Top 5 Things To Do in Revelstoke:
1. Revelstoke Cat Skiing
Cat skiing is a form of guided backcountry skiing that involves getting shuttled up in a grooming machine with a cabin on the back called a snowcat. It also combines all of what we’d say are the core ingredients for an epic ski day; more untouched powder than you’d know what to do with, incredibly vast terrain to roam, guides that know where the goods are stashed, and ample time to warm up, take a breather, and socialize with your friends as you get a bump up to your next line. That’s a win across the board in our books! Cat skiing provides a fantastic opportunity to safely explore pristine terrain in a guided environment, while being less at the mercy of fickle weather conditions that may ground a helicopter on a major powder day. With the impressive amount of snow the winters see around here, this is a stellar way to meet your face shot quota.
Need to brush up on your powder turns? Our how-to guide is here to help!
2. Revelstoke Heli-Skiing
Old-growth rainforest. Wide-open glaciers. Steep couloirs. Pillows of all kinds. It’s no surprise Revelstoke is so fondly dubbed the “heli-ski capital of the world”; whichever type of terrain speaks to you most, heli-skiing here is sure to deliver best-day-evers in full with the ability to access hundreds of thousands of skiable acres. If laying down once-in-a-lifetime type lines while experiencing the breathtaking landscape of the Selkirk and Monashee mountains from a bird’s eye view on the flight to your next run is up your alley (not to mention the option of coming home at the end of the day to a luxuriously cozy lodge), this style of skiing has your name on it.
Discover heli-ski in, heli-ski out at Bighorn Lodge in Revelstoke.
3. Revelstoke Backcountry Skiing
With not one but two mountain ranges to explore, the area around Revelstoke is teaming with alpine bowls, steep and deep trees, and majestic peaks to chase solitude and find your uphill rhythm in the skin track. The resort itself offers an incredible kick-off point for challenging lift-accessed backcountry explorations while still staying fairly close to civilization. For experienced backcountry skiers seeking bigger days, hut trips, and epic traverses, the famous Rogers Pass in Glacier National Park an hour away from town features spectacular terrain and ample vert straight from the roadside coupled with dreamy amounts of all-you-can-shred champagne powder. When there’s this much to choose from, the best way to maximize your time earning turns can be to hire a guide that knows the lay of the land inside and out who can take some of the planning off your hands – let us help you with that!
(Note: if you are heading out into the backcountry or any area past ski resort boundaries without a guide, please be sure to check the forecast and stay safe by ensuring you have adequate avalanche safety training and gear.)
4. Other (non-ski) things to do in Revelstoke
Ready to give your ski legs a break and try a new winter activity? Lucky for you, there are plenty of other ways to soak in the beauty of Revelstoke. Grab some snowshoes and get the heart pumping on one of many easily accessible trails up to Monashee cabin in Mount Revelstoke National Park; from the frozen waterfall at Begbie Falls to riverside forest walks along the Columbia river, you can find a trail to suit any mood on this handy trail map. Fat biking (an off-road bicycle decked out with wide tires for extra traction and float in the snow) is a perfect way to spin the legs and soak in views of the Monashees and Selkirks from the valley bottom if two wheels are more your speed, with a number of trails to explore including the Soren Sorensen loops and the Meadows in the Sky Parkway. Is an active rest day calling your name instead? Let the pups do the mushing and get whisked away on snowy trails on a dog sledding adventure – a truly Canadian experience. For those craving an indoor evening of good old-fashioned nostalgic fun after a day in the brisk winter air, grab your friends and head downtown to the bowling alley at The Cabin.
5. Revelstoke Bars and Après Scene
And because we believe there aren’t too many things in life sweeter than loosening your boots and kicking your feet up at a cozy après spot after a full-value day of playing in the snow, we can’t help but mention a few spots to grab a drink on your next visit into town. For those that dig a nice cocktail, Monashee Spirits is a small family-run craft distillery that embodies the spirit of community and distills all their spirits by hand using local ingredients. If you’re craving a beer after laying down turns all day, Mt. Begbie Brewing is sure to have a brew or two that’ll satiate the post-powder thirst. And if a high stoke atmosphere, local beers on tap, and a full menu are more your speed, you’ll find it all at The Village Idiot – one of Revelstoke’s best known après spots.
This charming mountain town knows no limits when it comes to opportunities for making incredible winter memories. No matter what flavour of Revelstoke adventures piques your interest, we’re excited to help you put together a trip of a lifetime.
