Revelstoke

Situated in the Selkirk Mountains just west of the Canadian Rockies, Revelstoke exudes insanity even at a first glance. A remote location, BC Interior powder, and the longest vertical drop in North America make these slopes some of the most enticing out there. But Revelstoke’s eccentricities aren’t entirely positive, and not everyone will love this decidedly wild mountain.

Expert Experience

Expert skiers and riders should unequivocally have Revelstoke on their bucket list. The resort offers abundant steep, difficult terrain, with some of the gnarliest bowls and glades found anywhere in North America. Those looking to push their limits will find them at Revelstoke, with chutes, couloirs, and cliffs to give even the most tenured skiers a run for their money. If there’s a cliff sign, heed it—an expedition past one of these markers basically guarantees a mandatory drop of at least 20 feet. Nearly half of Revelstoke’s 3,121-acre footprint is designated for advanced and expert visitors, leaving more than enough for experienced guests to never get bored.

Vertical Drop and Terrain Diversity

Revelstoke boasts an astounding 5,600-foot lift-serviced vertical drop (the hike-to vertical drop is larger yet, at an almost unbelievable 6,030 feet), and this bottom-to-top rise furnishes it with an extraordinary variety of terrain. The resort specializes in glades, with widely-spaced trees that hold untracked powder and are ripe for exploring. All the trees above the top of the gondola are skiable, but some of the best hidden gems are off the gondola. The very top of the resort jabs into the high alpine, containing swaths of bowls. And plenty of trails at Revelstoke are of the traditional tree-cut variety, with every major mountain area offering groomers, cruisers, or bump runs of some sort. Across all terrain types, the low uphill capacity allows for snow that takes quite a while to get tracked out.

Hike-To Terrain

Getting to the very top of Revelstoke requires a modest but taxing hike. But guests who trek to the summit will be greeted with the resort’s wildest terrain, most incredible views, and best powder stashes. Revelstoke’s Sub Peak offers access to most of the hike-to terrain, but the resort’s highest in-bounds point is a short trek higher.

Backcountry Terrain Access

Revelstoke also offers easy access to the backcountry, with numerous access points across the resort. Some out-of-bounds areas allow easy re-entry to the resort, with some fully lift-serviced. However, most gates do not filter back in-bounds, and anyone who exits the resort should heed extreme caution. There is no avalanche control in the backcountry, and several routes down become impassable in the lower elevations. Those who have not visited Revelstoke before would be wise to seek out a local guide before attempting any backcountry terrain.

TRAIL MAP

Mountain Aesthetic

The first thing you’ll notice when you get to Revelstoke is how nondescript the base area is. The only way to get up the mountain is via the two-stage Revelation Gondola, and the mellow hills of the lower mountain feel much more reminiscent of a mid-tier hill than a world-class destination mountain.

But don’t let the base views fool you—Revelstoke really starts to show its true colors once you get to the top of the gondola. On a clear day, looking down from here yields astonishing views of the valley from which you came, the nearby town, and the surrounding mountains. The top of the gondola is also where you’ll get your first glimpse of the striking bowls and glades of the upper mountain.

But the most astounding Revelstoke vistas—and the ones that really make the mountain stand out from competitors—come from the highest-up areas. Upper-mountain lifts put you more than a mile above the base, allowing for top-down views unparalleled by essentially every other resort on the continent. For those who can handle the terrain, Revelstoke’s North Bowl is a must-do—this wide-open advanced and expert bowl is lined by some of the most distinctive peaks at any ski resort, making for a truly mind-blowing sight.

Low Visibility Conditions

However, the clear days that allow for Revelstoke’s exceptional views are few and far between. Visibility consistently proves difficult, with fog omnipresent in at least some areas of the massive mountain, especially at the top. The upper mountain peaks are often prominent enough to stay visible from the highest resort areas, but otherwise, the haze really diminishes their aesthetic magnificence. Those hoping to appreciate Revelstoke’s true beauty should plan to spend at least a few days here—and hope for a few hours of clear skies during that period.

Snow Quality Across Resort Elevations

Revelstoke’s vertical drop is the largest of any North American ski resort, and this makes for absolutely wild runs in terms of sheer length alone. Guests can hit an incredible amount of terrain in just one run, with individual lifts serving up to 3,000 vertical feet each.

However, these vertical feet aren’t created equal. Snow conditions vary across resort areas—the very top of the mountain enjoys excellent snow preservation, but conditions start to get a bit crustier as you go down. The first hints of variability typically manifest around the 5,500-foot mark. Mid-elevation areas are usually solid, but conditions can become dicey near the base, with slushy or icy conditions off the first leg of the gondola.

Lift Logistics

Revelstoke is quite new as far as ski resorts go, having celebrated its inaugural season in 2007. But in some regards, the mountain infrastructure still feels like it’s half-baked. Revelstoke’s lift redundancies are essentially nonexistent, and every trail at the resort is only served directly by a singular lift route. Since the gondola is the only route out of the base, if that lift isn’t running for whatever reason, the entire mountain becomes inaccessible. Some trails either require two lifts to practically access or are quite out of the way, making lapping a chore.

Crowd Flow

These same infrastructure issues lead to crowd flow complications. Revelstoke’s remote location lends itself to low crowds, but lines can still build up in the mornings, with all guests having to proceed through the same uphill chokepoints before dispersing throughout the mountain. The lines don’t fully die down once you’re fully up the mountain either, as everyone ends up lapping the same two lifts, Stoke and Ripper, for most of the day. At least every lift besides the very short Stellar chair is high-speed, making for swift rides up.

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Revelation Gondola Setup

But perhaps the weirdest piece of infrastructure design comes from Revelstoke’s two-stage gondola, which has what might be the most perplexing setup we’ve seen on any ski lift. The two gondola sections are actually disconnected from each other, meaning that guests have to get out at the top of the first stage to get on the second. Given that basically everybody is taking the full two-stage gondola (the first stage only services the very variable, very short lower mountain), this is really inconvenient and causes an annoying delay in getting up the mountain. The resort doesn’t load the second leg as efficiently as people can get off the first one, so there’s usually a line at both. Luckily, guests really only have to experience this once a day.

Ease of Navigation

Revelstoke may have a narrow, vertically-oriented footprint, but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy to get around. We’d argue the resort’s biggest navigational problems revolve around the upper-mountain Ripper zone. There’s no way to directly reach Ripper from the gondola—guests must ride either the Stoke or Stellar lift first. Experts hoping to hit Ripper should ride up Stoke and drop into the North Bowl, which funnels down to Ripper; all the other trails from Stoke or Stellar to Ripper are flat, making them especially tedious. Getting out is a major pain no matter one’s ability, with the catwalky Downtowner trail providing the only egress.

Beginner and Intermediate Experience

Despite the beginner and intermediate trails on its trail map, Revelstoke is not ideal for less experienced visitors. The resort certainly offers some enjoyable green and blue runs, but most are too long for less advanced visitors to lap comfortably. More reasonably lengthed runs exist in the lower mountain; however, these suffer from varying snow conditions. The Ripper chair services Revelstoke’s best beginner and intermediate terrain, but the difficulty of reaching this pod hurts its practicality.

The beginner-oriented Stellar area is Revelstoke’s newest zone, having opened for service in 2019. This very small pod provides additional terrain designed for learning, but the runs are a bit steeper than a bunny hill should be. Half the runs are blues, which makes very little sense; there’s no reason for intermediates to opt for these minuscule runs over normal trails elsewhere at the resort. But Revelstoke shouldn’t be a total write-off for true beginners—the resort has two bunny hills, one at each unloading station of the gondola, and they offer some of the coolest backdrops of any learning areas out there.

On-Mountain Facilities

Those who seek to stop in for a break at Revelstoke should plan accordingly. The most enjoyable upper-mountain areas are not within easy proximity to indoor lodging. The only dining facility above mid-mountain is a small venue at the top of the gondola with limited seating and capacity. That being said, the upper mountain does offer sufficient bathrooms and warming huts to make spending the whole day there doable. Many guests will find it easier to bring packed lunches rather than taking an excessive detour to grab a meal.

Getting There

Revelstoke is one of the most remote ski resorts in North America, and getting there is a commitment. The nearest international airport is two-and-a-half hours away in Kelowna, but direct flights from the United States are extremely limited. Calgary is also four-and-a-half hours away and offers somewhat more convenient flights.

All of the highways into Revelstoke involve sections that are quite mountainous and narrow, and roads are subject to frequent winter closures. For those not looking to drive on these treacherous roads, the Stoke Airport Shuttle offers daily service between the Kelowna Airport and Revelstoke.

Lodging

Revelstoke is a small town, and lodging is perennially in short supply. Be sure to book well in advance for any trip between Christmas and mid-February. Two brand-new hotels within the past two years have helped, but demand keeps getting crazier and crazier. The busiest weekends at some popular hotels can fill up as early as the preceding summer.

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Aprés-ski

The stoke may be real on the mountain, but things aren’t quite as wild when it comes to the after-4pm scene. Revelstoke’s base area does host a fun aprés bar with outdoor seating; however, other resorts offer more. The town of Revelstoke, which is about 10 minutes from the mountain, is home to some enjoyable pubs and casual bars, although those looking for lively clubs and dancing may want to look elsewhere.

Jan 31, 2024 Written By Sam Weintraub

Verdict

Revelstoke is an incredible mountain, but it hasn’t quite achieved its full potential yet, with underdeveloped infrastructure and a half-baked beginner and intermediate experience holding it back. However, for tenured skiers and riders, Revelstoke is more than worth the effort.

Pricing

Lift tickets are very reasonable for the experience, so for those lucky enough to score cheap flights, the mountain can actually be an underrated bargain. Revelstoke is also a member of both the Ikon and Mountain Collective Passes, so if you happen to have one of those products, the resort can be a great option for a multi-destination Western Canada road trip.

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