If you’ve been making annual pilgrimages up to RED for years, well, then, you already know but will still want to watch as a reminder since it’s been a while. Time to get stoked now that Canadian border restrictions have lifted, and the dollar exchange rate is exceptionally favorable for U.S. dollars right now.

The best part about this short RED Mountain ski video? It’s all true and will inspire you to point your boards north toward The Good Life in Rossland. The terrain at RED is huge (5 peaks, 3 of them with 270-360-degree descents), the snow is reliably light and deep, lift lines are pretty much non-existent, and the locals are of the genuine and friendly variety you’ll want to share some poutine and a jug of beer with at Rafters at the end of the day!

RED Mountain Sweepstakes Alert!

Now that you’ve been initiated into The Good Life and are sufficiently psyched, enter right here to win an epic RED ski getaway that includes a four-night slopeside condo stay with a private hot tub and 3 days of skiing for 2 people!

What Makes RED Stand Out

We have a ton of choices for skiing and snowboarding here in our little corner of the Northwest, from smaller community-feel ski hills to expansive, world-class resorts. RED offers the best of both worlds: huge terrain (the top 10 largest in North America) with plenty of lift options that keeps people moving instead of standing in lines plus a laid-back, authentic small mountain town vibe that you typically only find at much smaller resorts.

With just a five-minute drive between the historic mining town of Rossland that has its own unique and friendly mountain town culture and RED, it’s no wonder Rossland was voted Canada’s #1 ski town two years in a row by USA Today!

With a wide range of lodging options, from hostels and the new mid-mountain Constella Cabins to slope-side condos and boutique hotel rooms at the Josie, there’s a ski-and-stay lodging option for just about every budget and comfort-level preference.

The current exchange rate means Americans automatically get 25-30% off already affordable lift ticket and lodging deals (as low as $85 USD for a lift ticket!). Don’t take our word for it, start exploring now and find your own version of The Good Life at RED this winter!

[Feature photo: Dick Huey, courtesy of Red Mountain Resort]

SPONSORED POST

Find more stories about RED Mountain in the OTO archives.

The post Welcome To the Good Life At RED Mountain appeared first on Out There Venture.

1. Proper ID: Make sure everyone in your vehicle has a current passport, enhanced drivers’ license/ID, or federally issued passport card (half the price of a passport). You’ll need one of these easy-to-obtain ID options to get in and out of Canada. 
2. Pick the Best Border Crossing: Do your research and choose the right border crossing for the fastest trip to your destination based on distance, road conditions, and time of day (some crossings have limited hours). Making a mistake can add hours to your trip. See our list below of the 7 regional official ports of entry.
3. Leave That Stuff at Home: While Cannabis is legal in both B.C. and Washington, leave your stash at home. Same goes for many fresh fruits and vegetables you may get questioned about, as well as all guns and other weapons, and, for the sake of the American image, any attitude with Canadian border officials. //

Choosing the Best Border Crossing 

Use this border crossing info and a map to make sure you don’t get stuck at a closed crossing or waste time taking the wrong one. 

Osoyoos/Oroville: 24 hours; Use for some Okanagan resorts. 

Midway/Ferry: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Use for Big White/SilverStar shortcut when roads are good. 

Cascade/Laurier: 8 a.m.-midnight; Use for Big White, SilverStar & Phoenix. 

Paterson/Frontier: 24 hours; Use for RED Mountain & Rossland. 

Nelway/Metaline Falls: 8 a.m.-8 p.m. U.S. / 8 a.m.-midnight Canada; Use for Whitewater, Nelson, Ainsworth, Kootenay Pass, Salmo, Nakusp, Revelstoke, Halcyon & Rogers Pass. 

Rykerts/Porthill: 7 a.m.-11 p.m. U.S. / 8 a.m.-midnight Canada; Use for Creston/Kootenay Pass. 

Kingsgate/Eastport: 24 hours; Use for Kimberley, Fernie, Panorama, Fairmont, Radium, Golden, & Kicking Horse. //

For more information on traveling from the U.S. to Canada and travel documentation requirements, visit these official resource pages from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Dept. of State.

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Daydreaming about Kootenay Pass powder fields, leaving behind cell service and wifi at Whitewater, and navigating frozen Rossland singletrack often inspires me to scold friends for not having a passport or border-friendly driver’s license one minute and then keep my mouth shut the next—the latter selfish act driven by the hope that the much-loved Kootenay-Rockies region of B.C. covered by this guide might magically weather many of the pressures of “progress” while the world around us changes, often for the worse. 

We hope this guide helps you create your own B.C. adventure bucket lists and daydreams. And maybe inspires you to share some wild, wonderous times north of the border with a few of your friends. Or not. We totally understand. //

Originally published as “Our Magical Neighbor to the North” in the Dec. 2019 issue.

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