Revelstoke is the kind of place snow lovers dream of, writes Ben & Erin Tuffy. With North America’s longest vertical descent (1,713 metres) and a 15.2 km non-stop run, we wanted to know if a young family would love Revelstoke?
Don’t let Revelstoke’s epic stats scare you, it’s also a place for families seeking an adventure with a warm, welcoming vibe. From scenic gondola rides to trail-side art, Revelstoke balances steep alpine terrain with green and blue runs for beginners and intermediates, a confidence building Kids Zone up high on the mountain, means the whole family can enjoy this impressive mountain. Revelstoke is an authentic town filled with core local powder chasers, which helps create a unique aura around the town and destination worth travelling to experience.
Getting to Revelstoke, British Columbia
Australia to Canada:
We flew with Air Canada directly from Brisbane to Vancouver, a 13 hour and 35 minute flight.
Flight times vary depending on your departure city: Sydney to Vancouver takes 14 hours and 15 minutes, while Melbourne to Vancouver is around 17 hours.
Interior BC Flights
The most direct domestic flight to Revelstoke is Vancouver to Kelowna, a 1 hour domestic flight, followed by a 2 and half hour road trip by car or shuttle from Kelowna to the resort.
After touching down in Vancouver, we took a short 1 hour domestic flight to Kamloops, as our first ski destination was Sun Peaks.
Road Trip to Revelstoke from Sun Peaks
We opted to drive from Sun Peaks to Revelstoke. Peak Shuttles drove us from Sun Peaks to Kamloops, where we collected a Toyota 4Runner from Budget Car Hire. We love driving in new countries and exploring national parks, so we hit the road along the iconic Powder Highway (Trans-Canada Highway 1). The drive from Kamloops to Revelstoke took two and half hours, and was one of our highlights of our trip. The drive took us through glacier-carved valleys, past bright blue lakes, and into the heart of the mountains. Snow-covered trees and mountain views were around every bend — the kind of drive we wished we’d allowed more time for, both before and after our stay in Revelstoke. There’s just so much to see.
The Sutton Hotel offers heated parking below your accommodation. Keeping the Toyota 4Runner for the duration of the trip provided us with freedom to explore downtown Revelstoke at ease, which is a 10 minute drive from the mountain resort. We also used it to transfer to Kelowna, all for AUD $925, which is pretty good value when factoring in transfers both ways for four people. It also gives you the chance to stop and explore little towns, views and cafes along the way.
Family comforts at The Sutton Place
We stayed at The Sutton Place Hotel. This ski-in, ski-out stay is as comfortable as it is stylish, with over 200 condo-style suites. For our family, it ticked every box: a full kitchen, fireplace, in-suite laundry, heated garage, and balconies that opened to mountain views, making your coffee taste even better.
The outdoor heated pool and hot tubs were a post-ski ritual, while the on-site spa added that extra indulgence. Meals were a breeze with the kids thanks to Rockford Bar & Grill menu, just downstairs. For early morning fuel-ups, La Baguette was our daily ritual – great coffee, fresh pastries, and smoothies 10 metres from the gondola up and outta there.
We rented our skis and snowboard at the Revelstoke Mountain Resort rental shop at the base of the Gondola. The rental shop is well organised, with great staff who want to help you out. Our rental skis and boards were in great condition which helped us have a high quality experience.
With ongoing expansions, the resort village is only getting better. A new hotel, upgraded road access, and plans for a golf course and summer trails point to an exciting, year-round future.
Famous, for a good reason
Revelstoke receives an average of 10.5 metres (about 34 feet) of snow each season, nestled between the Selkirk and Monashee ranges. Its varied terrain has earned it legendary status. It’s the only resort in the world offering lift, cat, heli-skiing, and backcountry access from a single base.
Revelstoke’s freeride spirit stretches well beyond the marked trails. While the resort boasts 3,121 acres of terrain, much of it is natural, off-piste terrain — steep glades, bowls, and tree runs made for exploring. For those looking to venture further, lift-accessed backcountry leads out to spots like South Bowl, and beyond to Rogers Pass and the surrounding ranges.
If you’ve got the budget (and timing), this is also heli and cat-skiing country — over 500,000 acres accessible right from the resort. Deep powder, massive alpine lines, and views that make you stop mid-run. Or as our local guide put it, with a grin, “it’s why I moved here.”
Still, it’s not just for experts. With 7 lifts (including a big gondola) and 75 trails (7% beginner, 46% intermediate, 47% advanced), Revelstoke balances challenge with accessibility.
For us, the conditions we experienced was a hit with three stunning bluebird days with endless sun and mountain views, but we missed the classic Revelstoke powder that usually defines the place. We left just before the next big snowfall rolled in.
That said, the clear weather worked in our favour as a family. Every trail was visible and well-marked, making it easy to navigate the mountain and build confidence, especially for the kids. It ended up being our biggest highlight on the snow together as a family. The standout moment was making it to The Last Spike together — a 15.2 km cruiser from the top of The Stoke chair all the way to the village base. It’s the kind of run you remember forever. We stopped for burgers at the Mackenzie Outpost, took in the views, waved to the kids as they zipped up and down the Cupcake run, then continued to Revelation Lodge for a bevvy and second lunch. Pure magic.
Another surprise was the Masterpiste Gallery – a quirky, trail-side exhibit featuring 22 pieces of ski-mounted art, all created by local artists using recycled skis and snowboards. Each piece is a playful reimagining of a world-famous painting with a mountain twist. What makes it even more magical is that it’s unmarked on the trail map. You don’t plan to find it – you just happen upon it mid-run, which makes the discovery feel like a secret shared with the mountain. The gallery is part of the Revelstoke Outdoor Art Movement (ROAM), a broader initiative to bring art into unexpected alpine spaces… which they did well here.
The ski school was also fantastic – our daughter Piper loved her instructor, and the kids were stoked to ride the gondola like seasoned shredders. For Jack, it proved to be a huge confidence boost getting higher up the mountain on the Revelation Gondola to the Kids Zone. Being so high up helped his progression, which in turn nudged him to reach the top of the Stoke lift by day two.
Looking ahead, the West Bowl area is set to get a new high-speed lift in 2026, which will open up new high-alpine terrain known for its reliable snowfall. It’ll give riders access to fresh lines and expand what’s already a massive playground.
Downtown Revelstoke
Driving into town was a highlight of the trip. Revelstoke blends historic charm with adventure-town energy.
This artsy little town pulses with creativity. We wandered past murals and heritage buildings, into local bookshops and gear stores. We grabbed a coffee at Dose (Aussie-owned) and enjoyed tacos from The Taco Club, which started as a local food truck. The Modern Bakeshop and La Baguette kept us fuelled, and locally owned stores like Revelstoke Trading Post gave us our retail fix without losing that mountain soul.
We also had a great dinner at Seoul Street — fried chicken, noodles, played some games, and super friendly staff that made it feel like a local hangout. Even the kids made friends with the laid-back local dogs lounging outside the storefronts. It’s a town you could settle into fast, and never want to leave. We certainly didn’t!
High on the stoke, and a place full of soul
For families looking to mix comfort, culture, and adrenaline, Revelstoke is the real deal. It’s authentic Canada, wild and unforgettable. Revelstoke is famous, not because it’s the flashiest, but because it offers a unique combination of terrain, snow, and authenticity that speaks directly to passionate outdoor enthusiasts. It’s the place you go if you want epic terrain, great powder, and real mountain town energy, with a bit of luxury and heli-access thrown in. We loved it! I’ve bought loads of Revelstoke merchandise, to help stay connected to this place. We loved it and can’t wait to return again soon.
- He said: This was the first, definitely won’t be the last time visiting Revelstoke.
- She said: Skiing as a whole family for the first time down The Last Spike will stay with me, kids and Ben forever. So grateful.
- They said: Go-go-gondola!! But yeah, the smoothies here were great. The Jacuzzi SPA here was awesome too.