Have Fun Skiing At The Kimberley Alpine Resort

Kimberley Alpine has plenty of groomed cruisers, moguls and glades to keep everyone happy, as well as a restricted beginner-only area and two snowboard parks.

The Bavarian style ski town of Kimberley is situated at 1,230m above sea level and is charming, yet somewhat lacking in facilities. There is limited shopping at the area, along with ski rentals and sports shops, repair, instruction and first-aid. Additionally, a hospital and shopping plaza are nearby.

Kimberley Alpine ski resort boasts 720 hectares of skiable terrain down a 752-metre vertical, with 67 runs totalling 76kms in length. Intermediates will thrive on the wide-open, well groomed trails on the front side; while advanced skiers and riders will find the deepest powder at the Easter Bowl. Eight lifts, including a high-speed quad, have an hourly uplift capacity of 10,000 people and supply all slopes, the longest of which is 10.5kms.

Accommodation-wise, there is everything from luxurious mountain lodging with the convenience of ski-in/ski-out access to economy establishments and overnight parking with electric hook-ups. Non-skiing activities include curling and ice-skating, and there are also hot tubs and saunas for relaxation. The après-ski is laid-back, and some of the local restaurants offer free pick-up and drop-off.

Kimberley Alpine's ski season extends from December to April, and the most convenient means of transport is to fly to Cranbrook Airport, via Calgary or Vancouver, and transfer to Kimberley by shuttle bus.

Skiing in Kimberley Alpine

Kimberley Alpine ski resort is nestled in the Purcell Mountains overlooking the majestic Rocky Mountains of southeast British Columbia, and has a fantastic array of slopes spread across diverse terrain. Snowboarders have two excellent terrain parks and a half-pipe, as well as the use of all pistes.

There are 76kms of runs at Kimberley Alpine that are divided into 67 trails, of which 20 per cent are for beginners, 45 per cent for intermediates, 25 per cent for advanced sliders and 10 per cent for experts. The longest run is a respectable 10.5kms, and 10,000 people per hour have access to the slopes via eight lifts. In addition, cross-country skiers have 26kms of trails.

The December to April ski season at Kimberley Alpine ski resort has ideal snow conditions in February. The quickest travel method for getting here is to fly to Vancouver or Calgary and take a connecting flight to Cranbrook Airport, where cars and shuttle buses await to take you the rest of the way.

Après-ski in Kimberley Alpine

Kimberley town has a definite Bavarian atmosphere and comes with a selection of shops and cafés, ski/sports and rentals, as well as a first-aid facility onsite and a hospital nearby. Six condominiums within walking distance, including a townhouse complex, provide ski-in/ski-out accessibility and there are lodges offering 950 chalets within the village.

There are plenty of off-piste opportunities available in Kimberley Alpine, including: hiking, ski touring, snowshoeing, dog-sledding, snowmobiling, ice-fishing, curling and ice-skating (nearby). There is also indoor tennis and racquetball in the area, along with hot tubs and saunas at the condominiums.

For alternative, non-linked skiing and snowboarding, the Canadian Rockies Super Pass allows the use of the slopes at Fernie Alpine, Fortress Mountain, Lake Louise, Mystic Ridge/Mount Norquay, Nakiska, Panorama, and Sunshine Village ski resorts. With this one pass, there are 545 slopes and every type of terrain on offer.

Transportation in Kimberley Alpine

Kimberley Alpine is located in the heart of the East Kootenays, southeast British Columbia, about 390kms southwest of Calgary and 250kms northwest of Kalispell (Montana). Flying to Cranbrook Airport from Calgary or Vancouver and transferring by shuttle bus is the preferred travel option for getting here.

By car from Calgary, take Trans-Canada Highway 1 west to Castle Rock, passing Banff, from where highways 93 and 95A run south all the way to Kimberley (390kms; five hours). The 11-hour drive from Vancouver skirts the US border and takes in Trans-Canada Highway 1 to Hope, from where highway 3 runs the entire way to Cranbrook, and highway 95A runs northwest to Kimberley (875kms).

The nearest international airport is in Kalispell (Montana), while Calgary International has more flight options. There are daily flights with Air Canada from Calgary and Vancouver to Cranbrook, from where shuttles and taxis run to Kimberley town. If you're driving to Kimberley Alpine ski resort from Cranbrook Airport, take highway 95A northwest for 30kms.

Greyhound buses leave from Calgary daily at 18:15, arriving in Kimberley the next morning at 00:15. Buses from Vancouver, going via Golden, depart at 18:45 and arrive in Kimberley at 10:30 the next day. Buses and shuttles also run from Kalispell to Kimberley.