Do you know what Michael Bublé and snow have in common? Both of them represent the festive and holiday spirit of the cozy Winter vibe.
Obviously, no Winter vacation in Canada is complete without a stay at a ski resort nestled in scenic mountains and elevated heights.
In this article, we will guide you in choosing the right ski resort by reviewing ten popular ski resorts in Canada (listed in no particular order) based on their location, skiing trail difficulty levels, and estimated ticket prices (at the time of writing).
| Ski Resorts | Provinces |
|---|---|
| Whistler Blackcomb | British Columbia |
| Big White | British Columbia |
| Kicking Horse | British Columbia |
| Sun Peaks Resort | British Columbia |
| Fernie Alpine Resort | British Columbia |
| Red Mountain | British Columbia |
| Panorama Mountain Resort | British Columbia |
| Revelstoke Mountain Resort | British Columbia |
| Lake Louise | Alberta |
| Mont Tremblant | Quebec |
Key Considerations For Picking The Right Ski Resort
To make the best out of your Winter activity experience in a ski resort, you need to ask yourself these questions:
- Is it a solo venture/ group activity with family and friends?
- How far are you willing to travel?
- What are the skiing levels of the people that are going?
- How much is your budget?
As you reflect on the answers to the questions, it will give you some insights to narrow down your choices.
For instance, if you planning to go with your family and there are young children or senior citizens, it's important to find a family-friendly ski resort with daycare facilities and other alternatives for non-skiers like snow tubing and snowshoeing.
From there, it helps you to decide the transportation arrangement by air or by car. If you are travelling with a group, it's best to opt for a nearer ski resort from your current town or province.
Next, you should explore and compare the different ski trail difficulty levels for different ski resorts. It's important to ski at a place where you can have fun and feel safe at the same time.
Different symbols are used to represent the difficulty level.
🟢 Green circle: Easiest (Beginner)
🟦 Blue Square: More Difficult (Intermediate)
◆Black Diamond: Most Difficult (Advanced)
◆◆ Double Black Diamond: Expert Only
Last but not least, you should also take into consideration the cost and expenses you'll encounter on an average ski trip.
Here are some of the items that you're likely to spend on while you're there.
- Lift Ticket/Passes
- Equipment rental (optional)
- Food and drinks
- Accommodation like a hotel or lodge
- Transportation
- Other non-ski activities
P/S: For the latest ticket price for lifts and passes, it's best to refer to the resort's website for the latest promotions and ticketing details.
⛷️British Columbia (BC)
1. Whistler Blackcomb
Overview: The largest ski resort in North America, both Whistler and Blackcomb were originally two separate ski resorts before they were combined in 1997. They are connected through the Peak 2 Peak Gondola.
Location: British Columbia's Coast Mountains, approximately 121 kilometers (75 miles) north of Vancouver.
How to get there: Two-hour drive from Vancouver International Airport via the Sea to Sky Highway.
Skiing Level:
Adult Full-Day Ticket
$151(Unrestricted)
$129 (Restricted Dates)
Child Full-Day Ticket
$78 (Unrestricted)
$65 (Restricted Dates)
2. Big White
Overview: Established in 1963, it is the fourth-largest resort in British Columbia. It is also famous for its large night skiing area, retail area and accommodations.
Location: Located on Big White Mountain, Kootenay Boundary.
How to get there: 1 hour drive from the Kelowna International Airport.
Skiing Level:
Adult Full-Day Ticket
$189 (Peak Season Any Day)
Child Full-Day Ticket
$119 (Peak Season Any Day)
3. Kicking Horse
Overview: Opened in 2000, Kicking Horse is known for its incredible vertical drop (the fourth-highest in North America) and challenging terrain.
Location: Golden, near the Rocky Mountains.
How to get there: A 2.5-hour drive from Calgary International Airport. (Shuttles to resort available)
Skiing Level:
Adult Full-Day Ticket
From $126.55 to $179.55
Child Full-Day Ticket
From $51 to $72.20
4. Sun Peaks Resort
Overview: The 2nd largest ski area in Canada, Sun Peaks is an alpine ski resort with a charming village and comprises Mt. Morrisey, Sundance Mountain, Tod Moutain, and Orient.
Location: Near Kamloops, in the Thompson-Nicola region.
How to get there: 45-minute drive from the Kamloops Airport. (Shuttles to resort available)
Skiing Level:
Adult Full-Day Ticket
From $106.99 to $179
Child Full-Day Ticket
From $53.99 to $90
5. Fernie Alpine
Overview: Founded in 1962, Fernie Alpine is famous for its bike park and five large alpine bowls. It has a laid-back vibe and offers a variety of terrain suitable for all skill levels.
Location: Near Fernie, in the East Kootenay region.
How to get there: 3.5 hour drive from Calgary International Airport. (Shuttles to resort available)
Skiing Level:
Adult Full-Day Ticket
From $126.65 to $179.55
Child Full-Day Ticket
From $51 to $72.20
6. Red Mountain
Overview: Established in 1947, Red Mountain is one of North America’s oldest ski hills.
Location: Rossland, BC, in the Kootenay Rockies region.
How to get there: Approximately a 2.5-hour drive from the Spokane Airport. (Shuttles to resort available)
Skiing Level:
Adult Full-Day Ticket
Starting at $139
Child Full-Day Ticket
Starting at $70
7. Panorama Mountain Resort
Overview: Opened in 1962, Panorama is known for its rolling cliffs and enchanting sceneries of the Rocky Mountains.
Location: Near Invermere, in the Purcell Mountains.
How to get there: 3.5-hour drive from Calgary International Airport. (Shuttles to resort available)
Skiing Level:
Adult Full-Day Ticket
$169 (Regular, holiday rates may differ)
Child Full-Day Ticket
$75(Regular, holiday rates may differ)
8. Revelstoke Mountain Resort
Overview: Established in 2007, Revelstoke is recognized for its incredible snowfall and the longest vertical descent in North America.
Location: Revelstoke, on Mount Mackenzie.
How to get there: 2.5-hour drive from Kelowna International Airport. (Shuttles to resort available)
Skiing Level:
Adult Full-Day Ticket
$179
Child Full-Day Ticket
$68
⛷️Alberta
9. Lake Louise Ski Resort
Overview: A haven for many ski festivals and competitions, Lake Louise is a favourite among families for its extensive ski trails (4,200 skiable acres of terrain) and beautiful scenery.
Location: Situated within Banff National Park, Alberta. You can also enjoy an exciting dog sledding tour at the park.
How to get there: Around 2 hour's car drive from the Calgary International Airport. Buses and shuttles are available.
Skiing Level:
Adult Full-Day Ticket
$75 to $169
Child Full-Day Ticket
$28 to $64
⛷️Quebec
10. Mont Tremblant
Overview: Known for its European-inspired pedestrian village, Mont Tremblant is one of the top-ranked ski resorts in Eastern North America.
Location: Located on Mont Tremblant in the Laurentian Mountains, Quebec.
How to get there: 90 minutes drive from the Montreal-Trudeau International Airport.
Skiing Level:
Adult Full-Day Ticket
$142 (Regular rate)
Child Full-Day Ticket
$81(Regular rate)
Be A Better Skier With Superprof
Once you have decided on which ski resort to pick, it's time to gear up and start practising your skiing techniques regardless of your current level.
While most ski resorts offer on-the-spot lessons, we highly recommend investing in a good ski instructor before your trip. This way, you'll save both money and, most importantly, valuable time once you're at the resort.
You'll be surprised to find many passionate and dedicated tutors who specialize in Winter activities and sports such as ice skating and skiing in Canada.
At Superprof, you can find an experienced ski tutor who can teach you the basics and also teach you to fortify your control, balance and overall stability during the process. From moving the tips of your ski towards each other like a pizza to more intermediate techniques like carving through the slopes, you can master these techniques at your own pace.
The beauty of private lessons allow you to receive one-to-one personalized attention and immediate feedback. That way you can improve immediately and apply what you have directly learnt from your tutor.
Excited to give skiing private lessons a go?
Head to the Superprof Canada homepage to start browsing the tutors' profiles with ease. Through the tutor's profile, you can learn about their years of experience, teaching qualification, teaching methodology, teaching location and also their hourly rates.
You don't worry too much about going over budget because you get to input your maximum budget for the hourly lessons during the filtration process. Let's say you have indicated your maximum budget to be $50 an hour. The system will only direct you to a selection of tutors who offer their lessons within that range.
Once you have picked your desired tutor, you can contact him or her directly via the messaging feature on their respective profile. They will usually get back to you within their indicated response time (usually within a day).
We hope this article has been helpful. Regardless of which Canadian ski resort you plan to visit, we know you’ll have a holly jolly time!
A pair of skis are the ultimate transportation to freedom.
Warren A. Miller, American ski and snowboard filmmaker
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