BC has everything a winter enthusiast could want, especially when it comes to skiing and snowboarding. The south central and south east area of the province has so many ski hills that it’s both easy and convenient to gather their gear, hop into a camper, and follow the trail to some of the best conditions in the world.
Sounds like a great idea! Let’s start this journey along the so-called Powder Highway in the East Kootenays, in the majestic Elk Valley, and the town of Fernie.
FERNIE ALPINE RESORT
Just a few kilometres from the community of Fernie is the Fernie Alpine Resort. Boasting the highest annual snowfall of any resort in the Canadian Rockies – about 875 centimetres on average – this gem of a hill has 10 lifts to transport skiers and snowboarders to 142 runs across five bowls on the mountain.
The ideal place for winter camping lies about nine kilometres away at the Fernie RV Resort. They offer special winterized RV sites and power hook up, plus regular snow removal on the sites. It’s a great place to unwind after a long day on the slopes.
PANORAMA MOUNTAIN RESORT
Our next stop on the Powder Highway is just up the mountain road from Invermere to the Panorama Mountain Resort. This beauty of a hill is among the highest verticals in North America, with 133 runs for all skill levels – from beginners to double black diamond experts. The mountain is home to the Tayton Bowl, which due to its shape and facing direction has some of the best powder you’ll find in BC.
There’s no RV camping at Panorama proper, but winter RV camping is available south of Invermere at Fairmont Hotsprings RV Resort.
KICKING HORSE MOUNTAIN RESORT
Next we head up Highway 93 from Invermere to the town of Golden, where the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is situated. Kicking Horse is home to 137 inbound chutes, five bowls, and some of the best champagne powder you’ll find anywhere. This is a great hill for more advanced skiers and snowboarders, with 82 runs rated advanced or expert.
The best place to park the RV while at Kicking Horse is at the Golden Golf Club RV Park, which allows winter camping. A 14-minute drive from the hill, you’ll be able to stock up on supplies in Golden after spending the day going up and down the mountain.
REVELSTOKE MOUNTAIN RESORT
Following the Powder Highway west, we arrive at the Revelstoke Mountain Resort. It may only have 42 runs, but Revelstoke doesn’t skimp on the height; Mount Mackenzie has the largest vertical descent in North America. This hill also gets the most snow, outdoing Fernie with a whopping average of 10.5 metres per year. It may be a small resort, but it’s big where it counts.
Park the RV at the year-round Crazy Creek Resort, halfway between Revelstoke and Sicamous, which has some great winter campsites for different sized RVs, plus a selection of hot and cold mineral pools, perfect for unwinding after a day on the slopes.
SILVERSTAR MOUNTAIN RESORT
Our last stop on the Powder Highway lands us at Silverstar Mountain Resort east of Vernon. The smallest mountain on our tour, Silverstar still has 142 runs for powder heads to try. This is an ideal hill for intermediate level skiers and snowboarders, as the majority of runs are from beginner to intermediate. There’s still plenty of advanced and expert runs though, so don’t worry about not feeling challenged on this hill.
Set up the RV at Cedar Hills Campground RV Park, which has winter camping, but only by appointment.
After driving on all those mountain highways, this is an ideal time to get the RV serviced. At Mike Rosman RV, we have excellent technicians who will make sure your RV is running smoothly. After all, you’ll need it for the next road trip! Contact our service department to make an appointment – 250-545-1611
