I love the time of year when all the travel industry experts, websites and bloggers make their predictions of the best destinations for the year. It’s interesting to see which destinations they agree on and which crop up on just one list. There doesn’t seem to be much agreement on the top rated ski resorts in Canada – basically, because there are so many and most are pretty fabulous. So I trawled a few sites and lists and simply chose the ones that appealed to me most, and here they are. – West Canada ski resorts only (East Canada ski resorts coming next).
1 Revelstoke, British Columbia
While this used to be just a small hill that served local skiers, it has grown up to be a resort with one of the biggest verticals of all the ski resorts in Canada, in fact, in all of North America. Many of its mostly ungroomed slopes can only be accessed by knowing the way in - however, the ski school offers half- and full-day treks that will show you around the terrain. There’s also a snowcat skiing area and heli-skiing is available. Stay at the hotel or in Revelstoke, a 5-minute drive from the slopes.
Frequently asked questions
2 Fernie, British Columbia
If you’re an expert, Fernie is for you. With its steep, ungroomed terrain and abundant snowfall, it’s a magnet for people who love a challenge. This resort offers two-day Steep and Deep camps that will help show people around the terrain. Snowcat skiing operations are nearby at both FWA’s Powder Catskiing and Island Lake Catskiing. The resort village is really convenient but quite small. If you want variety in your restaurant or drinking options it’s better to head into the town of Fernie, where there’s a better selection.
3 Sun Peaks, British Columbia
Sun Peaks is one of the best resorts if you’re a beginner. There are three ski areas; Mount Morrisey, Sundance and Mount Tod. The easy slopes are close to the village center, and there’s lots of long easy runs to ski. However, this resort isn’t solely attractive for beginners; there are runs for skiers who want more of a challenge as well. The resort itself is attractive, friendly and somewhat new, and there is a short, traffic-free main street.
4 Big White, British Columbia
Few resorts have the convenience of skiing-from-the-door. One of the most convenient is Big White; nearly all of the hotels and apartments in this area are ski-in/ski-out, with main lifts starting a little before the level of the village. That even extends to the main street through the village, which is a designated ski run! Most of the runs are suited for intermediate skiers, and other winter sports are available in Happy Valley at the bottom of the village. There you can enjoy ice skating, snowmobiling, and gondola riding.
5 Whistler, British Columbia
The two linked mountains that make up the resort at Whistler, Whistler and Blackcomb, create the biggest ski area in North America. It’s a great resort for skiers of all abilities, with excellent nursery slopes and high open bowls. The resort offers lots of choices of restaurants and bar. Those who enjoy other winter sports may enjoy zip lines or eagle-watching tours.
6 Banff, Alberta
The best ski value can usually be found at Banff. Although the same-day prices aren’t terribly competitive, tour operators offer great value packages. Lodging is comparatively cheap as well. The surrounding area is extremely scenic, and the town itself is full of hundreds of bars, restaurants, and gift shops. The bus rides to the three ski areas are free – Norquay, small but closeby; Sunshine Village, 20 minutes away and a bit larger; and Lake Louise, 45 minutes away and the largest of the three areas.
7 Silver Star, British Columbia
Silver Star was built to resemble a 19th century mining village, with a tiny traffic-free square, Victorian style buildings and wooden sidewalks with faux-gas lights. One side of the village opens up directly to the slopes, with good mix of easy to challenging runs. Close by, enjoy other winter sports such as a small natural ice rink and a tubing hill. Almost all accommodations in this village are ski-in/ski-out.
Canada is such a fabulous winter sports destination. There are just so many glorious places to get out and enjoy the snow. Why not take a few minutes to tell us about your snowy adventures.
