Deep in the heart of the Canadian Rockies and Columbia Mountains lies a ski and snowboarder's dream destination: The Powder Highway. Located a couple hours west by southwest of Calgary, Alberta, this iconic, 630-mile circular route meanders through the impressive Kootenay Rockies region in the southeast of British Columbia, reaching eight ski areas, 20-plus backcountry lodges, and numerous cat and heli-skiing operators to take you even deeper into the mountains. It almost goes without saying, but this Great White North destination is renowned for its legendary powder skiing—hence the name—with annual snowfall often exceeding 60 feet in a single season.
Seeing is believing though, and while many visitors to BC head to the big name coastal resorts like Whistler, I recently opted to travel inland to two of the most underrated along the route, RED Mountain Resort and Whitewater Ski Resort, and their nearby mountain towns in search of untracked snow, unbeatable scenery, and the local mountain scene.
With more time I would have loved to road trip deeper along the legendary highway to complete the full loop, knocking off Fairmont Hot Springs, Kimberley Alpine Resort, Revelstoke, Panorama Mountain Resort Fernie Alpine Resort, and Golden’s Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in the process. But even with a handful of days I still packed my schedule and found that snow isn't the only thing the region has in abundance. Read on for the full breakdown of what makes Canada’s Kootenays and the Powder Highway one ski trip worth every bit the effort to get there.