Kimberley may have that quaint Bavarian charm, but don’t let that fool you, this place is a snowboarder’s jackpot! Long fall-line groomers, glades galore and sneaky little natural halfpipes make Kimberley an epic spot to dial in your skills and chase good times on snow.

The Stats That Matter

• Vertical Rise: 2,465 ft / 751 m
• Skiable Acres: 1,800 acres / 729 hectares
• Longest Run: Ridgeway – 3.97 mi / 6.4 km
• Number of Lifts: 5
• Terrain Breakdown: Beginner 20% | Intermediate 42% | Advanced 38%

The Lowdown on Terrain

Whether you’re just linking your turns or chasing fresh lines in the trees, Kimberley offers diverse terrain for snowboarders at every level (see trail map here).

Here’s how to make the most of it:

1. Owl Learning Area (Beginner Haven)

If you’re new to snowboarding or introducing your mini-shredder to the sport, the Owl Learning Area is the perfect starting point. Master the basics on the magic carpet (Owl Learning Area 1), then graduate to the T-bar (Owl Learning Area 2) to practice those heel-to-toe transitions.

T-Bar Survival Tips:

• Strap in your lead foot, rest your back foot near your binding, and wedge the “L” bar between your legs.
• When the lift tugs, lean slightly back for balance.
• If you bail? Pop up fast and clear the path to keep the flow going.

Bonus: Test your skills on the nearby banked slalom track for a fun challenge with quick turns and fast flow.

2. Northstar Chair (For the Flow Seekers)

Ideal for ‘beginnermediate’ riders who are linking S-turns confidently, Northstar opens a world of long cruisers and scenic descents.

Looking towards the mountains off Northstar, take rider’s left onto Run #18 (Twilight). This leads to the Kids Trails, a super fun, winding path through berms and mellow glades. Don’t miss the green-blue gladed trees near the Mambo run — a perfect introduction to riding trees.

3. Tamarack Chair (Bumps & Jumps)

Mogul-lovers, this is your playground. Tamarack’s steeper terrain is ideal for working on technical turns and leg-burning laps. Great for snowboarders wanting to improve their edge control and handling variable snow conditions.

Tamarack also ‘jumps’ you up to the frontside while descending from the backside area (Easter Chair) and helps you avoid riding the cat track the entire way. Take rider’s left off the chairlift and take Nate’s Way to cruise around to the front side.

4. Easter Chair (Advanced Riders Rejoice!)

For snowboarders craving variety, Easter offers endless options:

• Take Vimy Ridge (rider’s left coming off chair) for rolling cat tracks, green, blue and black runs.
• Opt for Black Forest (rider’s right coming off chair) for gullies that ride like halfpipes — check out Vortex for an epic natural halfpipe experience!
• My personal pick? Fuzzy — a dreamy tree run with wide spacing and knockout Rocky Mountain views (off Vimy Ridge).

Pro Tip: Flats can be tricky on a snowboard. Both Vimy Ridge and Black Forest cat tracks require some momentum to avoid getting stuck, so keep your speed up and stay light on your board to glide through the flatter sections. Even better, make friends with a skier so they can slingshot you forward with their ski pole!

Extra Perks for Snowboarders

• Two Terrain Parks: Small and large parks cater to all levels, with features designed to help you build confidence and progress your skills.
• Powder Stashes in the Glades: Don’t sleep on Kimberley’s 12 additional glade runs — they’re often overlooked and deliver incredible lines after a snowfall.

Level Up with Kimberley’s Snow School

Want to master carving, learn tree riding, or boost your confidence in powder? Book a lesson with Kimberley’s expert instructors and take your snowboard skills to the next level.

I don’t know about you – but for me – rolling up to a resort for the first time can be a little bit intimidating. I’m not sure what the terrain is going to be like, which chairlift to take first, or what run takes me where. 

So, when I pulled up to the Kimberley Alpine Resort for my first winter visit, I was both excited and nervous. Luckily, the snow had been streaming down from the sky the night before, so even though I had some butterflies in my belly – I knew I was in for a treat.

Saddling up to the North Star chair on that sunny Sunday morning, my partner, Mathieu and I smiled at the ticket checker who was grinning so wide we had to ask her if she’d just had the best powder run of her life? 

“Nope,” she laughed, “I’m just happy to be here.”

We loaded the high-speed quad with a couple of youngsters who had driven out from Calgary to bask in the warmer temperatures and champagne powder that the resort was serving up that day and they too, mentioned to us how “stoked they were to be here.”

Hooking hard right off the chair, we made our way around to test out a lap on Buckhorn  – which had accumulated a hefty layer of fresh snow after the groomer had passed the night before – making for a superb layer of soft snow underfoot.

As we blitzed our way down the wide open run, fresh dry powder flew up beside our boards and each turn felt better than the last. My legs were warming up – and my nerves were starting to settle.

Back at the base, another jovial duo joined us on the chair – a young couple who had fallen so in love with Kimberley’s laid-back vibe on last year’s ski trip – that they sold their home in the city and moved two minutes down the road from the resort.

“We just love being here,” they said in unison.

As we rode off the chair, it suddenly seemed like everywhere we looked people were smiling, laughing, high-fiving and having a great time – sure, the fresh snow was helping – but it felt deeper than that. There was a sense of community, connection, camaraderie and joy  – even among those of us who had shown up to the ski hill that morning as strangers – we felt welcomed in right away.

Traversing towards Vimy Ridge, the untouched snow on the side of Caper beckoned and we weaved our way along the treeline, slashing and splashing our way down the run before picking up the Easter Triple with plans to explore the aptly-named Black Forest. 

Standing in front of the trail map like a couple of lost travellers brought back some nervous insecurities – but they were quickly squashed by a gentleman in a bright yellow Resort Host jacket who waltzed over to us with a warm smile and offered up a few of his favorite lines off the ridge.

“You can never go wrong with a Dean Left to a Dean Right, and be sure to check out the Glades in between,” he pointed along the map, “just keep an eye out for the Ridgeway traverse so you can get back to the bottom of the Easter chair.”

These amazing interactions became the theme of our day and I quickly became smitten with the ski hill – not just because of the soft groomers, the fun side hits, the perfectly spaced glades filled with fresh powder, the quick chair rides and the well-manicured, inclusive terrain parks – but because of the vibe of the people who work and ride here.

I was having trouble putting it all into words until we rode the last chair of the day with a brilliant young man who simplified what I was sensing.

“You know what it is?” he said, as he leaned over the bar and brushed a dusting of fresh powder off his skis, “Everyone just wants to be here – and that – is an amazing feeling to be surrounded by.”

Photos & Words by @trip.longer

We are very proud of our Winter Sports School for once again being nominated in USA Today’s 10best.

Help support our team in our Winter Sports School department by voting for us!

Vote Now

Halfway down the Magic Line (trust me, it’s a fitting name), after sending it “old-guy style” around endless berms and soaring (a foot of air is sufficient in my demographic) over dozens of drops, rollers, and side-hits, I had to take a little breather. You know, just stop for a minute or two – make sure my pace-maker was still operating, knee-braces and other apparatus still attached to joints, false teeth still in place, etc. – and appreciate where I was. Ah, yes, Kimberley!  An all-season adventure town for the ages.

Needless to say, on my short and sweet trailside break, I took it all in. The pines, the sweet single-track I just shredded (that’s a slight exaggeration), the gorgeous gladed runs at the Kimberley Alpine Resort, the snow-dipped peaks of the Purcells; it was a pinch-me moment. And, for the record, I’ve had many such moments in Kimberley.

A classic Kootenay Rockies outpost, encased by mountains and situated at the lofty elevation of 1,120 metres, Kimberley is perfectly positioned to capture everything – and in every season! – that outdoor-lovers typically crave. Awesome mountain biking, heavenly hiking, gorgeous golfing, fantastic fishing, amazing alpine skiing, stunning snowmobiling – and the list goes on – are all prominent pursuits in the region.

Personally, over the last few decades, I’ve engaged in all of those aforementioned activities in and around Kimberley. Multiple times. And, now that I’ve crossed the half-century mark (I don’t actually have a pace-maker but it’s possible that some of my body parts are not original), I tend to be a little pickier in terms of where, exactly, I recreate. And, to be clear, Kimberley is always top of mind when I head to “the Koots.”

Why? Well for me, it has, literally, everything that I look for in a mountain town. First and foremost, and has already been mentioned, the trails and outdoor rec options are off the charts. For example, the mountain biking in the Kimberley Nature Park, Bootleg Mountain, and the Kimberley Nordic Center, is ridiculously good. (And I’ve attempted to shred gnar at, literally, every major biking destination in British Columbia.)

Fly-fishing in the St. Mary River? Yup. It’s phenomenal. Golfing at Trickle Creek, Bootleg Gap, Purcell Golf, St. Eugene Mission? They’re all outstanding mountain golf courses with drop-dead gorgeous scenery. And, in winter, the alpine skiing at the family friendly Kimberley Alpine Resort is truly world class. In fact, the glade skiing there will blow your mind. This resort (the lifts are literally five minutes from downtown) is actually my all-time favourite for glade skiing. (Go right or left off the Easter Chair and you’re in pine-peppered perfection).

The pedestrian-friendly downtown, the friendly locals, the restaurants, the cafes, the watering holes, the laid-back vibe, the festivals; these all bolster the appeal.

True, there are many places in the Kootenay Rockies that are dear to my heart. And, as I “mature” and gather plenty of “wisdom” – or something like that – I’ve learned that I need to give my favourites the bulk of my time and energy. And just leave the second-tier destinations to “the masses” who haven’t yet learned their life lessons. And that’s why I go to Kimberley. When I remember.

September 30th

Group text – 11 members

Chelsea: Hey guys, just to circle back to the conversation we had around the campfire this summer at Grandma’s – are we all in for a family ski trip this winter?

No response.

October 9th

Chelsea: Hi cousins and siblings! What are we all thinking in terms of booking a ski trip this winter? It was great seeing you all for Thanksgiving – would be great to think about planning this trip… what does everyone think?

No response.

I’m not going to say outright my family is dysfunctional. However when it comes to planning a big ski trip with cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews, we are anything but functional.  It’s a friendly, happy group but trying to coax it in a specific direction is like herding kittens. Feral kittens.

After chatting excitedly about how fun it would be to all stay close together on a mountain where those skiing could catch great laps, new skiers could snag a lesson, and those watching the littlest ones could hangout together and feel apart of things we hit a lull. It seemed too good to be true. Juggling schedules of ten adults and another ten children is daunting at best, and finding one place that would meet so many unique needs was a tall order indeed. Upon a little research though, we quickly learned Kimberley Alpine Resort makes planning a trip like this, dare I say, easy. With it’s beautiful, reasonably priced ski-in–ski out lodging at Trickle Creek Lodge including fully equipped kitchens, heated outdoor pool and hot tubs, on-mountain restaurants, and Western Canada’s longest night skiing run Kimberley Alpine Resort was the perfect destination, and heck of a good time.

Nestled in the Purcell mountain range in the East Kooteneys, the city of Kimberley is equal parts charming and laid-back. With just over 7000 residents the city has a small-town feel, yet with it’s dedicated Alpine style car-free main street, it also has entertainment that rivals a much bigger centre. It’s a place where festivals, live-music, street dancing, and parades all meet, where one can walk from shop to shop, and hop from one restaurant to the next each specializing in some wonderful delicacy.  We definitely ate our weight at both the Stonefire pizzeria where the kids sat entranced in their, “front row seats,” watching pizza dough skillfully tossed in the air, and also at the Buckhorn & Main, a great family friendly dining spot located on mountain in Trickle Creek Lodge.

The ski hill reflects a natural extension of the city – amazing snow, laid-back feel, and an odd sensation that you’ve been there before with its homey and inviting vibe.

Our group of twenty got to know the friendly staff that truly made the experience. No one was ever in too much of a hurry to lend a hand, and staff were always looking for ways to help out. The kids each received little tutorials on how to ride the T-bar more effectively by the lift operators, (unfortunately eradicating some hilarious crashes), and the experts in the rental shop willingly shared their expansive knowledge on ski-set-up.  There is so much terrain here for kids to enjoy adventures, from dedicated kids trails, to finding the ‘dummies’ hidden on the slopes (a great game to play), to just making laps together on the main run.

After taking an easy driving day out on Saturday, it was really fun to be able to get some skiing in that evening. The lights of the city below were breathtaking, and it was a perfect end to the day and start of the trip.

After excitedly jumping on the lift for night skiing Saturday evening, a few in our group decided lessons for the kids would be a great idea, which proved their weight in gold. The instructors embodied all the excellent attributes we found to be standard at the resort thus far – kind, knowledgeable, patient and confidence-inspiring. The proof was really in the pudding as we watched the kids rip down the very run that had given them trouble the night before laughing and whooping the whole way.

Beyond the resort providing a great destination for a big group to enjoy each other and the beautiful British Columbian Mountains the skiing was nothing short of epic. We found fresh turns, some beautiful glades, and lovely rolling runs that the kids (or the inner-kid within the adults) found little jumps to pop off along the way.  With an average snowfall of 13 feet and the resort sprawling over 1800+ acres, it wasn’t surprising that there was great skiing for everyone.  Kimberley also offers over 30 km of groomed fat biking, one of the best Nordic Clubs in Canada for those who want to cross country ski and myriads of trails for walking and snowshoeing right from the base of Kimberley Alpine Resort.

Those taking turns with the smallest kids spent time splashing and playing in the pool, and soaking in the hot tub watching and cheering on those getting their ski legs under them on the green chair while they waited to get tagged out and take a turn on the mountain.

If that weren’t enough already, opposite the ski mountain sat a beautiful skating pond surrounded by the breathtaking mountains, and warmly lit by lampposts to provide skating time well after dark. It was a very iconic Canadian scene.

There was one problem with our get-away to Kimberley. We had too much fun on the hill, we didn’t check out the cool climbing gym in town, or the Lussier Hot Springs out of town. I guess I better start texting now, so our clan can get a jump on planning for next year.

Photos & Words by Chelsea Mackenzie Photography

—-

Book your vacation at Trickle Creek Lodge!  Check out our Hot Deals & Packages page, reservation specialists are standing by to assist.

We have very exciting news and we need your help‼️ Our Winter Sports School has been nominated as one of the TOP Ski Schools across the United States and Canada by USA TODAY 10Best!
We are up against some big names in the business – Sun Valley, Stowe, Aspen Snowmass, Deer Valley! We aren’t too worried, we may be small but we are mighty and with your votes we can be victorious!

You can vote daily until November 20th. Follow the link and scroll down to Telus Winter Sports School at Kimberley Alpine Resort and vote.

VOTE HERE

We thank you for your support!

📷 Mark Eleven Photography

We are very excited to announce work on the Northstar Quad chair is complete and we will be open for the season this Sunday, December 18th!

Tickets are available for purchase online.

Guest Services will be open tomorrow (Saturday, Dec 17th) for season pass pick up from 10:30 – 5 :00, then 8:30-4:30 daily.

Please check our Snow Report for all the most up to date information in regards to terrain open and resort services hours.

Take a look at our Facebook & Instagram post to see the lift spinning!