There's a great deal of Canadian history behind Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. It is named after the renowned river and the famous high-alpine pass that were instrumental in opening the Canadian West to the rest of the world. The Kicking Horse name reflects a sense of adventure, discovery and exploration.

Formerly a heli-ski operation, resort construction began in fall of 1999 and Kicking Horse opened its doors December 8, 2000. Kicking Horse was the first entirely new resort to be built in Canada in the last 25 years. An 8-passenger state-of-the-art gondola, the Golden Eagle Express, takes skiers from base village to the top of the mountain and Canada's highest restaurant, appropriately called the Eagle's Eye.

Incredible verticals, deep powder and truly spectacular terrain with ridiculously long downhill runs. Kicking Horse is a place where the stories are almost too tall to believe. The raw ruggedness of the mountain and sheer beauty of its pristine scenery set Kicking Horse apart as one of the most exceptional ski resorts in Canada.

Meri SkiBitz: 3 hours from Calgary airport
Best après-ski: Whitetooth Grill
Must do: Eagle Eye Restaurant