Home to some of the best slopes in the world, both tourists and locals flock to Canada’s ski resorts. With many resembling small towns rather than resorts, ski resorts around Vancouver are much more than a few bunny slopes and a lodge. Offering plenty of great skiing and snowboarding terrain, family-friendly activities, nightlife, shopping and spas, many of the ski resorts located just outside of Vancouver are major attractions in their own right.
Whistler Blackcomb
Nestled between Whistler and Blackcomb mountain, this ski resort is considered one of the best in the whole of North America. As one of the largest ski resorts in North America, Whistler Blackcomb offers great terrain, reliably deep snow, and no shortage of après, including spas, more than 200 shopping destinations and plenty of nightlife all conveniently located within Whistler’s very own bustling village.
Whistler also offers peak-to-peak gondolas which grant incredible views of the mountains on your way to hitting the slopes or to enjoying Whistler’s bars and restaurants after a day out in the snow. An unlimited season pass to Whistler Blackcomb is priced at around CAD$1,159 (approximately A$1,250).
Grouse Mountain Resort
With six terrain parks, a mountaintop skating pond, a sky ride through the mountains and 33 ski and snowboard runs, Grouse Mountain Resort is another highly rated skiing destination with no shortage of outdoor activities to enjoy. Poised above Vancouver, Grouse Mountain offers incredible views of the city along with plenty of dining options, a glittering light walk and alpine shopping to enjoy after a day on the slopes.
Located just 15 minutes from downtown Vancouver, Grouse Mountain is not only a great snow-sport destination close to the city, it also has plenty to offer in the summertime too. Treetop ropes courses, a grizzly bear habitat, and hiking can all be enjoyed in the warmer months as you wait for the snow to return. An early bird unlimited pass to Grouse Mountain is priced around CAD$825 (approximately A$890).
Cypress Mountain
Just a 30-minute drive from downtown Vancouver, Cypress Mountain is another top-rated ski destination conveniently located just out of the city. As the largest ski resort in Vancouver, Cypress Mountain offers plenty of terrain to suit a range of skiing abilities as well as family-friendly activities like snow tubing and children’s lifts. In the evening, visitors can enjoy a self-guided trail along a track lit by LED lights through to the historic Hollyburn Lodge where you can stop in for dinner.
Although gold and silver season passes are sold out for the 2021/22 season, a gold season pass is usually priced at around CAD$650 to CAD$800 (approximately A$700 to A$860).
Sun Peaks
Situated a four and a half to five-hour drive north-east of Vancouver, a visit to Sun Peaks is worth extending beyond a day trip. And with plenty of cosy chalets and lodges to choose from, Sun Peaks offers a great winter getaway for both tourists and locals alike.
Boasting plenty of cafes and restaurants, a number of spas and shops, Sun Peaks offers a lively pedestrian village in addition to around 1,728 hectares of skiable terrain. Second, only to Whistler, Sun Peaks is one of the biggest ski resorts in Canada and considered one of the best thanks to its family-friendly activities, après offerings and more than 130 runs. An alpine season pass to Sun Peaks is priced at around CAD$1,550 (approximately A$1,670).
Mount Seymour
Just a 35-minute drive from Vancouver, Mount Seymour is another ski destination located just outside of Vancouver. While Mount Seymour offers less skiing and snowboarding terrain than its competitors, it still offers great family-friendly activities like snow tubing and tobogganing. Mount Seymour also tends to see more snow than some of the smaller mountains located just outside of Vancouver. A season pass to the slopes at Mount Seymour is priced at around CAD$800 (A$862).
This article originally appeared on Fancy
