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Panorama Mountain Resort is one in every of eight ski resorts on British Columbia’s Powder Freeway. It boasts the sixth largest vertical in North America (4,265 ft), a run that’s 6.5 km lengthy, 10 lifts, two alpine snowcats, and nearly 3,000 acres of terrain. Panorama is called a family-friendly resort with over 50% of the runs geared to newbies and intermediates. It’s additionally well-known for its bluebird days, an exceptionally fairly mountain backdrop, and a number of on hill and off hill Panorama Resort actions.
Off the hill, there may be a lot to do and discover. In winter, Panorama Resort actions run the gamut from Nordic snowboarding to soaking in sizzling swimming pools and having fun with a vigorous après scene. It’s also possible to join a day of heli-skiing or a snowmobile tour to a mountain hut above treeline. Or how about fats biking or snowshoeing on scenic trails alongside Toby Creek? If you happen to’re visiting for various days, make sure you go to close by Invermere and skate the Whiteway, the longest naturally frozen skating path on the planet.
Right here’s a glance in additional element on how one can have a winter mountain escape at Panorama Resort. And if you’d like see motion, take a look at my Instagram reel.
Panorama Resort information to downhill snowboarding
Earlier than you head out: For the keeners who need the primary chair up, test the path situations at Panorama, up to date by 7:30 AM each morning.
Ski leases and tune-ups on the hill: Go to Mountain Outfitters on the base of the hill.
For elevate tickets: Get data on pricing and passes.
Mountain pal tour: My guess is most individuals come to Panorama Resort to ski or snowboard. With 135 trails, there’s quite a bit to find. When you can all the time discover by yourself, it’s also possible to hook up with pleasant mountain hosts every day at 1:30 PM. Be a part of them on a complimentary ski or snowboard tour, the place you’ll get the lay of the land and be taught a bit about Panorama and the historical past of the world.
Monster X snowcat shuttle/Monster terrain: Searching for double black diamond runs? I wasn’t however in case you are, get a journey on one in every of two snowcats to the furthest reaches of the monster terrain. Purchase single rides, 4 packs or extra.
John and I had not been downhill snowboarding since earlier than COVID. Thankfully, it’s a type of sports activities that comes again shortly when you’ve performed it for years, particularly when you’re on an excellent pair of high-performance rental skis. We had been lucky to spend the morning snowboarding with a neighborhood who knew the lay of the land. Very quickly we had whipped up each the Mile 1 Categorical and Champagne Categorical – with no elevate strains to talk of. Then we loved some straightforward groomers like Skyline and Rollercoaster, earlier than heading up the Summit Quad.
I seemed over to 750-acre Taynton Bowl from the highest of the Summit Hut – previously open to heli-skiers solely, admired the great thing about the world, however felt no compulsion to ski it. Nevertheless, I did love the size of the run down from the summit. It felt prefer it went on ceaselessly – or perhaps that’s simply because I’m not in snowboarding form.
Despite the fact that we solely had a day of downhill snowboarding, it reignited my curiosity within the sport. We each cherished the format of the hill, lack of elevate strains, and number of terrain. It’s time to deliver the entire household and revel in it as a gang.
Eat lunch at one of many Panorama Mountain Resort huts
Panorama Resort is the house of two fabulous mountain huts – the Summit Hut and the Elkhorn Cabin. Each are tops for Panoramic Resort actions and should be on the must-eat-lunch-here listing whenever you go to.
The Summit Hut
The Summit Hut sits at an elevation of two,730 m and presents up panoramic views of the Taynton Bowl from the out of doors deck. It’s recognized for barbequed smokies and large brownies – but additionally because the place to return for a three-course fondue between February and April.
Elkhorn Cabin
I can’t say sufficient good issues in regards to the Elkhorn Cabin. For these of you who benefit from the full snowboarding expertise – lazy lunches included, that is the place to go BUT make a reservation otherwise you’ll in all probability be upset because it’s bought restricted seating. Both that otherwise you gained’t be consuming until 2 PM.
John and I loved a bowl of steaming soup together with Swiss raclette, a decadent lunch in comparison with my normal peanut butter sandwich however so value it. And the view on a cloudy day was nonetheless magical. As one native skier stated, “when you sit within the cozy sofa after 1 PM, your ski day is over.”
Panorama Resort actions – strive Nordic snowboarding
The place: Head to the Greywolf Golf Course Clubhouse to lease skate or basic cross-country skis, pay for path charges (they test your move), buy wax, or every other gear you may want in your cross-country ski outing. It’s a 5-minute drive from the village – however you possibly can cross-country ski 1.3 km on groomed trails from the village too.
Tickets: Ticket costs in 2023 vary from $5 per canine to $21 per grownup, with reductions for kids, youth, senior, and super-seniors.
Hours of operation: 8:30 AM – 4 PM seven days every week
Meals availability: Buy snacks at The Shack at Greywolf from 11 AM – 5 PM. It’s also possible to get pleasure from an out of doors fireplace pit with associates. The Cliffhanger Restaurant presents lunch, dinner, and après snowboarding snacks in a constructing with beautiful mountain views.
With over 20 plus kilometres of impeccably groomed trails together with two backcountry warming huts, there’s something for each degree of basic and skate skier at Panorama Resort. Since I final cross-country skied right here, about 9 years in the past, the path signage has vastly improved, and the grooming is now world-class.
What wasn’t as much as scratch was my cross-country snowboarding on a heat January weekend. John and I each struggled on any sort of hill because the wax we used didn’t work. It didn’t maintain going up and the descents had been jerky and terrible. The massive take away – aside from the very fact I ought to have been utilizing a special pair of skis, was the great thing about the panorama. I used to be wowed – and this was on a day that was extra foggy than clear.
What I cherished had been the massive bushes, the 2 warming huts well-spaced throughout the Nordic ski space, the views when the clouds parted, and the very fact you possibly can take your canine snowboarding with you off leash, offering they’re underneath management. What I want we’d had time to ski is the Nice Scott Path. It’s 4.7 km a method and if it had been every other day with higher situations, we’d have knocked it off with no drawback.
If you happen to’re after a break from downhill snowboarding, go take a look at the Nordic trails. I feel you’ll be blown away by their magnificence.
Fats biking enjoyable on multi-use trails – one of many high Panorama Resort actions
The place: Head to the Greywolf Golf Course Clubhouse to lease fats bikes and decide up a path ticket.
Pricing: Entry to multi-use trails for fats bikers is free however you continue to want a ticket. If you happen to’ve come together with your canine, in addition they want a ticket – at $5/day. Fats bikes and a helmet may be rented for $65/full day and $39/half day (2023 costs). Their smallest bikes will match somebody 5’4″.
Hours of operation: 8:30 AM – 4 PM seven days every week
Meals availability: Identical as for Nordic snowboarding.
Choose up a ticket, a rental fats bike, and a path map on the Greywolf Clubhouse, and head out on over 16 km of multi-use trails. (In accordance with the web site you’re allowed on cross-country ski trails IF you journey on the shoulder and never within the tracks.)
There’s a beautiful stretch of path referred to as Mineral King that parallels Toby Creek and is reached through the Creekside Path. You’ll be able to add a enjoyable, twisting part on Giddy Up for a brief out and again journey. An alternative choice is to proceed previous the Pentagon Hut all the best way to Hale Hut, stringing collectively loops. There are sufficient hills on that route that you simply’ll get a very good exercise.
The paths are finest biked when the snow has been packed down. If there’s been a latest snowfall, I’d suggest you take a look at the path report earlier than you go.
Consuming at Panorama Resort
There are sufficient eating places at Panorama Resort you could eat out for 4 days in a row with out visiting the identical place twice. And when you’re staying in a rental, chances are high you’re cooking no less than a meal or two, so that can in all probability be sufficient choices to cowl most individuals. You’ll be able to all the time take the shuttle or drive all the way down to Invermere if you’d like extra alternative.
Alto Kitchen & Bar
We dined at Alto Kitchen & Bar one evening conveniently positioned on the base of the Mile 1 chairlift. John and I break up a fire-baked pizza and vibrant salad. We each cherished the ambiance of the restaurant, and the pleasant servers. On a weekend I’d suggest a reservation.
T-Bar & Grill
On one other evening we loved fish and chips – with out the chips as we tried to be a bit heathier with salad on the informal T-Bar& Grill. That is the place you need to go if you’d like an informal ambiance in a sports activities bar setting. I appreciated the truth that we might nonetheless chat with out elevating our voices.
Choppers Touchdown
On our final evening we took the village gondola down after which walked about 10 minutes to get to Choppers Touchdown on the RK Heliplex. Dine right here when you’re after panoramic views, particularly because the solar goes down. Or nab a chair by the hearth and benefit from the après snowboarding expertise. Our meal of hen and fettucine was massive, so except you’ve skied 30,000 ft of vertical, you in all probability gained’t want an appetizer too.
Cliffhanger Restaurant
The Cliffhanger Restaurant is on the Nordic ski space. With ground to ceiling home windows, you possibly can get pleasure from beautiful views of the Purcell Mountains whereas having fun with favourites like steak, salmon, goulash, risotto, burgers, and coconut hen curry bowl. There’s plenty of alternative and loads of gluten free choices.
Soak within the Panorama Scorching Swimming pools
One of the vital well-liked Panoram Resort actions is a soak within the Panorama Scorching Swimming pools, a big complicated of swimming pools positioned on the base of the downhill ski space. They’re one of many not-to-be-missed Panorama actions in winter. Nothing beats that first step right into a sizzling pool, particularly on a chilly day. Instantaneous rest at its best. Not into sizzling swimming pools? That’s okay as there’s a day sauna simply steps away.
There are three sizzling swimming pools to select from: a big heat pool (90°F) excellent for the youngsters, an higher sizzling tub at 101°F and a decrease sizzling tub at 98ºF. Entrance to the new swimming pools comes with a towel, a locker room, and showers. To realize entry to the Panorama Scorching Swimming pools you have to be staying in one of many close by condos. In case your rental doesn’t include entry, it might nonetheless provide a sizzling tub. Make sure to ask earlier than you e book!
Extra actions close to Panorama Resort
If you happen to’re at Panorama Mountain Resort for an extended interval you may need to strive a number of the different actions within the space. It does assist when you have a automobile, although the Whiteway is accessible from Invermere and there are shuttles out there.
The Whiteway
The Lake Windermere Whiteway holds the title because the longest naturally frozen skating path on the planet with 29.8 km of cleared ice. On a winter day it is a great spot to skate, fats bike and even cross-country ski. and it prices simply $5 per individual with proceeds used for its repairs.
Lake Lillian Whiteway
You move the Lake Lillian Whiteway on the drive as much as Panorama Mountain Resort. In winter, it’s the place to go for a simple 3 km cross-country ski outing across the periphery of Lake Lillian. It’s groomed for each skate and basic skiers.
Verify path situations earlier than you go.
Radium Scorching Springs
Radium Scorching Springs is positioned close to the southern border of Kootenay Nationwide Park. The springs are named for the hint however innocent quantities of radon within the water. If you happen to’re anyplace close to the village of Radium Scorching Springs, plan to go to. There may be additionally a cooler pool if you wish to swim lengths. Their location close to an enormous purple rock cliff is magical too.
The place to remain at Panorama Mountain Resort
Panorama Mountain Resort is a really self-contained place. When you’re there, you’re unlikely to wish a automobile to make the most of any of the Panorama Resort actions. You’ll be able to stroll to eating places, espresso outlets, leases outlets, and sizzling swimming pools. Ought to it’s important to drive anyplace – just like the Nordic Centre at Greywolf or Toby Creek Adventures, it gained’t take greater than 5 minutes.
My suggestion is to lease a rental on the base of the hill or keep at The Method – Panorama’s newly refurbished slopeside resort. There may be additionally a brief, free gondola that strikes you shortly between the higher and decrease village, do you have to determine to e book elsewhere.
John and I stayed in a one-bedroom rental in 1000 Peaks Lodge. It was a few three minute stroll to eating places and the rental store in a single course and the Panorama Scorching Swimming pools within the different. The roomy rental had a balcony with a view, a fire, a full kitchen, one rest room, and a good-sized bed room. Parking was in a heated underground storage.
Attending to Panorama Resort
In case you are coming from Calgary, Banff or Lake Louise, one of the simplest ways to get to Panorama Mountain Resort is to drive. Fortunate you as a result of it’s a lovely drive to the mountain resort by way of Banff and Kootenay Nationwide Parks. If it’s good to lease a automobile on the Calgary Worldwide Airport, make sure you request winter tires because the highway can get gnarly in storm situations.
You probably have booked a reservation immediately with Panorama Mountain Resort, then you may have the choice of pre-booking one of many two shuttles which can be provided every day from December 8 and April 9 between Calgary and the resort. They’ll additionally decide up and drop off in Banff.
Panorama additionally does customized transfers from Lake Louise and Cranbrook.
Map of Panorama Resort Actions
- Click on on the three dots within the right-hand nook to e-mail a replica of the map.
Extra studying on issues to do within the winter in BC’s Kootenay area
An enormous thanks to Panorama Mountain Resort for internet hosting John and myself. All opinions are mine alone.
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