What a joke ... overpromise and under deliver. Used to be an amazing mountain but new management and changes directing energy and resources toward slope side real estate development with total neglect of operational efficiency for the mountain itself. Had friends travel from Oregon for a surprise visit expecting the great conditions promoted on the website ... off-piste not recommended by locals as the underbrush has not been maintained for ages, sketchy grooming with much less terrain taken care of than even two years ago, and an overly optimistic presentation of the true depth of the base. 97% of runs open ... more like 10%. Very disappointed and with the 20% increase in daily lift ticket prices from a year ago the place has become a total rip-off!
I had to submit a review since I am not sure what the others are talking about. Red has tonnes of snow. If conditions get a little firm don't ski on south facing slopes. Or wait a day for some fresh powder. And of course go in January or February. Remember in March every resort can suffer with spring conditions. I make a trip there almost every year and have always had at least one powder day. The people are friendly and given me tours to runs I've never skied. Look forward to it every year.
Would not recommend this ski hill to friends or family. Very few amenities in town and the hill really is just not special in any way. Snow coverage can be minimal and lifts are slow. Stick to whistler or if you are coming from the east there are better options in Sunshine/Louise
I have been skiing Red for 40 years and watched the mountain grow. At first it was great as more lifts were added and more terrain opened up. However, the developers moved in too and now with COVID more and more young families are leaving the cities and buying up real estate in our “little” town. The ski hill has become very busy even in the middle of the week! It has become impossible to find affordable housing either to buy or to rent. Expect to find lift lines and line ups in the grocery store...I suppose that is called “progress”! I am now searching BC for another small ski town to move to...
I have mixed emotions when it comes to Red Mountain. On one hand they have ample terrain and not that many people there, on the other hand the majority of the terrain is low down and you can rarely ski them outside of icy conditions.
While I was there I talked to a skier from a little town called Nelson, just an hour north. he encouraged me to go to his ski hill (White water) to check out the conditions there as the hill is located higher up and even though it's less terrain, it's actually all skiable. I did end up taking a day to go up there and I'm glad I did as the snow was much deeper and lift lines were also just as empty.
While I was in Nelson I also decided to take a walk around the town. This town is more developed than Red with neat stores and a plethora of breweries. The food chains are also amazing and plentiful.
All in all, Red Mountain is an ok hill that may be a bit too over hyped. Either that, or like Europe, maybe this ski hill is starting to see the effects of climate change on it's lower runs. Get it while it's cold.
Positives for Red:
-usually Low lift lines and space to ski (Whitewater has space too)
-tree skiing (when conditions permit - more off than on)
-steeps
-Rafters is great - can sometimes be too packed and you don't find a seat.
Negatives for Red:
- conditions on lower runs not too great and get hit first with warm weather
- slow outdated lifts that get shut down with the smallest amount of wind
- Josie hotel rooms have no hot tub (WTF)
- not a lot of restaurant options
- nothing really to do in town.
- watch out for CORE shots. I got one on my last day on my new ski's :(
Final thoughts. I didn't really find the people in the Red area nicer than other areas, I just found them to be people from a small town. Some seemed friendly, some really didn't want people to be around. haha. It's good skiing, but if I had to do it again, I would go straight to Nelson. Seriously, take a day and head over there to Whitewater. You will not regret it. And go in the lodge for food at Nelson as the food is amazing and blows the doors off any restaurant near Red.
Wow, we love Red Mountain!! It's glade skiing is steep and deep when it dumps, your timing is everything! The people here are friendly and food is great at the Paradise lodge. Rafters is a fun apes bar, even the new Josie has a great apres vibe! A little busy first thing on the weekends but lines clear quickly and parking is the only challenge. I understand Topping chair base will be another parking and base area which will ease the parking situation. The best part is there are not many skiers or boarders so you have lots of space to ski your line! Enjoy Red! We do!
Another reviewer needs to dial back their war on Red.
Conditions are not, by any reasonable standard, remotely icy.
Yes, people ski quickly at this mountain, there are a disproportionately large number of expert riders at Red. That said, they don't do so dangerously. Some skiers make very poor hill use decisions (stopping under blind crests, blocking side hits, cutting the full width of narrow cat tracks and other bottlenecks). These skiers will often find themselves in conflict with fast moving experts.
This is ridiculous. Today the snow report is encouraging fast skiing! I am appalled! Conditions are icy and dangerous! Watch your back if you are out there!
There are a lot of very fast and uncontrolled skiers and boarders here! I don’t know about other resorts but certain runs like Rino’s, Turkey Alley, Silver Sheep, Southern Comfort (where there are mostly beginner/intermediate) there are crazy fast skiers/boarders who ride way too close. It is dangerous and yet the ski patrol do nothing about it! These guys (and yes, they are always guys!) should be reported and have their passes taken away! And be banned from the ski hill!
Red used to be great but, unfortunately, the snow has declined over the years and now they have almost no base and there are rocks everywhere. Really sad but it's the truth. Go to SilverStar or anywhere else you can. Don't waste your time.