Revelstoke, everything you need to know before you go
A dream ski trip has a few prerequisites:
- Deep snow
- Exciting terrain
- Natural beauty
- The perfect accommodation
- Dining and nightlife
Revelstoke has all of these things and more!
Revelstoke, sometimes referred to as Revie, is a town in interior BC nestled on the banks of the mighty columbia river. This once sleepy rail, forestry and mining town transformed into a world class ski resort in the winter of 2007/08 when Revelstoke Mountain Resort (RMR) first opened. RMR is situated on Mt. Mackenzie, which is a 10 minute drive from town.
Deep Snow
Revelstoke is blessed with an average annual snowfall of 10.5 meters (35 feet!!) per season! That’s a lot of Powder!
Exciting Terrain
RMR has the longest descent in North America. The longest run is a whopping 15,288 meters long! That’s over 9.5 miles. The groomers here are great and basically endless.
If you prefer off-piste terrain then you’ve also come to the right place. The tree skiing here is vast and mostly widely spaced. There are many different alpine bowls to ski. If you are into hiking and/or ski touring there are endless options for you to search out untouched powder and alpine adventure.
RMR plays hosts multiple freeride competitions including the freeride world qualifier, so if its steep and technical terrain your after look no further than Revelstoke.
RMR also has a terrain park for you to hone your jumping and rail sliding skills.
Natural beauty
From the top of the stoke chair the views are breathtaking. High alpine snow capped peaks as far as the eye can see. Looking down into the valley you can see the town of Revelstoke nestled on the banks of the mighty Cloumbia. There is no better way to admire this gorgeous valley than while carving your way down the mountain.
It is also very common for the town of Revelstoke to be shrouded in cloud but mid mountain and above to be protruding up above the haze and into pure blue skies, giving the appearance of a vast sea. Simply stunning.
The perfect accommodation
RMR has multiple ski-in ski-out options, like the Sutton Place Hotel, top notch. There are also entire chalets available to rent that are just a snowball’s throw from the gondola.
Another option is to stay at a hotel or motel in town. On one hand this will require a 10 minute drive to get to the ski hill but on the other hand you have more options, especially if you are on a tight budget. There must be at least 30 different accommodation options in the town of Revelstoke.
Dining and NightLife
There is a small village type environment built up around the gondola. Multiple restaurants, bars, cafe’s, gear shops, rental shops and gift shops. If you are staying on resort you have everything you need.
If you are staying in town you have many options for things to do after a big day on the hill. There are at least 20 restaurants and 10 bars to choose from. Multiple cafe’s, grocery stores, pharmacies and all the amenities of a mountain town.
A few things that I’d like to highlight in Revelstoke include: The cinema, the bowling alley, the hockey rink where the KIJHL Revelstoke Grizzlies play, the curling rink, the local pool and rec center and multiple heli and cat ski operations store fronts.
Plenty of options to keep you busy.
RMR is not only one of the best resorts in Canada, but one of the best in the world! If skiing at Revie isn’t on your bucket list, you should add it, because it really is world class.
Written by Chris German
