It’s that time of year and the mountains are opening for the season! Warm up those skis, grab a woolly and get ready because winter is here! Whether you like your skiing steep and fast, or wide open with snow falling softly all around, Western Canada has something special for you. That’s why we’re counting down the top Canadian ski destinations across BC and Alberta. Read on!
1. Whistler Blackcomb, Whistler BC
Whistler Blackcomb is one of the most well-known mountains in North America, perhaps even the world, thanks to the 2010 Olympics. Featuring two mountains (Whistler and Blackcomb) at a combined 8,100+ acres, three glaciers, 32 chair lifts, and over 200 trails, any level of skier or snowboarder can enjoy these mountains. Not interested in downhill skiing or snowboarding? There’s also cross-country skiing, heli-skiing, cat-skiing and more.
Experience the Whistler Peak 2 Peak 360
The mountains are connected by the Peak 2 Peak Gondola: the longest continuous lift system and the highest gondola in the world. It has an elevation of 436 m and is over 3 km long. It has beautiful 360-degree views, and you can even ride a gondola with a glass-bottom for even more amazing views!
Whistler Village
Whistler is an amazing place to ski and is a perfect spot for a western Canadian ski trip! Whistler Village has many beautiful resorts, spas and delicious restaurants; plus, it offers many outdoor activities like ziplining and bungee jumping—there’s literally something for everyone! The downside? Whistler can be expensive, and due to the size of the mountain, it can be a long trek to a chair lift if you’re not staying in a hotel.
2. SkiBig 3, Banff & Lake Louise, Alberta
Along with Whistler, Banff & Lake Louise are other unique, world-class Canadian ski trip destinations. Not only is the area designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site but it is home to SkiBig3—three mountains located in the heart of the incredible Canadian Rockies. With two charming towns and three mountains, it’s a great place for a Canadian winter ski trip. Plus, to make it easy to ski all 3, there’s a tri-area lift ticket that grants access to all the mountains and a complimentary shuttle.
Banff Sunshine Ski Resort, Banff, Alberta
Banff Sunshine Village Ski Resort is about 15 minutes from town and boasts the longest non-glacial ski season in Canada—7 months! The mountain has 3,358 acres, 12 lifts and 137 runs—the majority of them for intermediates.
Soak up all the beauty that Banff has to offer! With tons of restaurants, bars, and shops, there’s lots to see and do. Though, there’s just one ski-in/ski-out hotel called Sunshine Mountain Lodge, but there are other accommodations for any budget. And, even if you can’t afford to stay there, be sure to visit the iconic castle-like Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.
Lake Louise Ski Resort
Named Canada’s Best Ski Resort 2021 by World Ski Awards, Lake Louise Ski Resort is only minutes from the town of Lake Louise and 40 minutes from Banff. It’s the biggest of the three mountains at 4,200 acres and has 164 runs—75% of them intermediate to advanced.
For a bit of lux, consider staying at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, which sits right on the banks of Lake Louise. During winter months the view is especially stunning—you can watch ice skaters glide across turquoise waters that have turned into a natural skating rink!
Mt. Norquay, Banff, Alberta
Mt. Norquay is the oldest, smallest (190 acres) and closest mountain to Banff (only 10 minutes away). Since this mountain is small, it’s great for families and locals alike. Mt. Norquay offers the only night skiing in the area and has high-speed chair lifts and 28 runs for any level of skier.
3. Big White, Kelowna, BC
Conde Nast Traveler Reader’s Choice 2022 and 2020 Travellers’ Choice awards, Big White is a big mountain with a small feel. At 7,355 acres with many accommodation options, food choices, sports activities, and 118 designated trails, there’s something for everyone. The mountain is known for its powdery snow and bluebird days (clear blue skies). When the two are combined, it makes for the best ski days and an incredible view of the city. Plus, you can rent a cabin or hotel room where you can ski right to the front door!
Other activities at Big White
Any level of skier or snowboarder can have fun here; there’s even a children’s centre filled with fun activities for kids. If you don’t feel like skiing or snowboarding, you can snowshoe, snow tube, skate on the outdoor rinks, snowmobile, or ride in a horse-drawn sleigh (extra points for doing this during the holiday season).
There are also lots of restaurants and bars to choose from, or a grocery store if you feel like cooking.
Big White is a great place to go for a Canadian ski trip. It has many events and gives everyone the chance to be in a winter wonderland. My favourite holiday event is when skiers and snowboarders dress up as Santa or Mrs. Claus for free admission on a particular day.
There are also events going on to celebrate Christmas Eve and fireworks to bring in the New Year. Don’t feel like staying on the mountain? Go explore the city for more great restaurants and shops, walk in the park along the water, or go wine tasting.
4. Sun Peaks, Kamloops, BC
Located just north of Kamloops, BC, Sun Peaks has been named 2nd place for Best Ski Resort to Visit in Canada (Men’s Journal, 2021) and for Best Family Ski Resort in Canada (Vacations & Travel, 2021).
Sun Peaks offers skiers a variety of trails on three mountains: Tod Mountain, Sundance and Morrissey. This resort is somewhat quieter than other winter resorts, which perfect if you’re looking for shorter lines and wait times. The European-style ski-through village layout makes everything easy, with most of the lodging not far from the ski runs, and many accommodations offer ski-in/ski-out access. They also allow dogs (on leash) on specific marked trails, so you can even hit the slopes with your furry friend if you’d like!
Other activities at Sun Peaks
If you want to check out other activities than the slopes during your stay, don’t worry—they offer plenty of non-skiing activities. You ice fish, snowshoe through trails along beautiful lakes or ice skate at the local rink. And if skating isn’t your thing there’s always a spa treatment at the spa or digging into some great food at one of the many restaurants, pubs and bars in the village.
5. Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, Golden, BC
Celebrated as the “Champagne Powder Capital of CanadaTM”; Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is a ski resort in Golden, BC. With a beautiful view of the Rocky Mountains and the fourth largest vertical drop in Canada, the resort is a prime ski and snowboarding destination for many. The resort has 3,500 acres for visitors to take advantage of with a 12-minute gondola ride.
Though there are several beginner and intermediate trails for novices, Kicking Horse caters to expert skiers, even having access to back-country skiing. There are more than 85 chutes and 5 powdery bowls, so familiarize yourself with the trails beforehand .
Other activities at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort
There’s a wide range of activities for both skiers and boarders, with good family fun and great nightlife.
Make sure to book a reservation to try Eagle’s Eye Restaurant, which offers the ultimate mountaintop dining experience. The restaurant sits 7,700 feet above sea level with a tasty menu.
These resorts are just a handful of the many breathtaking peaks to enjoy in Western Canada. For some eastern Canada recommendations, consider these gems.
Where’s your favourite place to go skiing in Canada? Let us know in the comments below.
Safe travels,
Monique
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in November 2015 and has been updated for freshness and/or accuracy.
