With impressive snowfall each winter and superb ski resorts to suit all budgets, activities and levels, you could say that Canada is the ultimate wintersports hotspot! And these ten ski and snowboard destinations in Canada also boast eye-wateringly beautiful natural scenery, lively apres ski and never-ending expert trails.
Banff, Alberta
The awe-inspiring beauty that is the Rocky Mountains is home to the popular wintersports town of Banff. Some 8,000 acres of terrain attract both beginner and expert skiiers and snowboarders alike. The town itself attracts the young and hip, drawn to the superb shopping, entertainment and apres ski facilities.
- Lake Louise is by far the biggest resort in Banff, covering over 4,000 acres and is great for families and groups of friends.
- Sunshine Village is perfect for expert skiiers, with plenty of challenging runs on offer. This is also the home of the world famous Delirium Dive slope! Take a peek at the YouTube video below.
- The third major resort within Banff is Mount Norquay, which can trace its history back to 1926 when the first ski runs were established. The resort is perfect for beginner skiiers and snowboarders.
Whistler, British Columbia
Whistler is quite possibly the most stylish ski resort in Canada! The two mighty mountains within the Coastal Mountain Range offer superb facilities, just two hours outside of Vancouver. The two mountains of Whistler (2,182 meters/7,160 feet) and Blackcomb (2,240 meters/(7,347 feet) are connected by the new Peak 2 Peak Gondola lifts which allows you to experience superb ski runs which suit all levels.
- Blackcomb is the main resort within Whistler and first opened in 1966. It offers a diverse terrain spread over 8,000 acres with over 200 trails for a truly amazing experience.
Kicking Horse, Golden, British Columbia
The pristine region of Golden is nestled between the Columbia Mountain Range and the Canadian Rocky Mountains. And the Kicking Horse Resort offers something a little different, where steep runs lend themselves perfectly to awesome verticals and varied terrain trails. Snowboarding and other wintersports are amply catered for. It’s also a particularly cool place to hang out and catch some apres ski action.
Canada Olympic Park, Calgary, Alberta
The city of Calgary is home to the wintersports resort that hosted the 1988 Winter Olympics. And just 15 minutes from the downtown area, this is the perfect location for those short on time. It’s also a great spot for beginner skiiers, boasting the second largest ski school in Canada. Visitors can try their hand at alpine and Nordic skiing, as well as downhill skiing, cross-country skiing and snowboarding too. There’s also a sliding track which is used for bobsleigh, luge and skeleton. In summer the resort offers mountain biking, golf and zip lining on the fastest zipline in North America!
Jasper, Alberta
The alpine resort of Marmot Basin in Jasper is a laidback mountain town: home to 86 runs across some 1,675 acres. Beginner boarders and skiiers alike will appreciate the vast winding green runs. Expert and intermediate levels will enjoy the 3,000 vertical feet of drop and back bowls. Marmot Basin is also home to the Canadian Rockies Express chair lift: the longest high speed system in the mountain range = no more queuing!
Nakiska, Alberta
Built specifically for the 1988 Winter Olympics, you can guarantee that the facilities here are world class. Just 80km from Calgary, Nakiska is located on Mount Allan which offers an impressive vertical of 779 meters (2,556 feet). There are 64 runs which are aimed more at intermediate and expert skiiers. The alpine resort consistently receives some 250 cm (100 inches) of snow in winter.
Marble Mountain, Newfoundland
Nestled in the Long Range Mountains, part of the Appalachian chain, spectacular landscapes here are a given! And the Marble Mountain Ski Resort is the largest on the Atlantic coast. It also boasts an impressive snowfall rate, with more than 5 meters (16 feet) each year. There are 37 runs with the longest at 3 miles (4.5 km). The dedicated terrain parks are impressive too, with a half-pipe and seven mogul runs.
Mont Tremblant, Quebec
Nature lovers should head to the Laurentian Mountains of Quebec, and specifically the Mont Tremblant Resort. Open all year round, the resort is set around a traditional village, which is dominated by the 875 metres (2,871 feet) tell Mont Tremblant. Fly in via Montreal which is 130 km (80 miles) away for 90 runs. The Nansen run measures 4 miles (6 km) long and the superb lift system of gondolas, chairlifts and magic carpets keep the queues down.
