Arriving at the base of Revelstoke Mountain Resort is very deceptive. Skiers and snowboarders are greeted by the base area village, and the bottom of the Revelation Gondola, with only one beginner run accessing it. The gondola then takes skiers and snowboarders up a whopping 3,839’ of vertical to access the mountain.
From the gondola, revelstoke is a tale of two mountains. There is the terrain below the gondola, and the terrain above the gondola off of the two chairlifts, The Stoke Chair and The Ripper. The gondola has one mid-station. Below the mid-station there are a couple beginner and intermediate runs. The snow is often wet and sticky down here due to the lower elevation, however. Between the top of the gondola and the mid-station, there are some good intermediate and advanced groomers, as well as some expert glades. The glades, like Kill the Banker, can be a good first run as the upper mountain waits for ski patrol to do avalanche control work.
Above the gondola is the terrain that Revelstoke is famous for. The Stoke Chair is accessible from the top of the gondola, and accesses terrain for all abilities. This is where The Last Spike run starts, a beginner run that winds its way nearly 10 miles all the way back to the village. While there is intermediate terrain here, The Ripper Chair is more suited to intermediate skiers and snowboarders.
Options for advanced and expert skiers and snowboarders really open up from the top of the Stoke Chair. After a big snowstorm it will usually take ski patrol some time to perform avalanche control work and safely open North Bowl. This means that the mornings are usually spent on the Stoke Chair exploring Separate Reality and South Bowl.
North Bowl is home to many of the gnarly, steep and technical lines at Revelstoke. Once ski patrol opens the bowl, take the small hike and traverse over from the top of the Stoke Chair. Some of the lines that drop into North Bowl are accessed by hiking farther up the ridge. From here, runs either drop towards the top of The Ripper Chair, or traverse into Greely Bowl. The runs, lines, ridges and glades out here are full of features to jump off of and jib on. Some of the big lines are technical and gnarly, make sure you scout your lines carefully before hiking out and committing. Make friends with the locals to learn the names and secrets of this area.
Revelstoke Mountain Resort offers not only all of this great lift-served skiing and snowboarding, but also cat skiing, and heli skiing with the
Selkirk Tangiers.