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For those in search of a winter holiday in Canada, few places are as iconic as Revelstoke. This humble mountain town is surrounded by beauty in every direction, and I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Revelstoke many times before.
Located deep in the Monashee and Selkirk Mountain ranges, Revelstoke is well known for its high yearly snowfall that provides the ultimate conditions for skiing and snowboarding. This, along with the many other winter activities in Revelstoke, makes it a bucket list destination for visitors.
In this blog, I’ll share the 18 best things to do in Revelstoke in winter, including lots of activities indoors as well as some wild hot springs in BC that many don’t know about!
Things to do in Revelstoke in winter
1. Hit the slopes
Revelstoke is home to one of the best ski resorts in all of Canada. In fact, Revelstoke Mountain Resort boasts the longest descent of any ski hill in North America. On top of that, the mountain receives an average snowfall of over 34.4 feet (10.5 meters) per year. Revelstoke even holds the record in Canada for the most snowfall in a single year. That number is a whopping 80 feet (24 meters)!
Because of this, the resort promises a world-class downhill skiing or snowboarding opportunity making this one of the best winter activities in Revelstoke. People travel from all over the world to ski here and after one visit to the mountain, you’ll see why.
The resort spans 3,100 acres and offers downhill runs for skiers of all ability levels. However, the majority of the runs at Revelstoke Mountain Resort are blue and black, making it very popular with pros. Beginners can still enjoy the mountain, though, with long green runs stretching all the way from the top of the Stoke Gondola to the village below (The Last Spike is my favorite.)
Prices vary throughout the season and change yearly; however, standard day passes cost $139 CAD for adults, $106 for seniors and youths, and $49 for children. The trick with Revelstoke Mountain Resort is to book in advance and purchase multi-day tickets to save significant money. If you’re able to book your winter vacation in summer, savings of up to 50% are available. Kids under 6 can always hit the hill for free, too.
Revelstoke Mountain Resort can be busy on weekends or during holiday periods, especially leading up to Christmas and New Year’s. So, if you’re planning on visiting Revelstoke in December be sure to book your trip well in advance!
Related Read: One of the best things to do in Golden in winter is skiing and snowboarding. Turn this winter holiday into a ski trip! We also have a road trip guide for the drive from Revelstoke to Golden.
2. Relax in natural hot springs
Revelstoke is surrounded by hot springs, making it one of the best things to do in winter. Visitors just need to know where to look to find the most beautiful ones.
The closest and most developed is the Canyon Hot Springs. This hot spring and campsite resort is 25 minutes from Revelstoke and features a large hot mineral soaking pool and swimming pool fed by the waters of Albert Canyon. The entrance to the hot springs is $16.50 CAD for adults and $14.25 for children. Fancy chalets and humble cabins are available for rent, as well as a full-service campsite, which starts at $45, and tent sites start at $35.
Slightly further out from Revelstoke is the famous Halcyon Hot Springs. This is a resort located just outside the sleepy village of Nakusp. Halcyon has breathtaking views of the lake and mountains from the hot spring bathing pools that they refer to as ‘healing waters’ due to the levels of lithia in the water. You can stay at the hotel or just use the hot springs for the day. This costs $30 CAD for adults and $20 CAD for children. The resort offers chalets, cottages, and cabins for rent at different price points.
Crazy Creek Resort is another camping resort in a tiny town called Malakwa. Their outdoor hot springs are open every day of the year from 9 am to 9 pm and are located only 30 minutes west of Revelstoke. Camping starts at $35 and is $64 for a premium site. Suites are also available for up to $200 a night and include hot springs admission. There are also nearby attractions such as a suspension bridge with great views, waterfalls, and hiking trails. A separate cost to enter the hot springs is $17.95 per adult and $12.95 per child.
Now for my favorite hot springs. The St Leon Hot Springs is a wild hot spring located near the town of Nakusp. To reach the hot springs in winter, you must park in a small parking lot and walk 4 kilometers along an old logging road. Once there, you can enjoy wild hot springs completely free. The hot springs are hard to find, however, here are the GPS coordinates. The parking lot is just past Ione Falls (coming from Nakusp) and this blog sheds more light on its location.
3. Go snowshoeing
I went snowshoeing for the first time ever in Revelstoke! It’s always been something I wanted to try and since then, I’ve snowshoed all over Canada.
In Revelstoke, I went snowshoeing at the Revelstoke Nordic Ski Club simply because they have some great trails, and it’s super convenient. I walked the Seven Bridges Trail, which is 4.5 kilometers long and suited for beginners.
Rentals are really cheap and available onsite at the Nordic Center for $11 CAD. For that, you get them for the entire day and can take them to other trails in Revelstoke. For snowshoers, the entrance fee to use the trails is $6 per vehicle.
If you want to get more off the beaten path, you can snowshoe on Mt Revelstoke from the closed Parks Canada Gate. You can also enjoy the trail to Southerland Falls or the Green Belt Trails.
If you want to join a tour, Revelstoke Snowshoe Company offers more than just snowshoe rentals. They also offer multiple tours that start at Revelstoke Mountain Resort. Tours vary in length, and the prices include your equipment rental and lift ticket. Adults are $65 CAD, and children 12 and under are free. For a snowshoe rental, the cost is $20.
Because of the amount of snow Revelstoke gets, this is easily one of the best winter activities!
4. Visit the local brewery
I swear there is at least one brewery in every town in Canada now. I myself am not complaining – I love craft beer.
Revelstoke’s Mt Begbie Brewery is a local favorite and has won numerous brewing awards including Canada’s brewery of the year in 2017. The brewery was started by a nuclear physicist who had a dream of making the world’s best-tasting beer!
Mt Begbie Brewery is a must-stop if you are in Revelstoke and enjoy an artisanal beer partnered with a Neapolitan-style pizza or nachos. The Tasting Room menu has suggestions for beer pairings but you can’t go wrong with any of the prize-winning beers this brewery has to offer.
Their shop is open every day; however, the tasting room is only open from 12 pm to 8 pm Thursday to Sunday.
5. Catch a local Grizzlies hockey game
This is perhaps one of the most iconic things you can do in Revelstoke. The Revelstoke Grizzlies are the local hockey team, and catching a game is an absolute must if you’re in town on a Friday or Saturday night.
Growing up in Canada, I can attest that the local hockey team is a gathering point for the whole community. I couldn’t believe how many fans were in the stands, cheering on their team. The energy was palpable! Even if you’re not a hockey fan, it’s hard not to love this camaraderie.
You can check the schedule here, but most games fall on Fridays or Saturdays, with an occasional Tuesday night game. The season runs from September through February, so it’s the perfect way to stay warm inside on a winter night. I recommend buying your tickets in advance, too, as games are known to sell out!
6. Enjoy Pho at Sincero Cafe
What’s better than a hot bowl of soup on a cold winter day? Literally nothing. Sincero Cafe is a Vietnamese restaurant that is the perfect stop for lunch or dinner. Their beef pho was exactly what I needed, and paired with Vietnamese coffee – pure heaven! The servings were generous, so plan on arriving hungry.
The cafe is small and intimate, ideal for a cozy day. It’s open until 8 pm daily, so you can stop in after a day on the slopes!
7. Wander downtown Revelstoke
Historic downtown Revelstoke is absolutely picturesque, and wandering around will warm the soul while in Revelstoke in winter.
Stop in at the Modern Bakeshop & Cafe for delicious pastries and a coffee between window shopping the numerous boutiques and cute specialty shops such as Garnish Handmade Boutique or The Annex. You’ll find the perfect gift for that person back home.
End the day at 112 Restaurant & Lounge for steak, cocktails, and live music.
8. Go ice skating
It’s winter, so some outdoor ice skating is in order! If you are up for a bit of adventure, take the 20min drive to Three Valley Lake, near the lovely Three Valley Lake Chateau, to lace up your skates and head out onto the lake.
Conditions need to be right, so be sure to check the weather report and find out how deep the ice is. Anything less than 4” is not safe for skating. But, if you practice safety, wild skating on lake ice can be very safe and lots of fun, and the perfect winter activity in Revelstoke. The picturesque view of Eagle’s Pass while you glide across the ice is incredibly relaxing.
If you want a more regulated ice skating experience, the Revelstoke arena offers public skating at only $9.50 per family. Skates can be rented as well for $3 a pair.
Related Read: The best place to go wild ice skating in Canada is Banff in winter. The road trip between Revelstoke and Banff is also epic!
9. Dog sledding
Dog sledding was always on my bucket list, and in Canada, after extensive research, I finally got to go while living in Canmore, Alberta, during winter. I loved the tour and enjoyed hanging out with the dogs so much.
In Revelstoke, you can book a tour with Revelstoke Dogsled Adventures. There are several different types of tours available, or you can customize your own. The option to take the reins and mush the dogs yourself is also available. Tours start at $369 CAD per couple and offer real Alaskan Racing Huskies and a knowledgeable tour guide to teach you about the dogs and the history of the area.
Although these days there are concerns about ethics, most companies look after their dogs exceptionally well. On top of that, many of the dogs are rescues from the northern territories that were used for sled racing. These dogs, which can run over 160 kilometers in a day, run less than 30 kilometers and enjoy plenty of days off. On my tour, they explained that this is like retirement for dogs this active.
10. Try fat biking
Mountain biking is a popular activity in Revelstoke, and a little snow doesn’t stop the trail enthusiasts. Fat biking is a relatively new activity that has quickly gained a lot of popularity. I first fat biked during a winter visit to Calgary simply to get around the city and I loved it!
Many fat bikes can be spotted on the trails in Revelstoke in winter as the wide tires offer great traction on snow. It is also a great activity when skiing conditions are not optimal, because that means conditions are great for fat biking.
Mount Revelstoke National Park offers many kilometers of ungroomed fat biking trails in the winter, giving you the chance to lead your own adventure. The Soren Sorensen Trail (2 km and 5 km option) is very popular, as well as the Meadows in the Sky Parkway (the road up Mt Revelstoke).
Several pilot projects have been initiated in the Revelstoke area for groomed trails and only time will tell if they will become a permanent winter fixture. If you don’t feel up to heading out on ungroomed trails, fat biking around historic downtown Revelstoke is another worthwhile option. Take in the architecture and stop in a neat, locally owned shop or cafe whenever you need to warm up or need a break from all the exercise.
Fat bikes can be rented from Tantrum Ride Company for $30 CAD a day.
11. Cross-country skiing
Before I tried out cross-country skiing, it didn’t seem that appealing to me. However, after spending a winter in Whistler, I was hooked!
The Revelstoke Nordic Ski Club is the best place to enjoy cross-country skiing in Revelstoke, and there are plenty of trails to use. They range from black all the way to green, so everyone can enjoy the trails. They have lots of information on which winter trails are accessible and the last time they were groomed, all of which can be found on their website.
Day use fees are $12 CAD per person or $27 for a family. An extra $6 fee per vehicle for backcountry use, the proceeds of which go to maintaining and grooming the 26km of cross-country trails. There is a lodge and cabin on-site where skiers can warm up, use the bathroom, and have a hot drink by donation. If you need rentals, they have them available for $16.50 (boots and skis)
Also, 6km of the trail is lit until 9:30 pm for night skiing – how cool!
12. Grab burgers with a view
If you plan on spending some time on the slopes at Revelstone Mountain Resort, you have to stop for a burger at The Outpost. Situated on the top of the mountain, this restaurant makes some of the best smash burgers I’ve ever had – I’m dead serious!
Best of all, you can dine with a view and take a break, refuel, and keep on adventuring after. It’s open during lunch hours, from 11:30 am to 3 pm. Even if you’ve visited during the summer while hiking or taking the sightseeing gondola, it’s even better during the winter!
13. Go bowling at The Cabin
After a full day out in the snow, head over to The Cabin for an evening of 5-pin bowling at a local Revelstoke hangout.
The Cabin offers 8 lanes for bowling and a lounge for cocktails and food. There are seven, yes seven, different types of fishbowl drinks on the cocktail menu, but my favorite drink is Grandma’s Apple Cider as it includes whipped cream. There is also a pro shop to pick up any winter gear you may have left on the hill, like your mitts. Oops.
This is a fun night out, and anyone who loves bowling will enjoy it!
14. Check out the Historic Roxy Theatre
If the weather isn’t so great, head to the Roxy Theatre and watch a movie. This historic theater has been open (the current building) since 1938 and offers a boutique experience with modern sound and screens.
The theatre typically shows three movies and has a canon mascot named Boomer whose sticker of approval you’ll find on movies deemed ‘Boomer approved.’ The theater screens new releases so you can always see something new!
Not only is it a great nostalgia trip, but the theatre’s art deco style is a must-see for any architecture buffs.
15. Visit the Aquatic Center
Not all activities in Revelstoke in winter need to revolve around outdoor sports and snow. Take a break from the cold and head to Revelstoke’s state-of-the-art aquatic center for a swim. This pool is fun for the whole family, complete with a lazy river, waterslide, climbing wall, hot tub, sauna, and steam room. A family day pass is a very affordable $15 CAD.
For me, this is the perfect place for a warm soak in the hot tub after all those hours spent in the winter cold!
If you didn’t bring a swimsuit, check out Valhalla Pure Outfitters on Mackenzie Ave to purchase one.
16. Visit the local distilleries
Monashee Spirits is a Revelstoke distillery that uses only local and sustainable ingredients to make their alcohol. The distillery prides itself on its bespoke cocktail bar that serves up very unique, punny, yet delicious beverages not without a sense of humor.
Interesting, to say the least, drinks include The Best Pizza In Town, a drink that contains pizza sauce; a cocktail made with dill infused gin liquor called, How ‘Bout That Dill Do?; and a huckleberry gin beverage Huck Me Baby One More Time that dares you to tag it on Instagram as it features an edible wafer complete with a picture from the kama sutra.
Honestly, I visit Monashee Spirits every single time I’m in Revelstoke. One day I’ll make through their entire cocktail list (that is if they ever stop changing it on me!)
Another craft distiller in Revelstoke, Jones Distillery brews award-winning alcohol from a historic school building in downtown Revelstoke. If you stop in, employees will be more than happy to tell you about the exploits of the founder’s father, a former police officer who helped himself to brewing equipment from the evidence locker. Jones Distillery is a very legal establishment today and has a tasting room where you can sample the spirits before buying.
Warming up during winter in Revelstoke is important and some strong liquor will certainly do the trick!
17. Explore a museum (or two!)
The Revelstoke Museum is the place to go to learn about the first nations people of the area, the first homesteaders and settlers to Revelstoke, and to see the amazing artifacts of Revelstoke’s skiing history. The family rate for the museum is only $12 CAD and includes a scavenger hunt activity for the kids that will take you through the two-story building and all of the interesting displays. It’s also a great place to learn about avalanche safety.
If railway history is your thing, Revelstoke has its very own Railway Museum. The museum is open daily from 9 am to 4 pm and costs $22 CAD per family. The museum celebrates the last spike to be hammered at Craigellachie that completed the coast-to-coast Canadian railway in 1885. Walk the museum grounds to see old railway cars or drive the diesel train simulator, a fan favorite at the museum and worth the price of admission on its own.
18. Learn how to blow glass
Hand Blown glass is one of my favorite artisan products. At Big Eddy Glassworks in Revelstoke, you get a hands-on chance to learn the art of glass blowing. There is a choice between a number of walk-in workshops like upcycling a cup, or pre-booked workshops. Workshop prices start from $40 CAD to $350 for a glass bowl or date night package complete with snacks and drinks.
If you are in need of a souvenir from your Revelstoke trip, Big Eddy Glasswork is the place to get it. They sell everything from hand-blown vases to bird feeders. It’s my favorite place to bring a friend that is new to Revelstoke to try a new activity.
This is easily one of the most unique things to do in Revelstoke in winter!
Related Read: Are you visiting Revelstoke from Vancouver? Check out our guide to the best stops on the drive from Vancouver to Revelstoke!
Where to Stay in Revelstoke in Winter
Revelstoke might be small, but there are a lot of good places to stay! I recommend booking your accommodation well in advance, as the winter season brings a lot of travelers for skiing, and you don’t want to miss out on the best options.
Luxury – $$$
Stay in style when you book the Fairfield by Marriott in Revelstoke! It’s located slightly outside of the city center, but it’s still close enough to walk, and they offer free parking. The location is convenient if you’re skiing, and after you can enjoy the hot tub for your sore muscles!
The rooms are fitted with amenities for a comfortable and upscale stay, all the details you can expect from a Marriott hotel. You can enjoy mountain views from some rooms, the breakfast is consistently raved about, and the staff is there to answer any of your questions. You can book a room from around $250-$350 CAD here on Booking.com.
Mid-range – $$
We stayed at the Best Western Plus on our last visit, and I highly recommend it! While it’s situated a little outside of the city center, it’s still close enoughthat you can walk. The hotel also offers a free shuttle service into town, and there is also a bus stop to get to the mountain right in front of the hotel.
The hotel itself is cozy and charming, with all of the usual luxuries that a Best Western will provide. The beds were comfy, breakfast hit the spot, and the staff were very attentive to our needs. Prices range from about $215 to $320 CAD, depending on the time of year. Check availability and book this stay here on Booking.com!
Budget – $
Gravity Haus Revelstoke offers bang for your buck, making this an appealing budget-friendly stay! Each room has a kitchenette and balcony, and they offer easy check-in if you are getting in late. The location is fantastic, within walking distance to restaurants and shops in Revelstoke.
I love the modern yet simple design of the rooms, and you can enjoy the cafe and bar on site. There is also a hot tub, great for a cold day!
Prices range from $100-$200 CAD and can be reserved on Booking.com.
Related Read: For more detailed info, read our blog about where to stay in Revelstoke! It includes info about all of the different areas where you can choose to stay and the best hotels for all budgets.
Renting a Car in British Columbia
If you’re arriving in British Columbia via plane, then I can’t recommend getting a rental car enough. British Columbia is a large province, and traveling between the best places to visit in BC requires transport. Although you can use public transport on some occasions, this means your trip will not only require more time but more planning.
Car rental in Canada isn’t relatively cheap, but it’s not that expensive either, especially if you get a budget car. The cheapest car with a pick-up and drop-off in different locations is around $100 CAD per day. The price does vary though, depending on the time of year. For car rentals, I use the website Discover Cars. It’s a search engine with lots of deals with good customer service. In fact, I’ve used Discover Cars all over the world, including in Chile, New Zealand, and Australia. Read my honest review of Discover Cars here for more details!
Another popular option is to rent a campervan or motorhome (only for the brave in winter). Using Motorhome Republic, you can search hundreds of deals across multiple companies to pick a great vehicle and the cheapest price. Having a motorhome is a stunning way to see Canada and you can often camp for free or very cheap in the most beautiful places imaginable! Read my tips on using Motorhome Republic here before you book!
And if you’re planning to visit the Canadian Rockies during your trip, we highly recommend Smile Campervans. Based in Calgary, this local company provides compact campervans fully equipped with everything you need for a comfortable and affordable road trip adventure!
In fact, Smile Campervans has actually given us a special discount code for our readers! Use the code DESTINATIONLESSTRAVEL at checkout to get 5% off your campervan rental! Click here to browse availability, prices, and book with our discount code!
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Thanks for reading!
To me, Revelstoke really is one of the top winter destinations in Canada. Not only are there a ton of winter activities to keep you busy, but with some of the best powder in Canada, it’s my favorite place to ski!
I hope this guide has helped plan your upcoming winter visit to Revelstoke. Thanks so much for taking the time out of your day to read it. If you did find this guide helpful, then it’s very possible you’ll like some of my other blogs. So, stick around and check them out, I’d be forever grateful!