BC Rockies

SOME LIKE IT HOT!

EDITOR’S PICK

The warm mineral pools of Radium Hot Springs (p 68) were used for generations by the Ktunaxa people for relaxation and healing. In 1890 Englishman Rolond Stuart realized the marketing potential of the springs and bought the land to develop it for public use. Stuart returned to England at the start of the First World War. The hot springs pool and bathhouse were purchased by the Canadian government, who would later designate the land surrounding the springs and the road a national park. Beautiful Highway 93S and Kootenay National Park are today's result of that transaction. Visit Radium Hot Springs and discover why these pools have been calling people for generations! -KATE BARKER

MOUNTAIN OASIS

The Village of Canal Flats (p 68) has everything a mountain lover needs for the perfect vacation. Just a stone's throw away from skiing, backcountry trails, hot springs and national parks, this little town has a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. Visit the new Ponderosa Place (p 70) for the latest in shopping, dining, salon and

SLEEPING BEAUTY

Did you know bears don't actually hibernate for the winter months? Thanks to many studies, including tracking Boo the Grizzly at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort (p 67), we now know bears don’t reach true hibernation. Instead, they enter torpor. A bear in torpor still has a slowed heart rate and metabolism. They still experience a drop in body temperature and can survive the winter months without food. A bear can wake from torpor, however, if they need to defend their den or deal with needy cubs. Follow Boo on Instagram to see when he wakes up this spring! -KB

GOLDEN

Located beyond the western edge of Yoho National Park is the town of Golden. The variety of activities will make your winter vacation memorable.

ART GALLERY OF GOLDEN Fine art from local artists. A true reflection of western mountain culture. 516 9 Ave N, 250-344-6186

BACCHUS BOOKS New and used bookstore with an upstairs café. Unique selection of new and over 15,000 used books. 409 9th Ave N, 250-272-2076

BIG BEND CAFÉ Highlighting the flavours of Golden. Multi-grain pancakes, huevos and bottomless coffee. 528 9 Ave N, 250-344-6111

CENTURY 21 Create your piece of paradise in Golden! Amber Granter, realtor. 902 10 Ave, 250-939-8605, mountaintownliving.com/amber

ELEVEN22 Canadian cuisine with a European flair. Local beer and Okanagan wine. 1122 10 Ave, 250-344-2443, eleven22restaurant.com

HIT THE SLOPES

It's no secret that BC is home to some secret stashes of powder! With quieter hills and a relaxed mountain vibe, you'll be glad you hit the slopes this winter! For piles of fresh champagne powder, try Kicking Horse Mountain Resort (below). Ski the most vertical of North America at Revelstoke Ski Resort. Find family friendly runs and a relaxed atmosphere at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort near Canal Flats. While you're in the area, access ski in/ ski out amenities at Panorama Mountain Resort (p 68). Take advantage of RK Heli-ski at the mountain and find some untouched snow! -TAYLOR JAINE

GOLDEN MUSEUM & ARCHIVES

Local history including the Canadian Pacific Railway and Swiss mountain guides. 1302 11 Ave S, 250-344-5169, goldenbcmuseum.com

GOLDEN SUSHI Delicious Japanese and Korean food including noodle soups, rice bowls, sushi, tempura, sake and beer with a small grocery store. 828 10 Ave S, Unit G, 250-344-2231

ISLAND RESTAURANT Asian and European twists on local favourites. Two storey log cabin with great river views. 10110 Ave, 250-344-2400, islandrestaurant.ca

KALTIRE 24-hour emergency road service. Tire sales, repairs, travel trailer and mechanical services. 1002 10 Ave N, Golden, 250-344-5213, kaltire.com

KICKING HORSE RIVER LODGE

Snuggled amid the Rocky and Purcell Mountains. The setting is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream come true. 801 9 St N, 877-547-5266, khrl.com

KICKING HORSE MOUNTAIN

RESORT The champagne powder capital of Canada! 6 lifts access over 3400 acres of skiable terrain. Runs for every level with plenty of advanced and freeride-style terrain. 1500 Kicking Horse Tr, 250-439-5425

MAD TRAPPER LIQUOR STORE Large selection of cold beer, wine and liquor at competitive prices. Monthly specials. 1203 9 St S, 250-344-6661

PEAKS GRILL Legendary for hearty post-skiing meals like burgers, fish & chips and curry. Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, 250-344-2925, peaksgrill.com

Q'S RESTAURANT Korean and Japanese fusion cuisine including noodles, rice bowls and BBQ. 1402 Trans-Canada Highway North, 250-344-2243

REPOSADOS TACOS Y TEQUILA

Taco and tequila bar. Fresh organic pressed tortillas, homemade hot sauces and margaritas. Regular specials. 429 9 Ave N, 250-939-8807

ROCKY MOUNTAIN BUFFALO

RANCH Winter accommodations are open. Stay in a beautiful, rustic and secluded cabin. Buffalo tours are postponed until further notice. Call for inquiries. 1739 Oberg Johnson Rd, 250-344-4779, leodowney.com/rockymountain-buffalo-ranch

ROCKY MOUNTAIN RIDERS Snowmobile rentals and tours. Half day, full day and multi-day rentals. Top of the line Ski-doo performance and trail sleds. Gear up with a sled trailer, full avalanche safety kit with beacon, probe and Air Bag avalanche bag, plus rent a GoPro camera to capture your day. Guided half day, full day, extreme backcountry and evening moonlight tours available with local guides who know the best snow. Book guides to show you the secret stashes and use your own sled. Daily shuttles from Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise and Field available. 1500 Kicking Horse Trail, 1-877-950-7533, rockymountainriders.com

FAMILY ADVENTURES

Travel with the whole family through BC's friendly communities. In Golden, find something everyone will eat at Turning Point Restaurant (below) or travel to Radium Hot Springs and take a soak in the famous pools (right). Try a pick-up game of shinny at the Canal Flats Arena (below right) or try your hand at rock climbing with Spirit Rock (p 70). Get geared up to explore the sights on cross country skis or snowshoes from GearHub Sports (p 70). No matter where your journey takes you, there's something for everyone in beautiful BC! -TJ

ROCKWATER GRILL AND BAR Hand crafted food and cocktails made from the best ingredients. Live music and events when safe to do so. 429 9 Ave N, 250-344-5951, rockwatergrill.com

RONA Home centre, building materials, décor, tools, outdoor power equipment, appliances and seasonal products. 912 15 St S, 250-344-2964, rona.ca

SAVE ON FOODS Supermarket with pharmacy, deli, bulk foods and bakery. Regular sales. 1020 10th Ave S, 250-344-5315, saveonfoods.com/store/golden

SELKIRK SKI AND BIKE At Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. Ski gear, bootfitting, ski tuning and more. Rentals, demos and sales. Outdoor mountain apparel for sale. 1549 Kicking Horse Trail, 250-344-2925, selkirkskiandbike.com

SWISS VILLAGE INN & RV PARK Quiet location with scenic mountain views. Offering kitchenette units, accessible and family suites. 10 RV sites with full hook-ups. 1107 14 St N, 250-344-2276, swissvillageinn.ca TOURISM GOLDEN Sitting in the Canadian Rockies, Golden is surrounded by five of Canada’s most stunning national parks: Yoho, Glacier, Banff, Kootenay and Mount Revelstoke. Use Golden as your base to experience the spectacular scenery, iconic skiing and National Parks heritage sites. For information on accommodations, activities, dining deals and more, visit tourismgolden.com

TURNING POINT RESTAURANT

Family owned since 1988. Serving something for everyone. Gluten free and vegan dishes. 906 11 Ave S, 250-344-2566, turningpointrestaurant.com

WHITETOOTH BISTRO Casual bistro with elevated food using local ingredients where possible. Gluten free, vegetarian and vegan options. 427 9 Ave, 250-344-5120, whitetoothbistro.com

WOLF'S DEN RESTAURANT Log cabin on the Kicking Horse River serving certified Angus steaks, gourmet burgers, vegetarian dishes and more. 1105-9 St S, 250-344-9863, thewolfsdengolden.ca

RADIUM HOT SPRINGS

On the southern edge of Kootenay National Park is Radium Hot Springs. This village is full of outdoor adventure and mountain enthusiasts.

FAR OUT ADVENTURE HUB Rent snowshoes, skates, snow tubes and more. Pick up or delivery. 7514 Main St E, 1-844-376-0632, rentfarout.com

RADIUM HOT SPRINGS One of BC’s top natural hot springs. Family-friendly facility with plenty of space to relax and soak in the expansive hot pool or cool off in the swimming pool. The mineral water is odourless and clear, perfect for relaxing. The hot springs are operating at reduced capacity with restrictions in place. Towel and swimsuit rentals currently not available. Hwy 93S, 1-800-767-1611, pc.gc.ca

RADIUM HOT SPRINGS VISITOR CENTRE Discover Radium Hot Springs and the Columbia Valley. Purchase Parks Canada passes. Wildlife exhibits, souvenirs and expert advice. 7556 Main St E, 250-347-9331, radiumhotsprings.com

INVERMERE-ON-THELAKE

15-min south of Radium Hot Springs is Invermere-on-the-Lake, located on Lake Windemere.

PANORAMA MOUNTAIN RESORT

Ski resort and alpine village. 10 lifts to 3000 acres of varied terrain. Lodging, dining, shopping, spa and child care. 2000 Panorama Dr, 250-342-6941

THE KANATA Hotel In the Columbia Valley. Friendly service and a convenient location. 8888 Arrow Rd, 250-342-8888, kanatainns.com

CANAL FLATS

15 minutes south of Fairmont Hot Springs is Canal Flats. This area is known for its lake and river, located within a wingspan of each other.

CANAL FLATS ARENA Ice hockey, figure skating and shinny. Contact for schedule, safety measures and fees. 4925 Burns Ave, 250-349-5617

The Canadian Rockies are only one click away

whererockies.com

COLUMBIA DISCOVERY CENTRE The area around Canal Flats has been occupied for thousands of years by members of the Ktunaxa Nation. Discover the history and attractions in Canal Flats and the Columbia Valley. 8866 Grainger Road, 250-349-5462, canalflats.ca

HIT 'N RUN SNACK SHACK The best home cooking in Canal Flats. Treats, easy lunches and savory homestyle dinners. 9115 Grainger Rd, 250-688-6890

PONDEROSA PLACE New business hub with several boutique shops including Viibrant Earth Café, J2 Ranch Meat Shop, Jackie’s Hair Studio and more. 4957 Burns Ave

CRANBROOK & KIMBERLEY

Between the Rockies and the Purcells are Cranbrook and Kimberley. There's a lot to discover!

CANADIAN TIRE Hunting, fishing and outdoor gear. Auto parts and service. Tamarack Centre, 1500 Cranbrook St N, 250-489-3300, canadiantire.ca

COLLEGE OF THE ROCKIES State of the art campuses for skilled workers and employees. 2700 College Way, Cranbrook, 250-489-8242, cotr.bc.ca

CRANBROOK HISTORY CENTRE

Canadian Museum of Rail Travel, gift shop, paleontology gallery and more. 57 Van Horne St, 250-489-3918, cranbrookhistorycentre.com

CRANBROOK VISITOR CENTRE Eat, stay, shop and explore the basecamp of the Kootenays. 2279 Cranbrook St, 250-426-5914, cranbrooktourism.com

DAYS INN Pet friendly, free breakfast, close to the airport. 600 Cranbrook St N, 250-426-6683

EARTH’S OWN NATURALS Cannabis, edibles, accessories and friendly, knowledgable staff. Two locations: 148 Howard St, Kimberely, 778-481-5420 and 502 8 Ave, Fernie, 778-481-5425, earthsownnaturals.com ELIZABETH LAKE LODGE Canadian Alpine Lodge. Walking trails to bird sanctuary. 590 Van Horne St S, Cranbrook, 250-426-6114, elizabethlakelodge.com

OK TIRE Tire sales and service including roadside service. 200 Van Horne St N, Cranbrook, 250-426-2844, oktire.com

OLD CROW EMPORIUM Selling antiques, vintage finds, upcycled furniture, "handmade and fabulous crap." In the Platzl, Kimberley, 250-417-9982

RUNNERS RV Trusted source for RV sales and service since 1989. 2813 23 St N, Cranbrook, 250-489-4141, runnersrv.com

SIDEKICK STICKERS Custom stickers, vehicle graphics and more. 110 Van Horne Street South, Cranbrook, 250-919-3807, sidekickstickers.com

SPIRIT ROCK Family-friendly indoor climbing. Climbs for everyone! 110 Deer Park Ave, 250-427-7200, spiritrockcllimbing.com

TAMARACK CENTRE Cranbrook’s premiere shopping destination with stores, dining and specialty businesses. 180-1500 Cranbrook St N, 250-426-2231

FERNIE & ELKFORD

Discover these hidden gems of mountain exploration, far from the crowds.

BARKSIDE Holistic food, supplements and products for your pet's active, mountain lifestyle. 791 2 Ave, Fernie, 250-423-4332, barkside.com

ELKFORD VISITOR CENTRE Discover pristine natural wilderness close to Elk Lakes Provincial Park, Height of the Rockies and the Elk River. 750 Fording Dr, 250-865-4015, elkford.ca

FERNIE FOX HOTEL Quality and comfort you can trust. Friendly smiles and wellbeing are top of mind. 2021 Hwy 3, 250-423-6788, ferniefoxhotel.com

GEARHUB SPORTS Local outdoor store with skis, backcountry gear and clothing. New and consignment items. 401 1 Ave, Fernie, 250-423-5555, gearhub.ca

What you see, is what you get.

Photo by Jeff Bartlett

Golden, BC, is situated amidst the majestic Purcell, Selkirk and Rocky Mountain ranges, a one-hour scenic drive west of Lake Louise via the Trans-Canada Hwy. Five stunning National Parks are nearby—Banff, Glacier, Kootenay, Mt Revelstoke and Yoho.

Winter in Golden and Kicking Horse Country is a magical season. The abundant champagne powder is perfect for world-class skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling. A stay combines incredible scenery and outdoor adventures with a wide range of lodging, restaurants and other travel amenities.

Take a few days to try all the activities that Golden’s mountain playground has to offer. From the excellent groomed and powder runs at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, to manicured skate and classic ski loops at the Dawn Mountain Nordic Centre, there are a ton of fun things to do. Discover the fun of snowshoeing. Go tobogganing with the kids at Snake Hill. Rev up a snowmobile and take a tour deep into the mountains.

Golden and the Bugaboo Mountains are the birthplace of heli-skiing—four heli-skiing companies and one cat skiing operation are headquartered here. Rogers Pass, the ski touring capital of the world an hour’s drive west of town, is one of many access points to the backcountry.

Did someone just say ‘mountain paradise’?

Above 3 photos by Dave Best