Calgary 
Go skiing at the pristine mountain before the resort opens to the public.
KPOW
Located just outside of Calgary to the southwest, Fortress Mountain was a booming ski resort that opened in 1967, a full eleven years before Kananaskis Country itself was formed.
The popularity of this ski resort continued through the early 1980s, the lease turning over to multiple operators, but falling revenue forced its closure in 2004. With the exception of a cat ski operation that has operated on the property through winter months in recent years, the resort was left to deteriorate – until now.
The property’s lease was taken up by Fortress Mountain Holdings in 2010, who started the adventurous sport of cat skiing in the winter of 2011/2012. Since then, the company has been working hard at upgrading the area with the intention of opening it to the public in a couple of years.
The company has monetized the abandoned resort in other ways, bringing dollars in through movie, commercial and film set rentals, in order to move their refurbishment project along over the years. You may have recognized the terrain in movies such as Inception, The Bourne Legacy, The Claim, Van Helsing, Brokeback Mountain, RV, and The Revenant.
Phase one of their building plans has been approved, with approximately five million dollars already sunk into a water treatment plant and underground piping that needed to be completed before the big job of building the new ski lodge, five lifts, a moving carpet for the tubing and beginners hill, and other facilities, with the ultimate goal of creating a ski village with accommodations, restaurants, and shops, just as is found within other resorts of the Canadian Rockies.
Located just outside of Kananaskis and surrounded by Spray Valley and Peter Lougheed Provincial Parks, this renovated resort is in a perfect position for incredible winter conditions, with little wind and plenty of annual snowfall – up to 900 cm a year.
It is not clear when the new ski lifts will open or whether the runs willcover the entire amazing terrain of Fortress Mountain, but if they do, future skiers and snowboarders will be able to enjoy some incredible slopes. Famous for its glades, there is a varied terrain of bowls, cut runs, gullies, and shoots, that will create opportunities for all levels of skiers to enjoy.
2023/24 Season
If you want to explore the untamed slopes before the groomed runs of the official ski hill take over, you can book a CAT ski adventure with KPOW for the winter of 2022/2023.
With a season that starts on December 7th, you can book as an individual or as a group with up to 14 people. Reservations are required, and the current company only runs two to four days a week dependent on conditions, so booking well in advance is recommended. You have the option to add lunch, but you have to bring your own gear, so make sure to rent before heading out.
If you are up for it, this is one spectacular way to experience the hill before it opens to the general public again.
Trip Planning:
When Dec. 7, 2023 – Early April | 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
How Much:
14 seats:
-Low Season ( Dec. 7, 2023 – Jan. 27, 2024) – $6,120
-High Season (Jan 28th 2024 – End of season) – $7,140
Individual Bookings
-Low Season ( Dec. 7, 2023 – Jan. 27, 2024) – $510 per seat
-High Season (Jan 28th 2024 – End of season) – $595 per seat
Where: Fortress Mountain Access road, Kananaskis Country
