This Canadian Road Trip Includes 8 Ski Stops With Some of the Deepest Snow in North America

"Some of the best skiing in North America can be found off an inconspicuous two-lane road in a lesser-visited corner of British Columbia. The aptly named Powder Highway connects eight Canadian ski areas, each with its own superlatives and charms, all set in the Kootenay Rockies. "Deep snow, small mountain towns, and the most down-home, stash-laden, adventure-packed ski resorts in North America exist here," Heidi Korven, who works with Kootenay Rockies Tourism, shared in an email interview with Travel + Leisure."

""The best way to plan is to determine your access point (i.e., Calgary, Vancouver, Kelowna, Spokane, or Kalispell), then create a route that best suits your style," said Korven. If you're flying into Calgary, it makes sense to start your journey at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in Golden-plus, you'll drive through Banff National Park, home to three additional ski areas you can visit en route."

"As Korven explained, you should begin your planning by first determining your ski style. "Do you like the steeps, trees, moguls, or groomers?" she said, adding that you should also think about "what is important to you: ski-in, ski-out, luxury vs. budget? The joy is that you can truly customize your Powder Highway journey to meet your needs." For this article, we're starting our trek in Calgary and driving counterclockwise around the Powder Highway loop, starting with Kicking Horse Mountain Resort."

Powder Highway connects eight ski areas in the Kootenay Rockies of British Columbia and delivers deep snowfall, varied terrain, and small-mountain-town charm. Each resort offers distinct strengths such as vertical, exceptional snowfall, or minimal lift lines, and visiting all eight typically requires at least ten days. Travelers can customize itineraries by selecting access points—Calgary, Vancouver, Kelowna, Spokane, or Kalispell—and creating a route that matches preferred skiing styles. Recommended starting points include Kicking Horse for Calgary arrivals, Red Mountain for Spokane arrivals, and Fernie for Kalispell arrivals. Planning should prioritize ski style preferences and lodging priorities like ski-in/ski-out or budget versus luxury.

Read at Travel + Leisure