Revelstoke Mountain Resort: North America’s Longest Vertical Drop (1,713m) — Ski Data & Lift Tickets

Revelstoke Mountain Resort: North America’s Biggest Vertical

Tucked into British Columbia’s Selkirk Mountains, Revelstoke Mountain Resort boasts North America’s longest vertical drop at 1,713 metres — a stat that puts it ahead of every resort on the continent. Since opening in 2007, Revelstoke has rapidly earned a reputation as one of Canada’s most exciting ski destinations, combining massive terrain with legendary Interior BC powder.

Mountain Statistics

The Terrain

Revelstoke is built for skiers and snowboarders who crave steep, deep, and challenging runs. The resort’s upper mountain is dominated by expert-only terrain — wide-open alpine bowls, cliff bands, and gladed tree runs that hold powder for days after a storm. Intermediates will find excellent groomed cruisers on the lower mountain, but make no mistake: this is a mountain that rewards advanced skiers.

With an average of over 10 metres of annual snowfall, dry days are the exception rather than the rule. The combination of the Selkirk range’s moisture-trapping geography and cold Interior temperatures produces the kind of light, dry powder that BC is famous for.

Eagle’s Eye Restaurant

At 2,350 metres above sea level, the Eagle’s Eye is Canada’s highest elevation restaurant. Accessible via the Revelation Gondola, it serves upscale Canadian cuisine with panoramic views of the Columbia River Valley, the Monashee Mountains, and the surrounding Selkirk peaks. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially on powder days when skiers linger over lunch.

Beyond the Resort: Heli-Skiing and Cat-Skiing

Revelstoke is one of the world’s premier bases for backcountry ski adventures:

• Heli-skiing — Multiple operators access hundreds of thousands of acres of untracked terrain in the Selkirk and Monashee ranges. Revelstoke’s heli-skiing is considered world-class, rivalling operations in the Bugaboos and Cariboos.
• Cat-skiing — More affordable than heli-skiing, cat operations near Revelstoke offer guided backcountry powder skiing with smaller group sizes and deep snowpacks.
• Backcountry touring — The surrounding mountains offer extensive ski touring for self-sufficient parties with avalanche training and equipment.

The Town of Revelstoke

Unlike purpose-built resort villages, Revelstoke is a genuine mountain town with roots as a Canadian Pacific Railway hub. The historic downtown along Mackenzie Avenue features independent restaurants, craft breweries, coffee shops, and outdoor gear stores. The town has a year-round population of approximately 8,500 and maintains an authentic, non-corporate atmosphere that many skiers prefer over larger resort villages.

Ski History

While the modern resort opened in 2007, skiing on Mount Mackenzie dates back to the 1960s. Revelstoke hosted the Canadian ski jumping championships for decades, and the Nels Nelsen ski jump hill — once the site of a world record — remains a local landmark. The town’s deep skiing heritage is part of what makes the community so welcoming to winter visitors.

Getting to Revelstoke

The closest commercial airport is Kelowna (YLW), with regular flights from Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and seasonal direct flights from other Canadian cities. Revelstoke also sits directly on the Trans-Canada Highway, making it an easy add-on to a broader BC or Alberta road trip.