3 Days in Golden, British Columbia: The Perfect Winter Getaway

If you’re looking to plan a winter getaway to one of Canada’s beautiful mountain towns, Golden is the perfect place to do just that. Nestled in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, in the Kootenay region of British Columbia, Golden is surrounded by mountains, national parks and plenty of things to do in winter.

We visited Golden in December, spending our days snowboarding at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, exploring nearby Yoho National Park and heading into the mountains on a full-day snowmobiling tour. Whether you’re looking to spend a few days on the slopes, tick snowmobiling off your bucket list or do something a little more relaxed like snowshoeing, there’s plenty to keep you busy.

This three-day Golden winter itinerary covers exactly how we spent our trip, including where we stayed, where we ate and the best things we did along the way.

How Many Days Do You Need in Golden?

I’d recommend spending at least three days in Golden during winter. This gives you enough time for a day at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, a day exploring nearby Yoho National Park and another day for one of the other winter activities in the area.

If skiing or snowboarding is the main reason for your trip, I’d stay longer. We only spent one day at Kicking Horse and could have easily added another.

How to Get to Golden

The closest major airport to Golden is Calgary International Airport. From Calgary, the drive to Golden takes around three hours, passing through Banff and Yoho National Parks along the way.

We had a car while we were here, which I’d definitely recommend. You’ll need one for places like Emerald Lake and it also makes getting between Golden and Kicking Horse much easier.

If you’re visiting during winter, make sure your hire car is properly equipped for winter driving and check the road conditions before setting off.

When to Visit Golden in Winter

We visited Golden in December, just as the winter season was getting underway. Kicking Horse Mountain Resort generally opens in December and operates into April, depending on snow conditions.

There was already plenty of snow during our visit, but if skiing or snowboarding is your priority, I’d check the snow conditions and resort opening dates before locking in your trip.

Where to Stay in Golden

We stayed at Basecamp Lodge for our three nights in Golden. It’s located just outside the centre of town and around a 15-minute drive from Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, so it worked well for everything we had planned.

The rooms were spacious, but my favourite part was the communal area downstairs with a big open fireplace. There’s also a 24-hour breakfast area where you can make tea, coffee, hot chocolate and oats, which was handy before heading out early in the morning.

Day One: Snowboarding at Kicking HorsE MOUNTAI

Start your first day with breakfast at Wandering Fern Cafe in Golden. They do genuinely good coffee and as an Aussie travelling through Canada, I can vouch for this. I also had the avocado toast, which was a good start before a full day on the mountain.

After breakfast, make your way to Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, around a 15-minute drive from Golden. We spent our first day here snowboarding and had plenty of fresh powder during our visit.

For lunch, stop at Eagle’s Eye Restaurant, located at the top of the mountain. The views alone make it worth a visit, with huge windows looking out over the surrounding peaks. It’s a popular spot, so I’d recommend making a reservation ahead of time.

After a full day of snowboarding, we headed back to Basecamp Lodge and spent some time warming up by the fire before dinner.

For dinner, head to The Wolf’s Den. It has a cosy log cabin feel and serves burgers and other pub-style meals, which was exactly what we felt like after spending the day on the mountain.

Day Two: Exploring Yoho National Park

Start the morning with coffee at Ethos Cafe in Golden. I also had to try their banana bread, which came topped with granola clusters, espresso butter and banana brulee. Definitely worth ordering.

From Golden, make your way to Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park. I’ve visited Emerald Lake in spring, summer and winter now, and it’s one of those places that looks completely different with every season.

In winter, the lake freezes over and the surrounding mountains are covered in snow. You can walk the trail around the lake, or try cross-country skiing or snowshoeing if you want to spend a little longer here.

After exploring the lake, walk across to Emerald Lake Lodge. The lodge is surrounded by little wooden cabins overlooking the lake, and it’s worth having a wander through even if you aren’t staying here.

We stopped at the Mount Burgess Dining Room for a drink and warmed up with a Rocky Mountain Fog before heading to our next stop.

Next, make your way to Natural Bridge, around a 10-minute drive from Emerald Lake. The Kicking Horse River has carved its way through the rock here, creating the natural bridge the area is named after.

When we visited, the river hadn’t completely frozen over, so you could still see the bright blue water running through the snow-covered rock. You don’t need long here, so it’s an easy stop to add on your way back to Golden.

For dinner, we went to The Island Restaurant in town. We visited in December and the inside was covered in traditional Christmas decorations, which I loved. We ordered pizza and, if you like a little spice, definitely try their spicy sauce.

Day Three: Snowmobiling Adventure

Start your final morning with breakfast at Big Bend Café, a classic diner-style cafe in Golden. They open early, which worked well for us as we had a full day of snowmobiling ahead.

We booked our snowmobile tour with Rocky Mountain Riders. We originally booked the half-day tour but decided to upgrade to the full day, and I’m so glad we did.

The half-day option would have felt too short for us. With the full-day tour, we had much more time out in the mountains and spent the day riding through deep snow with stops along the way.

This was actually one of my favourite things we did during our time in Canada. Neither of us had been snowmobiling before, and doing it somewhere like Golden made it pretty hard to beat.

For dinner, we headed to Riverhouse Tavern. They had only recently reopened when we visited and were still missing a few things from the menu, but it was a nice casual spot for dinner after being out all day.

Riverhouse Tavern is also close to the Kicking Horse Pedestrian Bridge, so walk over and have a look while you’re in this part of town. The timber bridge crosses the Kicking Horse River right in the centre of Golden and is an easy stop to add before or after dinner.

Final Thoughts

Golden ended up being one of our favourite stops during winter in Canada. I loved that we could spend one day snowboarding, the next exploring Yoho National Park and then finish the trip with something completely different like snowmobiling.

If you’re planning a winter road trip through British Columbia and the Canadian Rockies, Golden is definitely worth adding to your itinerary.