Canada's Premier Ski Destinations for Your Next Winter Adventure
The sheer variety of Canada's ski resorts means every level of skier is expertly catered for, from complete beginners to seasoned experts seeking challenging terrain. While perhaps further afield than the European Alps or Dolomites, Canada consistently features on the bucket lists of ski enthusiasts worldwide, and for very good reason. From the world-famous expanses of Whistler Blackcomb and its attractive resort towns to the steep verticals of Revelstoke, the incredible diversity ensures memorable repeat visits for years to come.
Families, couples, and groups will discover varied, all-round resorts such as the charming Tremblant in Quebec, alongside beginner-friendly family destinations like Big White in British Columbia. For experts seeking a thrill, areas like Fernie boast some of North America's steepest terrain, best runs, and most demanding off-piste experiences. Many of these outstanding resorts can also be combined into a single, epic trip, providing exceptional variety across thousands of acres of pristine, outstanding natural beauty, including the iconic landscapes of Banff National Park.
Coupled with famously reliable snow cover and some of the world's longest ski seasons, Canada presents an undeniably compelling case for your next winter sports adventure. The combination of vast terrain, high-quality infrastructure, and welcoming resort communities creates a ski holiday experience that is truly hard to beat.
Whistler Blackcomb: North America's Largest Ski Resort
Undeniably Canada's most famed ski resort, Whistler Blackcomb holds a legendary reputation as an excellent ski area for all levels. As the largest ski resort in North America, it is home to over 8,100 acres of skiable terrain and more than 200 individual runs. Approximately 55 per cent of these are marked as intermediate runs, though there are superb beginner areas at the base of Blackcomb and midway up Whistler mountain.
Several excellent advanced areas await expert skiers, including the renowned Flute Bowl, West Bowl and Spanky's Ladder, with the longest runs offering an impressive 1,500-metre vertical drop. The purpose-built town of Whistler has rapidly developed into one of the world's premier resort destinations. There are plentiful non-skiing activities available and several dedicated options for children, while the après-ski scene is among the very best in North America, centred around popular venues like Merlin's, Dusty's and the local BrewHouse.
Tremblant: Quebec's Charming Premier Resort
Quebec's premier ski resort sits at the foot of the eponymous mountain, whose well-designed pistes cater admirably to all abilities. Beginners can comfortably start their ski journey at the edge of the picturesque village before progressing onto a series of long green runs, including the famous Flying Mile. There are several rewarding blue runs for intermediates, especially in the areas around Le Soleil and the Lowell Thomas lift.
Advanced skiers can enjoy several terrain parks and steep black runs on both the north and south sides of the mountain. The idyllic, purpose-built village has been deliberately constructed in the charming style of Old Quebec, featuring plenty of colourful facades and authentic French-Canadian character. It offers lively apres-ski and nightlife, often bolstered when enthusiastic locals flock in from nearby Montreal. Non-skiing activities include ice skating, ice fishing and long walking trails, plus there's a village casino for evening entertainment.
Sunshine Village: Banff's Snow-Sure Gem
Sunshine Village lies approximately 20 minutes away from the popular town of Banff, offering over 3,000 acres of ski area that is justly famed for its exceptional snow quality and reliable coverage. This is reflected in its notably long season that typically runs from mid-November right through to late May. It is another superb all-round area that caters almost equally to every level of skier, starting with the gentle greens on the slopes of Mount Standish.
Intermediates feel perfectly at home in the areas served by the Continental Divide lift and the Tee Pee Town Express, while more advanced skiers should make a beeline for the challenging terrain on Goat's Eye Mountain. The expert off-piste area at Delirium Dive is also particularly noteworthy. Banff remains the place to stay for livelier evenings and decent accessibility, though due to the town's distance from the ski area, there is traditionally less of a concentrated 'après' culture directly on the slopes themselves.
Fernie: A Paradise for Advanced Skiers
Though a little smaller than some rivals at 2,500 acres, Fernie has gained a formidable reputation as an excellent area for advanced skiers, with the added bonus of an impressive average of nine metres of snowfall annually. The mountain is logically divided into seven distinct sections, the lowest of which offers groomed green slopes suitable for beginners, but the real attraction in Fernie is undoubtedly the ungroomed, steep terrain and exceptional tree skiing.
The most challenging runs are found at Polar Peak and Currie Bowl, with fantastic tree skiing available in Siberia or Timber Bowl. The runs around the Timber Bowl Express are more open and longer, featuring a substantial 650-metre vertical. When selecting accommodation, be aware that Fernie's resort village, while convenient, is fairly small and quiet. The town of Fernie itself is far more lively and offers good bus links to the resort located just five miles away.
Big White: Canada's Favourite Family Resort
Big White stands out as one of the best choices in the country for beginners, intermediates and those looking to learn to ski powder, featuring less intimidating terrain and plenty of welcome shelter within its tree runs. Located in the beautiful Okanagan Highlands, this 2,800-acre resort was purpose-built for superb ski-in/ski-out access, providing easy, direct access to the slopes from most accommodation options.
Some 18 per cent of its 119 runs are designated specifically for beginners, while intermediates have the pick of the slopes, with over 50 per cent of terrain catering perfectly to their ability level. Though the resort is generally less advanced-friendly, there are still challenging areas out in the open at the very top of the mountain. Marketed effectively as 'Canada's favourite family resort', Big White is also a fantastic destination for a ski holiday with children. The dedicated 'Happy Valley' area at the bottom of the village provides several enjoyable non-skiing activities, and there are enough quality restaurants to comfortably fill your stay.
Lake Louise: Breathtaking Views in Banff National Park
Lake Louise lies a little further away from Banff than Sunshine Village, but rewards visitors with a larger ski area and some of the most spectacular, awe-inspiring views in all of Banff National Park, including the famed vista of Mount Assiniboine. Beginners will find the area around the foot of the hill an excellent starting point, while the zone around the Grizzly Express and Larch Express lifts contains good beginner runs and some satisfying top-to-bottom green routes.
Much of the remaining terrain ideally suits intermediates, while the expansive Back Bowls provide excellent options for more advanced skiers. Most visitors choose to base themselves in Banff, though the 45-minute drive to Lake Louise may deter some. A combined lift pass for the 'Ski Big 3' area covers Lake Louise, Sunshine Village and nearby Mount Norquay, but a stay in Lake Louise itself is a wonderful option for a relaxing week split between skiing, the occasional visit to Banff and exploring everything this uniquely charming village has to offer.
Revelstoke: Canada's Newest Skiing Sensation
Revelstoke has managed to gain a glowing, well-deserved reputation despite existing for much less time than most of its established rivals, having opened as recently as 2007. Another resort that is justly renowned for the exceptional quality and impressive quantity of its snow, it remains a work in progress – you can currently explore around 3,000 of the intended 8,000 acres – but it is already a highly regarded destination for skiers of an intermediate level or higher.
Mount Mackenzie possesses everything from well-groomed, long blue runs like the 4km Snow Rodeo to steep open terrain or exciting tree skiing around the North and South Bowls, featuring a monumental vertical drop of 1,700 metres that stands as the longest on the entire continent. Heli-skiing is also immensely popular in Revelstoke, opening up incredible access to a staggering 500,000 acres of remote terrain and over 400 pristine runs for the ultimate adventure.
