Skiing in Revelstoke - What’s It All About?

​Skiing History in Revelstoke

Skiers have enjoyed the mountains around Revelstoke for over 100 years. A tow lift opened in 1947, and things accelerated in the 1970s with the real first chairlift, heli-skiing and cat-skiing operations.

In 2005, the mountain was bought by investors, leading to the opening of Revelstoke Mountain Resort (RMR) as we know it in 2008.

Revelstoke is the heartland of heliskiing in British Columbia. Plentiful, light snow, old-growth trees and majestic terrain are what prompted Hans Gmoser to invent helicopter skiing in 1968, with a programme 30 miles away in the Bugaboos that would become CMH heliskiing.

Heliskiing has since spread around the world, and the experience has evolved and improved with the help of new operations. But the town of Revelstoke remains the epicentre for both heli-skiing and cat-skiing, and is home to many of the teams and some of the offices of the likes of CMH, Selkirk Tangiers, Eagle Pass and Mica Heliskiing.

With Revelstoke Mountain Resort’s redevelopment in 2008, the town's mayor said, “Heliskiing, cat skiing, cross-country, back country, snowshoeing and downhill skiing can all be enjoyed almost on the same day if you've a mind to”.

What is Revelstoke Like Today?

The ambition to create a resort to surpass Whistler, Vail and Mammoth was a grand one, but reality (and the 2009 financial crisis, among others) had other ideas. Revelstoke Mountain Resort in 2025 hasn’t actually changed much since my visit in 2009, though I don’t think that is such a bad thing.

While the Sutton Place hotel at the gondola base opened in 2009 and the Stellar chairlift was added in 2019 to open up more beginner/intermediate terrain, skiing in Revelstoke still operates with just one gondola and three chairlifts – a far cry from the mooted 21 lifts and 115 runs – and the Montana Bowl remains out of bounds.

Development of in-resort accommodation, restaurants and other outlets has been slow, with just a handful of uber-luxe chalets such as Bighorn and Bison Lodge offering high-end solutions to where to stay in Revelstoke. The dining options on the mountain and at the resort base remain very limited, which is another negative that crops up in various Revelstoke reviews.

​The Terrain and Snow in Revelstoke

Snow stats are unreliable and open to manipulation, but there is no debate that the mountains around Revelstoke are some of the most reliably snowy in the world. Being on the western edge of the Interior ranges, they experience a lot of precipitation, and the snow can often be drier than on the Coast ranges further west.

The RMR ski area base is at just over 500m of elevation and tops out at 2340m, meaning that the top half of the mountain is usually better than the lower half, while some of the heliskiing areas reach almost 3000m.

Data available suggests that over the last 10 years, Revelstoke has experienced similar snowfall to Niseko, Japan. We would caution that different sources mean that direct comparison may not be representative, but 10 metres of snow each winter is a lot by any other standard.

The Interior mountain ranges of British Columbia are largely covered in trees, many of which are “old-growth”, meaning they are huge, well-spaced and great for skiing between. Some sections of smaller trees have been thinned out (gladed) to make the experience of skiing in Revelstoke even better.

At higher elevations, there are alpine bowls and glaciated terrain, but if you don’t love tree skiing, you would be better off elsewhere.

Big snowfalls and steep terrain make the BC Interior one of the best places to ski “pillow lines”, and the tree skiing can be pretty steep. But it’s also worth noting that the snowpack can be more unstable than in more maritime mountain ranges and prone to “persistent weak layers” (which increase avalanche risk), so cat-skiing and heli-skiing in Revelstoke are sometimes limited to more low-angle terrain.

​Skiing Options in Revelstoke

The idea of resort skiing, heliskiing and cat-skiing in a single day might be fanciful. But all three are certainly close at hand, with multiple operators of both cat and heliskiing within a short drive of Revelstoke.

​Resort Skiing in Revelstoke

The advent of the Epic and Ikon passes has resulted in “epic” queues in many resorts at the first sign of a powder day. In spite of being an Ikon Pass resort, Revelstoke’s size relative to its distance from any major cities makes it less crowded than elsewhere, at least for now.

Only 4 lifts make skiing at Revelstoke sound underwhelming, but the big elevation and well-designed lift system mean that the modest number of lifts opens up an extraordinary amount of terrain, over 3100 acres, making it almost as big as Mammoth or Snowmass (which have 24 and 21 lifts, respectively). It’s not perfect, and many Revelstoke reviews report a fair amount of funnelling back to the gondola mid-station or to the base of the Ripper chair. But you can ski for much longer than you might imagine without repeating the same runs.

The ubiquitous trees on Revelstoke Mountain mean that many parts resemble one another, which makes it harder to navigate than you would imagine for a resort of 4 lifts, and the runs can feel ‘samey’. But they do mean that visibility is rarely a problem, and powder stashes can be found long after the last snowfall by those prepared to look hard enough.

Revelstoke Beginner Skiing

While there is probably enough beginner terrain for the local children to learn, Revelstoke is hard to recommend when there are plenty of better-suited beginners skiing options nearby.

Revelstoke Intermediate Skiing

The Revelstoke skiing trail map is deceiving for intermediate skiers in that poor or limited snow at lower elevations often makes the lower gondola blue runs unpleasant or unskiable, but the Stellar Zone is bigger than it looks on the trail map. Braver intermediates who don’t get nervous as the pitch increases will find plenty to challenge and entertain them on long single diamond (red) runs, but nervous intermediates will find the terrain feels limited quickly.

Checking the daily grooming report is also essential if you prefer your runs to be corduroy rather than “au naturel” with bumps and loose snow. Booking an instructor is the best way of ensuring that you don’t end up going down a run on Revelstoke Mountain that is beyond your ability.

Revelstoke Advanced/Expert Skiing

Revelstoke’s runs are predominantly black single or double diamond (red or black in European parlance), so this is really a mountain for advanced and expert skiers and snowboarders. If your visit coincides with a cold spell, the South Bowl offers leg-burning runs at sustained pitches to challenge the biggest European resorts.

Skiing in Revelstoke is really about getting off the groomed runs and looking for powder stashes – the tree skiing in the main South Bowl can be phenomenal and some of the best, more open lines are in the North Bowl and Greely Bowl, accessed via the Lemming Line Traverse and the Sub Peak Hike (115m bootpack from the top of the Stoke chairlift which takes 15-20 minutes).

Revelstoke is a great place for advanced skiers, and the combination of abundant snow, steep pitches, tree skiing, pillow lines, drops and chutes makes it ideal for expert freeriders. The reputation as a ski hill for chargers means that it gets tracked quickly, and to find untracked snow, be prepared to get up early, book a guide and hike the Subpeak.

​Revelstoke Heli-Skiing

BC’s Interior mountain ranges offer some of the best heliskiing in the world. Helicopters slung with ski baskets heading out and back are a common sight from Revelstoke, and heliskiing is possible in the surrounding mountains with Selkirk Tangiers, Eagle Pass and CMH.

Regular, deep snowfalls make powder days common, and the red cedars and western hemlock trees give pilots (and skiers and snowboarders) a contrast with the white snow. Landing and taking off are possible even in poor weather, meaning that the BC Interior has very few “down days” relative to other heliski locations with few/no trees, such as Alaska. Above the treeline, there is plenty of open alpine skiing at higher elevations for the bluebird days.

Heliskiing programmes can be booked for a single day or multiple days. You can book a seat to join a group, or book a private helicopter, and you can choose from a large or small helicopter.

Heliskiing in Revelstoke typically costs about CA$2,000 to CA$3,500 per person per day (or from about CA$15,000 per day for a private programme), so choosing the right programme is important.

​Revelstoke Cat-Skiing

Cat-skiing in Revelstoke offers access to remote mountains and untracked snow, but instead of a helicopter, a snowcat (a piste-basher or groomer with a passenger cabin on the back) is used to transport you up the hill.

There are numerous cat-skiing operations to choose from within a couple of hours’ drive of Revelstoke resort. Cat-skiing can be booked by day or for multi-day trips (including lodging), and groups are usually up to 12 skiers/snowboarders with a lead guide and a tail guide.

Read our thoughts on whether you should go heli-skiing or cat-skiing.

Risks at Revelstoke Mountain Resort

The combination of dense trees and avalanche mitigation by the Revelstoke ski patrol means that the risk of an “inbounds” avalanche is usually very low at Revelstoke Mountain Resort. This gives it one of the best balances between good snow and safety.

Very few people ride with a transceiver/shovel/probe, which Europeans can find disconcerting. Nonetheless, inbounds avalanches happen occasionally in North America, and we don’t really see why you wouldn’t take your avvy gear.

When cat-skiing and heli-skiing in Revelstoke, the terrain is not avalanche-controlled and the risk of avalanche merits respect. That means carrying the right equipment, doing your training and heeding your guide’s advice.

Tree wells, which are unfamiliar to many European skiers and snowboarders, arguably present a greater risk than avalanches in and around the Revelstoke mountains. Heavy snowfall and huge trees often result in a deep hole in the snowpack around the trunk.

Falling into one might seem comical, but it is far from funny. Going headfirst into deep snow while attached to skis or a snowboard creates a serious suffocation hazard.

Skiing/snowboarding in control, staying close to a buddy, calling out to each other as you descend and carrying a whistle (which may already be on your backpack chest strap) are the best ways to minimise the risk.

​Example Revelstoke Skiing Itineraries

There are several ways to configure a trip to Revelstoke, depending on the kind of skiing you are looking for and your budget.

• The Revelstoke Road Trip - start your trip in Calgary and visit Banff or Kicking Horse before upping the ante with some days at RMR, then end on a high with a few days’ heli-skiing or cat-skiing.
• Revelstoke Resort & Heli/Cat – for a shorter trip, head straight to RMR for a couple of warm-up days before doing a multi-day heliski programme.
• Revelstoke Private Heliskiing – book a private chalet with a helicopter outside for the ultimate Revelstoke heliskiing experience.

​Preparing for Your Revelstoke Ski Trip

Revelstoke has a small airport for private charter flights, but most guests fly to Kelowna Airport via Vancouver or Calgary before taking a (private or shared) road transfer to Revelstoke.

When it comes to where to stay in Revelstoke, your options are:

• Sutton Place Hotel at the base of Revelstoke Mountain Resort
• Hillcrest Hotel – the base for Selkirk Tangiers Heliskiing is just outside the town of Revy
• Private chalets at Revelstoke – these include some of the best in the world such as Bighorn
• Choose from hotels in Revelstoke town but keep in mind that you will have to drive to ski each day – or take the shuttle bus

When to Go to Revelstoke

By booking Revelstoke ski packages early, you benefit from early booking discounts (which expire in August and November) on some hotels, lift tickets, rentals and tuition. Prime heli-skiing and cat-skiing dates can fill up a full year before so, for trips from Christmas to the end of February, you need to be planning right after your last ski or snowboard trip.

For the best snow, January and February are usually seen as the best months, but December, March and even April can be fantastic too. Our advice is not to try to second-guess the weather - go at a time that works for you and hope for the best.

​Cost Considerations

Prices for Revelstoke ski holidays start at around CA$500 per person per day to stay at Sutton Place and ski RMR. High season, multi-day trip prices (including accommodation and board) start at around CA$2,500 per person per day for heli-skiing and CA$1,750 for cat-skiing.

There are some great deals to be had if you travel in early and late season, when the risk of the snow not being good is a little higher.

Luxury chalets for 10 or more people with private chef and housekeeping start from about CA$5,000 per night, and private heliskiing (your own helicopter) costs from CA$15,000 per day.

All prices exclude tax (5-16%).

​Dining and Drinking at Revelstoke Mountain Resort

Options for dining and apres ski at Revelstoke Mountain Resort remain sparse, especially on the hill. The food at Revelation Lodge is OK and hearty, but the noisy cafeteria experience isn’t great the first time and quickly becomes wearing, while the Mackenzie Outpost has a limited offering and an outside deck.

Meanwhile at the resort base, breakfast is a la carte from the Rockford Grill or café style at La Baguette, while the Mackenzie Tavern joins the Rockford in serving good food after skiing. It all goes quiet pretty early though, so for more choice and more atmosphere, head down into town, where plenty of good and lively places to eat and drink have opened since 2009.

​The Future at Revelstoke Mountain Resort

Things are starting to change more quickly now in the Revelstoke ski area, with the opening of the residences at the Mackenzie Village, construction of a second hotel at the resort base (which is well under way) and various new chalets being completed, some of which are available to rent.

What isn’t yet clear is how soon the owner, Northland Properties, is planning to extend the ski area. There seems to be a risk that, as the bed stock grows, the lift lines at RMR will grow.

My advice is the same as it was 16 years ago – book a Revelstoke skiing holiday soon in case they spoil it.

​Final Thoughts

It was great to be back skiing in Revelstoke and almost as good as my starry-eyed 34-year-old self remembered.

If you want to give yourself the best chance of skiing and snowboarding in deep powder, Revelstoke is still one of the most likely places in the world to deliver that. While it isn’t the only ski resort where lift-served resort skiing can easily be combined with heli-skiing and cat-skiing, it is probably the best, provided you like tree skiing and value deep snow and terrain over lunch on the mountain and après-ski.

​Revelstoke Skiing FAQs

Where is Revelstoke ski resort?

Revelstoke Mountain Resort is located on Mount Mackenzie, just outside Revelstoke in British Columbia, Canada.

Who is Revelstoke for?

Revelstoke is best for advanced and expert skiers and snowboarders.

How do cat-skiing and heli-skiing in Revelstoke compare?

Check out our journal post here

When is the best time to go to Revelstoke for powder snow?

January and February have the most powder days, but December, March and April also see their fair share.

How do you get to Revelstoke?

Most people drive – either from Kelowna Airport or from Calgary, Banff or Kicking Horse over Rogers Pass (be sure to check for closures before setting off)

How much snow does Revelstoke get?

Like any mountain, the snow in Revestoke varies a lot. But it generally snows a lot, and your chances of finding deep powder here are as high as anywhere in the world.

Do I have to be an expert skier/snowboarder to go heli-skiing or cat-skiing?

You don’t have to be an expert, but you need to be a strong skier or snowboarder capable of descending confidently on “difficult” (i.e. “black” in Europe / “Double Diamond” in North America) marked runs and have some experience of riding powder snow.

Can under-18s go heli-skiing and cat-skiing?

In principle, children and teenagers can go heli-skiing and cat-skiing provided they ski or snowboard to a high standard. However, different operators have different policies, which may vary by programme.

How far is Revelstoke from Banff?

Revelstoke is 283 km from Banff, another incredibly popular ski area in Canada. It takes around 3.5 hours to drive between the two places.

How to fly to Revelstoke?

You can take a private charter flight that lands at the small airport in Revelstoke itself, but most guests choose to fly to Kelowna Airport via either Vancouver or Calgary and then get a transfer to the resort.