Red Mountain Resort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Red Mountain Resort |
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| Location | British Columbia, Canada |
| Nearest city | Rossland - 5 min. Spokane, WA - 2.5 hrs Kelowna - 3.5 hrs |
| Vertical | 887 m (2,910 ft) |
| Top elevation | 2,072 m (6,798 ft) |
| Base elevation | 1,185 m (3,888 ft) |
| Skiable area | Lift-served 2,682 acres (10.9 km2) Total 4,200 acres (17.0 km2) |
| Runs | 110 named - 16% Beginner |
| Longest run | 7 km (4.3 mi) - 47% Intermediate - 37% Expert |
| Lift system | 6 chairs - 2 quad - 3 triples - 1 double 2 surface lifts - 1 T-bar - 1 magic carpet |
| Lift capacity | 7,500 /hr |
| Terrain parks | 1 |
| Snowfall | 750 cm (300 in) |
| Snowmaking | Yes |
| Night skiing | Yes |
| Website | redresort.com |
Red Mountain Resort is a super cool ski resort in western Canada. It's located on three mountains: Granite, Grey, and Red Mountain. You'll find it near Rossland, a town that used to be famous for gold mining in British Columbia.
Red Mountain is one of the oldest ski spots in North America! Its history goes all the way back to the early 1900s when the Red Mountain Ski Club (RMSC) was formed. This resort is in the Monashee Mountains, not far from the U.S. border. Just like other ski areas in this part of British Columbia, it's known for its amazing, light, and dry powder snow. They get about 750 cm (300 in) of snow every year!
Red Mountain Resort is especially popular for its challenging runs, perfect for intermediate and expert skiers and snowboarders.
The base of the ski area is 1,185 m (3,888 ft) above sea level. It has a vertical drop of 887 m (2,910 ft). The three main peaks – Red Mountain, Granite Mountain, and the newer Grey Mountain – are reached by five chairlifts, a T-bar, and a magic carpet. These lifts give you access to 2,682 acres (10.9 km2) of skiable land with 110 named trails.
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Getting to Red Mountain Resort
Getting to Red Mountain is pretty easy! The resort has its own shuttle buses that can pick you up from smaller airports in Trail and Castlegar.
If you're coming from further away, shuttles also run to bigger international airports. These include Spokane, Washington (about 2.5 hours away) and Kelowna (about 3.5 hours away).
A Look Back in Time
Red Mountain has a long and interesting history! In the summer of 1958, the Red Mountain Ski Club (RMSC) worked hard to clear a new slope for slalom racing practice. This work was put on hold for a bit because of worries about forest fires.
Back then, in 1958, Red Mountain only had one chairlift, called the Red Chair. This was a big deal because it was western Canada's very first chairlift, built in 1947! During the 1958-59 ski season, a daily lift ticket cost about $3.50 for everyone, or $2.25 if you were a member of the RMSC. A single ride was only 40 cents!
In the summer of 2013, Red Mountain Resort grew even bigger! They added a third peak, Grey Mountain. This addition brought 1,000 acres (4.0 km2) of new terrain and 22 more named runs for skiers and snowboarders to explore.
A Sad Moment in History
Michel Trudeau, who was the youngest son of former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau and Margaret Trudeau, worked at Red Mountain Resort for about a year. He lived in Rossland. Sadly, on November 13, 1998, during a backcountry skiing trip with friends in Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park, he was caught in an avalanche. He was swept into Kokanee Lake and tragically passed away at age 23. Michel was also the younger brother of current Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Exploring the Trails
Red Mountain Resort has a fantastic variety of trails for everyone! There are 119 marked runs in total, and you can get around using 8 ski lifts.
- Green Circle Trails: These are for beginners and are the easiest runs. Some names include Aladar's Alley, Indian Flats, and Easy Street.
- Blue Square Trails: These are intermediate runs, a bit more challenging but still fun. You might find trails like Sally's Alley, Lower War Eagle, and Blue Bird here.
- Black Diamond Trails: These are for expert skiers and snowboarders. They are the most difficult and exciting! Examples include War Eagle, Hole in the Wall, and The Cliff.
