• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Must Do Canada

The Best Things to Do in Canada

  • Shop
  • City Guides
      • Calgary
      • Banff
      • Jasper
      • Edmonton
      • Vancouver
      • Kelowna
      • Victoria
      • Tofino
      • Regina
      • Saskatoon
      • Winnipeg
      • Toronto
      • Ottawa
      • Niagara Falls
      • Montreal
      • Halifax
      • St. John’s
  • Tours
    • Best Toronto Tours
    • Niagara Falls Tours
    • Best Vancouver Tours
    • Best Montreal Tours
    • Best Calgary Tours
    • Best Victoria Tours
    • Best Niagara Wine Tours
    • Best Wine Tours in Kelowna
    • Best Ottawa Tours
  • Food and Drink
    • Calgary Restaurants
    • Edmonton Restaurants
    • Banff Restaurants
    • Canmore Restaurants
    • Saskatoon Restaurants
    • Breweries in Calgary
    • Breweries in Edmonton
    • Restaurants in Kelowna
  • Articles
  • Facts
    • Facts About Canada
    • Alberta Facts
    • Ontario Facts
    • British Columbia Facts
    • Quebec Facts
    • Nova Scotia Facts
    • Calgary Facts
    • Vancouver Facts
    • Toronto Facts
    • Niagara Falls Facts
    • Canada Flags
    • Canadian Money
    • Canadian Languages
  • About
    • About Us
    • Work With Us
    • Contact

Exploring Kicking Horse Resort Via Ferrata

August 3, 2016 By Matthew G. Bailey 2 Comments

suspension bride kicking horse resort

There’s something special about looking down at the Columbia Valley from 7,700 feet. The blue-tinged river snaking its way around the lush green valley and the seemingly endless array of mountains surrounding my 360-degree view. Then again, I’m actually hanging off one of the mountains as I make my way up to Terminator Peak via Ferrata.

New to Kicking Horse Resort (created in 2015), the Via Ferrata is a great activity for thrill-seekers looking for a chance to experience mountain climbing with few of the risks. I love trying new things so it wasn’t hard to convince myself to go. My wife, Karla, joined as well.

On the morning of the climb, we took the gondola to the summit. The last time I took this gondola was to ski back down. The scenery looks quite different without the snow. When we got to the top, the guides were waiting to strap us into our harness and safety gear. We then proceeded to the training wall for some practice. After learning about the harness system, the real thing began.

suspension bridge kicking horse resort

The adventure started off with an incredible 60-metre-long suspension bridge called Hanging Glory. This bridge stretches across steep and rugged mountain terrain and can also be booked as a stand-alone adventure for those not wanting to do the climb. It’s quite wobbly but none of us were bothered by it. Actually, the guide told us to strap our safety harness onto the cables and hang out over the ledge, which all of us happily did.

via ferrata kicking horse resort

climbing via ferrata kicking horse resort

Next, we began the ascend to the top. All 465 metres. We curled our way around rock ledges as we moved along the ridge-line that divides the Rocky Mountain trench from the Purcell range. We climbed up and down and straddled the face of the mountain while looking down at the incredible scenery. At one point, we also crossed Gut Bridge, which was just a line of metal cable that you have to walk across. If a suspension bridge doesn’t scare you, this just might. Everything is so safe though so it’s a good time to test your fears!

mountain climbing kicking horse resort

After a couple of hours, we made it to the top of Terminator Peak, which offers absolutely stunning views of the surrounding area. In one direction, we saw Roger’s Pass while in the other direction we saw as far as the Columbia Icefields. Everything was so clear and vivid. It’s the kind of scenery that draws you in and never wants to let you go. I could easily sit down and just stare at the view for the entire day. It’s that beautiful.

After soaking in as much of the view as possible, it was time to head back down. After reaching the top, we were no longer strapped into the harness. We simply took the hiking trail back to the gondola and handed in our rented gear. Both Karla and I ticked another adventure off our Canadian bucket list and listened to the others rave about how much fun and exciting it was.

Terminator peak kicking horse resort

terminator peak kicking horse resort

In fact, the Via Ferrata at Kicking Horse is known as the most exhilarating in Western Canada and it’s also one of the most technical and scenic climbs in North America. Plus, everything is incredibly safe so it’s a great way to crush your fears and experience an incredible activity unlike anything else.

What do you think? Would you do this?

***

Looking to visit? Kicking Horse Resort is located in Golden, British Columbia, Canada. For more information, visit http://kickinghorseresort.com

If you’re looking for a place to stay, I recommend the Glacier Mountaineer Lodge, which is right at the base of the gondola! Talk about location!

All pics by Matthew Bailey. Follow me on Instagram at www.instagram.com/MatthewGBailey

LIKE THE ARTICLE? PIN IT!

Exploring the Via Ferrata at Kicking Horse Resort
Exploring the Via Ferrata at Kicking Horse Resort

About Matthew G. Bailey

Matthew G. Bailey is the founder and editor-in-chief of Must Do Canada. Growing up in Alberta to a mother from Quebec and a father from Newfoundland, Matt spent his childhood playing hockey under the Northern Lights and hanging out in the forest before moving to Calgary and travelling to more than 250 cities spanning 42 countries and 6 continents. He loves travel, learning new things, playing sports, writing, making videos, photography, and scuba diving. You can also find him at LiveLimitless.net.

 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. The Curious Creature says

    August 8, 2016 at 6:50 pm

    Ahhh Hanging Glory looks terrifying and amazing at the same time 🙂

    Reply
    • Matthew G. Bailey says

      August 8, 2016 at 11:06 pm

      haha yeah, I’m sure it’s scary for those with “height” issues. But there’s so much safety involved that it didn’t bother me 🙂

      Reply
Leave a Reply Cancel reply
\n

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Footer

© 2022 Must Do Canada. All Rights Reserved.

Things to Do in Canada

About
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Work With Us
  • Get in Touch
Resources
  • Facts about Canada
  • Canadian Languages
  • Canadian Money
  • Canada Flags
  • Things to Do in Calgary
Tips
  • Best Canada Road Trips
  • Best Road Trip Essentials
  • Fall in Canada
  • Travel Resources
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube