Long regarded as one the premo destinations for skiers and boarders, Western Canada is reknowned for getting some of the lightest, deepest, most smile-inducing snow around. This guide covers ski resorts in Western Canada including skiing in British Columbia (BC) as well as Alberta - this is a vast region which covers a number of different mountain ranges including the Rockies, Purcells, and Coast Mountains to name a few.
Skiing In Canada
| So, what do you need to know about skiing in Canada? Well, Canada is definitely a top skiing and boarding destination. Even the Ski Mountain team couldn't resist and have gone to great lengths to personally visit and appraise most of the resorts in Western Canada! As a whole, Canada has some 270 ski resorts, mostly east or west coast with a few in the middle. Everything from the big international resorts like Whistler to the smaller local hills like Grouse just outside Vancouver. Western Canada however has the best mountain areas specifically in British Columbia (BC as it's usually known) and Alberta and arguably some of the best potential for skiing or snowboarding steep lines and getting ridiculous amounts of powder! The best way to access skiing in Western Canada from the UK is to fly to either Vancouver or Calgary. Both have international airports served by flights from the main UK airports.
In general within Canada, the level of services and facilities at ski resorts is high. The cost of skiing in Canada (excluding flights) will generally be more expensive than the US but cheaper than comparable ski resorts in Europe (e.g. the Three Valleys). Ok, and what about the snow conditions? Well, Canada has a perfect climate and latitutide to give year on year an excellent snowfall record. Combined with the awesome mountains of the west coast and it has to be a 'must' for all keen skiers and boarders at some point. Probably the most well known resort in Western Canada would be Whistler, which is actually combined with the adjacent mountain of Blackcomb. The skiing (on or off piste), terrain parks, accommodation, apres ski, everything is pretty good. However, you will pay for the privelege to ski or board at Whistler/Blackcomb, doing a cheap season here is not really possible and being relatively close to Vancouver it can be super-busy. Click here to read more about skiing in Whistler... Western Canada is littered with numerous other great ski resorts, many deep in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. These include Lake Louise (just 1.5hrs from Calgary International Airport), Banff, Revelstoke, Kicking Horse, Fernie - the list could go on. Click on the individual resort guides for more information. The season in Canada runs primarily from December to April with many resorts looking at an average seasonal snowfall of 8m+!! |      |
