging, and lessons now so you’re ready for first tracks.

👉 Call RCR Central Reservations at 1-800-258-SNOW (7669), email information@skircr.com, or book online here to lock in your 2025-26 winter.

Think Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is only for expert skiers and snowboarders? Think again! With beginner-friendly zones, progressive terrain, and family-focused activities, Kicking Horse is the perfect winter destination for visitors of all levels, especially those looking for a multi-day adventure packed with value.

Start Small: Learning & Adventure Centre

Begin your journey at the Learning Centre, where the Jelly Bean Express magic carpet makes learning a breeze. Beginners can practice their “pizza” or heel-side stops on the gentle slope. It’s a fun, stress-free way to build confidence before hitting the chairlifts.

Book daycare and adventure lessons (video link) for the little shredders to help with their progression and get some adult runs in!

Progress to the Catamount Chair

Once you’ve mastered the basics, head to the Catamount chairlift. Take it step by step:

• Mid-Way Stop: Get off halfway to practice on a mellow, shorter run with a few hundred feet of vertical.

• All the Way Up: Ready for more? Ride to the top of Catamount and enjoy longer, easy-to-intermediate runs. Keep an eye out for the Secret Kid’s Entrance—a playful trail with big berms and animal signs that’s just as entertaining for adults!

Take It to the Top

For those seeking breathtaking views and a gentle ride, hop on the Eagle Eye Express gondola. The panoramic scenery at the summit is heavenly, and “It’s a Ten” offers a 10-kilometer-long beginner-friendly cat-track run all the way to the base.

Dining with a View

Fuel up at the Eagle’s Eye Restaurant, perched at the summit with jaw-dropping views, or enjoy hearty meals at the Whitetooth Grill, located at the base area. For a unique experience, don’t miss the cozy Heaven’s Yurt – next to the Stairway to Heaven chairlift (on your way down on “It’s a Ten”).

Expert Tips, Faster Growth

To accelerate your learning and make the most of your time at Kicking Horse, consider taking a lesson with a certified instructor, or join in on a guided mountain tour – available daily at 10am and 1pm. These options provide personalized tips, expert insights, and a supportive environment to help you build confidence and master your skills while exploring the resort’s best beginner-friendly terrain.

Family Fun Beyond the Slopes

After a day or two of practicing your turns and building confidence on the slopes, your body might appreciate a break. Kicking Horse isn’t just about skiing and snowboarding. You can book snowshoe tours, sightseeing gondola rides, and the Tube Zone provides hours of thrills for all ages.

Ready to create lifelong memories? Book your ski-and-stay package through Central Reservations to get the best deals and access to shuttles, accommodations, multi-day lift tickets, rentals, daycare, and lessons.

Feature photo credit © Maur Muzza Mere

After a dozen snowless days in southeastern British Columbia, I was thrilled to arrive at the base of Kicking Horse Mountain Resort to find a light sprinkle of soft snow, beginning to fall from the cloud-covered sky.

My partner, Mathieu, and I hopped onto the Golden Eagle Express Gondola and shared the scenic ride up with some East Coasters who were equally as excited about the onset of a forecasted winter storm and the possibility of all this fresh snow starting to stack up.

Ogling out the windows, we scanned the surrounding terrain for signs of untracked lines as the gondola carried us towards the summit, bringing us to 2,347 meters (7700 feet) above sea level into the incredible Purcell Mountains, giving way to breathtaking Columbia Valley views and the spectacular, snow capped peaks that make Kicking Horse such a must-visit resort.

Certain that every square ounce of powder had been devoured by snow-starved locals and eager visitors, we warmed ourselves up with some wide open laps through the vast expanse of the Crystal Bowl before teeing into the Stairway to Heaven Chair and heading back up for more.

As we neared the top of the lift, we peered over Redemption Ridge to see some enticing stashes of untouched powder beckoning from the bottom of Ozone. The promise of even just a turn or two in some of that world-renowned Champagne Powder was all the nudge we needed to make our way up the aptly-named Stairway to Heaven staircase and onto the impeccably maintained bootpack.

Standing on top of Whitewall and looking down on the steep, double black diamond lines and distant couloirs etched into the dramatic snowy slopes, my heart skipped a beat.

“I can’t believe this terrain is in bounds.” I muttered to myself.

Making our way along the stunning traverse towards Ozone, our heads were on a constant swivel, soaking in all the beauty before continuing beyond to Rudi’s Bowl. As we stood – all alone – atop Middle Ridge, the clouds thinned, and the faint light of the sun shone down the perfect light into the bowl below, the falling snow sparkling in its rays.

“Where is everybody?” I asked Mat. “Over there,” he smiled, pointing back towards the chair.

We inched our way down the ridge until we found some perfectly preserved pockets of last week’s powder – and dropped in. The tips of our boards dipped in and out of sight, as the light, fluffy snow floated up around us.

We hooted, hollered and high fived our way down through Rudi’s and out onto the Feuz Ski out before linking up with Blaster and Downshift and riding the fresh dusting of morning snow all the way back to the base.

As we loaded ourselves onto the Eagle Express we smiled over at each other, completely – albeit – pleasantly surprised that our seemingly lofty dreams of untracked powder lines this long after a storm cycle could actually come true.

Photos & Words by @trip.longer

Steep & deep: the first two words that come to mind when I think of our day at Kicking Horse. We weren’t expecting a pow day while visiting Golden in mid-March, but when we woke up to bluebird skies and 25 cm of fresh snow, we had to check out the local Rocky Mountain Resort.

Our quick stop at Ethos Café for morning coffees, almond croissants and avocado toast wasn’t quite quick enough and we got “trained” — stuck behind a passing train — for about 20 minutes. Apparently this is one of Golden’s endearing inconveniences. When the tracks were finally cleared, we continued up the hill to lay some fresh ones of our own. 

Before long, we found ourselves flying up the mountain in the Golden Eagle Express, watching skiers and boarders slash and spray their way across the slope. The gondola let us off at 2,346 metres (7,700 feet) and I was slightly overwhelmed by the impressive peaks surrounding us and the seemingly limitless options for getting back down. 

Riding over to the ‘Stairway to Heaven’ chair, we had our first taste of that famous champagne powder. Light, fast and fluffy as a cloud, we practically floated down to the lift. There was no lineup — a common theme for the day — and I began to wonder if all that glitters is gold in Golden. 

The official ‘Stairway to Heaven’ opened and we couldn’t resist seeing where it led. When we reached the summit, we followed tracks along the edge of Feuz Bowl until we were ready to strap in. I attempted to pick a friendly line off of ‘Whitewall’ but a vertical drop-in was my only option (hence the name). We each took a leap of faith and didn’t stop until we’d reached the base. 

A few top to bottom laps later, and our legs started to feel like they’d taken the stairmaster to heaven. Eagle’s Eye Restaurant was the perfect spot to rest up and enjoy some panoramic views. Once we’d recharged, we spent the afternoon riding Bowl Over to Terminator, where there was still plenty of untracked terrain.

The four o’clock call signaled the end of the day and although we wanted to keep going, I don’t know how much more my body could’ve handled. I was so covered in snow by this point I had a liftie ask me: “Faceplant or faceshot?”. Both, I told him. I managed to make it to the parking lot without collapsing but I can’t say the same about my partner.

No day up the mountain is complete without après, so we headed to Riverhouse Tavern for tacos and pints on the patio. With the warm, spring sun shining down on us, we re-lived the highlights over some much needed sustenance. Kicking Horse may have kicked our asses, but as I sat there basking in that post powder day glow, I couldn’t wait to do it all over again.

Words & Photos by Ruby Woodruff
https://www.instagram.com/rubywood/