Canada
is world-renowned for the quality and variety of her
ski resorts. Year after year Canadian resorts consistently
dominate the top-resorts list for both North America
and world-wide. It's not just the amazing ski conditions,
the quaint and charming ski villages or the famous
Canadian hospitality. In Canada skiing is a passion
and a way of life - and we love to share it.
WESTERN
REGION
Whistler/Blackcomb
Offers something for everybody and maintains an alpine
charm. Not without reason it is continually rated
as N. Americas best ski resort. Whistler and Blackcomb
are actually 2 mountains that both "empty"
into Whistler Village. Being on the coast, the snow
and ski conditions make for the longest ski season
in Canada. Whistler/Blackcomb will be hosting the
alpine, nordic and sliding events at the 2010 Olympics.
CLICK
TO GO TO TOURISM WHISTLER WEBSITE
No.
of lifts:
38 No. of runs:
200 (the longest being over
11 km in length) Vertical rise:
1530 meters
on Whistler and 1609 meters on Blackcomb Average snowfall:
At the base is 4.30 m, at the top 9.15 m (!). Temp.:
Avg. is -2 C in January After-ski:
Excellent Getting there:
Only 2 hours from Vancouver
along the scenic Sea to Sky Highway,
and 5 hours from Seattle,
WA
Banff,
Lake Louise, Sunshine
These 3 ski resorts are often marketed as “The
Big 3”: Mt. Norquay in Banff, Lake Louise Mountain
Resort and Sunshine Village. They market their products
as one. Based on accommodation in Banff, packages
include lift tickets for all 3 mountains and shuttle
transport to and from Banff. The Rocky Mountains have
a dry, inland climate. It can get quite cold here
but this is also where you get the best “champagne”-powder.
Banff is also a great place to be located. CLICK
TO GO TO THE BIG 3 WEBSITE
No.
of lifts: 26 (combined) No. of runs: Over 240 combined, the longest being
8 km (L.Louise). Vertical rise:
503 m/Norquay, 991 m/L.Louise, 1070m/Sunshine. Average snowfall:
3.00 m/Norquay, 4.50 m/L.Louise, 9.15
m/Sunshine Temp.: old and stable (but thankfully the
air is dry…) After-ski: xcellent (in Banff). Getting there: Banff is a 1 ½ hour drive
from Calgary’s Int’l. Airport
Fernie
Fernie has really come into its own in the past 10
years. From being a relatively unknown ski resort
it has become one of the hottest spots in N. America
for serious skiers and boarders. Not the place to
go if after-ski is the highlight of your ski vacation,
but certainly a must for all who love alpine skiing/boarding
and looooots of snow. CLICK
TO GO TO THE FERNIE
ALPINE RESORT WEBSITE
No.
of lifts:
10 No. of runs:
107, the longest being 5 km in
length. Vertical rise:
857 m Average snowfall:
8.75 m. Temp.:
Avg. winter temp. is -5 C. After-ski:
Funky and intimate, but it shouldn’t be
your main reason to come here. Getting there:
Fernie is a 3 ½ hr.
drive from Calgary Int’l. Airport, 1 ¼
hrs. from
Cranbrook regional airport and
2 hrs. from Kalispell airport (Montana).
Big
White
Canada’s largest totally ski-in, ski-out resort
village; Big White has a very pleasant alpine climate
that makes for (lots of) dry, fluffy powder. Situated
in B.C.s Okanagan region, this is a family-oriented
resort that has enough ski and after-ski to satisfy
everyone. CLICK
TO GO TO THE BIG WHITE SKI RESORT WEBSITE
No.
of lifts:
16 No. of runs:
118, the longest being 7.2
km in length Vertical rise:
777 m Average snowfall:
7.5 m. Temp.:
Average winter temp. is -6
C. After-ski:
A family-oriented resort but (also) something
for everyone Getting there:
56 km from Kelowna Int’l.
Airport, 4 ½ hr. drive from Vancouver)
2 hr. drive from Silver Star.
Marmot
Basin
Located in Jasper National Park, the breathtaking
scenery amidst the rugged peaks of the Rockies is
what sets this ski hill apart from others. Uncrowded,
unhurried and laid-back, Marmot really is a place
for those who want to avoid lift lines and enjoy nature
at its most spectacular. CLICK
TO GO TO THE SKI MARMOT WEBSITE
No.
of lifts:
9 No. of runs:
84, the longest being 5.6
km in length. Vertical rise:
914 m Average snowfall:
4.0 m Temp.:
Lowest avg. winter temp.
is -11 C (Dec.). Highest is +6 (Apr.) After-ski:
Limited - great for a retreat from the modern
world! Getting there:
362 km from Edmonton Int’l.
Airport, 415 km from Calgary Int’l. Airport.
Regular shuttle service to
Lake Louise (3 hr. drive) and Banff (4 hrs.).
A great option is the “Snow
Train” from Edmonton.
Panorama
Mountain Village
Panorama is located on the “Powder Highway”,
in the heart of the Columbia Range. In 2007 they played
host for the first time to the Ladies Alpine World
Cup circuit. They are already the home of the Alpine
Canada national training center. This is a great base
for heli-skiing. CLICK
TO GO TO THE PANAROMA MOUNTAIN VILLAGE WEBSITE
No.
of lifts:
9 No. of runs:
Over 120, the longest being
5.5 km in length Vertical rise:
1200 m Average snowfall:
4.79m. Temp.:
Avg. is -5 C in January After-ski:
Laid-back B.C. after-ski with a pub, a saloon
and several restaurants.
The town of Invermere is
a 20-min. drive away. Getting there:
Only 2 hours from Vancouver
along the scenic Sea to Sky Highway,
and 5 hours from Seattle,
WA
Red
Resort
Red Mountain is actually made up of two mountains,
Red and Granite. Both mountains are skiable 360 degrees
around which means you can choose from a virtually
endless number of runs with each descent. Considered
by many to be the best expert terrain in N. America.
The quaint and charming town of Rossland is just a
5 min. drive away; rated as one of the best ski towns
in Canada. CLICK
TO GO TO THE RED RESORT WEBSITE
No.
of lifts:
6 No. of runs:
87 Vertical rise:
887 m Average snowfall:
7.6 m Temp.:
Avg. is -5 C in January After-ski:
Red is a haven for serious skiers but there
are some funky pubs
and restaurants worth
visiting. Getting there:
¼ hr. drive from Trail
Regional Airport, ½ hr. drive from
Castlegar Municipal Airport,
2 ½ drive from Spokane Int’l. Airport
(Wash., USA), 3 ½
hr. drive from Kelowna Int’l. Airport.
Sun
Peaks Resort
In the heart of B.C.’s interior, Sun Peaks is
aptly named for its unusually sunny climate –
with over 2,000 hours of sunshine pr. year. Their
slopes accommodate skiers with all levels of experience
and the Sun Peaks Village is ski-in/ski-out. Tip:
Experience back-country skiing with a “Sun Guide”.
CLICK
TO GO TO THE SUN PEAKS RESORT WEBSITE
No.
of lifts:
12 No. of runs:
121, the longest being 8
km in length. 28 km of groomed Nordic trails,
plus 12 km of backcountry
trails and dedicated snowshoe trails. Vertical rise:
881 m Average snowfall:
5.59 m (of powder....) Temp.:
Avg. is -5 C in January After-ski:
Various alternatives in the Village Getting there:
¾ hr. drive
from Kamloops Int’l. Airport, 2 ½
hrs. from Kelowna Int’l.
Airport, 4 ¼
hrs. from Vancouver
No.
of lifts:
5 No. of runs:
80 Vertical rise:
751 Average snowfall:
1.5 - 4.0 m. Temp.:
Avg. is -5 C in January After-ski:
2 bar/grills just off the slopes and just a
5-min. drive to Kimberley, a
small alpine town that
prides itself on its distinct Bavarian flavour.
Getting there:
15-20 min. drive from Cranbrook
B.C. Airport
OR 4 hr. drive
from Calgary, Alberta.
Kicking
Horse
One of Canada’s newest ski resorts, it’s
located in Golden, B.C. in the southeast corner of
the province, surrounded by towering peaks and 6 National
Parks. This is Columbia Range powder at its best!
We recommend this place to anyone who wants to test
their abilities to the max. The town of Golden itself
is filled with reminders of its history as the base
for the building of the trans-Canada railroad through
the Kicking Horse pass in the 1880’s.
CLICK
TO GO TO THE KICKING HORSE RESORT WEBSITE
No.
of lifts:
5 No. of runs:
106 Vertical rise:
1260 m Average snowfall:
3.6 m (mid-mountain) Temp.:
Avg. is -7 C in January After-ski:
Several cafes and restaurants in Golden. Getting there:
3 hr. drive from Calgary
Int’l. Airport, 2 hrs. from Banff, 2 ½
hrs.
from the Can. Rockies Int’l.
Airport in Cranbrook.
Silver
Star
A great resort for families, located
near Vernon in B.C.’s Okanagan, Silver Star
boasts of dry, feather-light, champagne powder snow
and although it has runs for skiers and boarders of
all experience levels they also have a back side with
60 runs that will challenge any hard-core enthusiast.
PS. Night skiing, too. CLICK
TO GO TO THE SILVER STAR WEBSITE
No.
of lifts:
12 No. of runs:
115, the longest being 8 km in
length. Also 60 km of groomed
Nordic trails, incl. 4 km of lit
track for night skiing. Vertical rise:
760 m Average snowfall:
7.00 m Temp.:
Avg. is -7 C in January After-ski:
Family-oriented Getting there:
1 hr. drive from Kelowna Int’l.
Airport
Whitewater
Located 18 km from Nelson in the heart of the Kootenays,
Whitewater is a good choice for those wanting to combine
alpine and nordic skiing. It’s unique in that
it has a 60’s charm with old-style lifts etc.
Tip: Try the snow-cat skiing. Several operators in
the area available. CLICK
TO GO TO THE SKI WHITEWATER WEBSITE
No.
of lifts:
3 No. of runs:
45 alpine runs and 20 km
of groomed nordic runs Vertical rise:
396 m Average snowfall:
1.2 m Temp.:
Avg. is -5 C in January After-ski:
Good selection of restaurants in Nelson (18
km away). Getting there:
40 km from Castlegar Municipal
Airport, 235 km from Spokane
Int’l. Airport (Wash.
USA), 338 km from Kelowna Int’l. Airport.
CENTRAL
REGION
Mont-Sainte-Anne
Mont-Sainte-Anne is located close to the Unesco Heritage
site of Quebec City. In addition to being a large
alpine center it also boasts the largest Nordic-ski
center in Canada. CLICK
TO GO TO THE MONT-SAINTE ANNE WEBSITE
No.
of lifts:
13 No. of runs:
65 - 17 of these with night-skiing.
PLUS 330 km (!) of Nordic trails Vertical rise:
625 m Average snowfall:
4.06 m. Temp.:
Avg. is -10 C in January After-ski:
Excellent in Quebec City Getting there:
40 km from Quebec City, 250
km from Montreal. Both with
international airports. Bus
and train services.
Tremblant
One of the largest ski resorts in the central region,
Mont Treblant offers a wide variety of ski activities
for skiers and boarders of all levels and has very
good family facilities. Tip: Free guided ski-tour
of the mountain. CLICK
TO GO TO THE TREMBLANT RESORT WEBSITE
No.
of lifts:
13
No. of runs:
94 - 6 km. being
the longest.
Vertical rise:
645
Average snowfall: 3.82
m
Temp.:
Avg. is -10 C in January.
After-ski:
Hey, its Quebec (as in, yes, plenty of night
life…)
Getting there:
1 ½ hrs. drive from
Montreal, or directly to Mont Tremblant
Int’l. Airport (YTM).
Heli-skiing
and Snowcat skiing
Two
unique ski experiences offered in the Western Region
are Heli-skiing and Snowcat skiing. Both of these
special ski adventures are offered on either half
day, full day, or up to seven day packages, included
certified guides.
The Heli-skiing experience into the mountain ranges
of the Western Region is fantastic. Your small group,
including guide and pilot, take you on a journey you
will not forget. The vast mountain peaks and valleys
covered with meters of powder snow are easily accessed
by helicopter. Your group stands ready with thousands
of vertical meters in terrain that is all your own.
Snowcat
skiing: From the various ski bases you are transported
by a belted vehicle to the peaks of remote mountain
areas. You stand alone in your small group ready to
make one of several descents into the bowls below
that are filled with powder snow.
Both
Heli-Skiing and Snowcat skiing are offered to skiers
with varied backgrounds. You can be an intermediate
skier and still fully enjoy both of these ski adventures.
