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To celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary, KelownaNow is shining a light on our amazing country. In the weeks leading up to July 1st, we will be releasing articles on the best Canada has to offer. Get ready for some useful information, beautiful photos and, of course, some laughs.
To kick things off we start with one of Canada's defining features, the stunning mountains situated from coast to coast.
With our outgoing nature, Canadians have conquered these rugged mountain tops and now spend the winters playing on them.
To celebrate Canada's upcoming 150th birthday, KelownaNow has compiled the 15 must visit ski resorts that can be found from Vancouver Island to Nova Scotia.
Whistler Blackcomb
Whistler Blackcomb is known the world-over as the number one rated ski resort in North America, and as the official alpine skiing venue for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Situated in the Resort Municipality of Whistler nestled in the Coast Mountains, just a 1.5 hour drive (125 kilometres) from Vancouver which makes it incredibly easy to access for visitors from across the country.
While Whistler Blackcomb’s two side-by-side mountains are arguably the epicenter for mountain sports in winter, the resort’s reputation as a premier four-season destination is solidified by its world record-breaking PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola which links the tops of both mountains, its industry-leading Whistler Mountain Bike Park, its extensive network of high alpine hiking and walking trails, and its virtually endless opportunities for outdoor adventure.
Mount Seymour
Mount Seymour is proof big things can come in small packages.
While not nearly as big as Whistler, Mount Seymour delivers a relaxed West Coast feel and provides all different kinds of terrain.
Only a 30-minute drive from downtown Vancouver, the stunning views of the city themselves are enough reason to make the trip.
Big White Ski Resort
Only 45 minutes from Kelowna International Airport, Big White receives 25 feet of the finest, dry, champagne powder annually. The mountain offers 118 runs, five powder bowls and one of North America’s top 10 terrain parks.
Big White fully embraces the resort side of a ski hill as well with 17,000 on-mountain beds, 13 different adventure activities like dog sledding and ice climbing, and over 18 on-mountain restaurants, cafes, delis, pubs and nightclubs.
If you're looking for a little time on the hill to yourself the mountain also offers a world-renowned Ski and Board School for the kids with over 150 CASI trained instructors.
Revelstoke Mountain Resort
Revelstoke Mountain Resort boasts North America’s greatest vertical at 1,713 metres (5,620 ft). The resort also offers 3,121 acres of fall line skiing, high alpine bowls, renowned gladed terrain and endless groomers, as well as family fun in Turtle Creek Tube Park and Beginner Area in the centre of the village.
If you want a resort with something for every skier in your group, Revelstoke has you covered. The runs are pretty evenly split between intermediate and expert, and groomed runs, moguls, tree skiing, and alpine bowl skiing are all available.
Revelstoke Mountain resort is the only resort to offer lift, cat, heli and backcountry skiing from one village base.
Whitewater Ski Resort
Nestled just outside of beautiful Nelson along B.C.’s “Powder Highway,” this Kootenay gem is known for having some of the best powder in the province.
The pleasant mountain feel doesn’t mean they’re lacking in serious steeps though, with excellent backcountry and tree skiing options and over 1200 cm of annual snowfall, this is an ideal place to spend a few days breathing in some fresh mountain air.
"Deep, uncrowded and undiscovered - the perfect equation for winter!" says Whitewater Headquaters.
Fernie Alpine Resort
Having to manufacture snow is laughable when traveling along the Powder Highway. Up to 37 feet of fresh snow falls at Fernie Alpine Resort each year.
Fernie is a boasts some of the best powder, trees and steeps you'll find in North America. The little B.C. town has an allure of this snowy, steep utopia.
An added bonus of this sleepy resort is the very reasonable lines for the chair lifts. Shhhh, don’t tell anyone.
Lake Louise Ski Resort
Located in the heart of Canada's Banff National Park, Lake Louise offers and amazing opportunity to carve the slopes while enjoying the view of this World Heritage Site in the heart of the Canadian Rockies.
“Guests from all over the country come to Lake Louise for many reasons but one of the biggest is the sense of awe you get being in unmatched beautiful surroundings," said Dan Markham from Ski Louise.
"Whether skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing or just hanging out for a great meal, it really makes their mountain experience truly one-of-a-kind.”
Blue Mountain Resort
Blue Mountain Resort, Ontario’s premiere alpine destination, is located 90 minutes north of Toronto. Nestled on the shores of Georgian Bay. Celebrating 75 years this season, Blue Mountain has evolved into a four-season resort with a variety of on- and off-hill attractions.
Year-round, the resort boasts 1,000 luxury accommodation units and 45 unique concept restaurants, bars and retail stores in the mountainside Village. Visitors can enjoy a wide range of attractions at Blue including Monterra Golf course, the Ridge Runner Mountain Coaster, Cascade Putting Course, Timber Challenge Ropes Course, Wind Rider Triple Zips and a private beach property among other seasonal attractions and events.
Mount Tremblant Resort
Mont Tremblant is one of the Laurentians' highest peaks, and the closest you’ll come to a big-mountain experience in the east.
About one and a half hours from Montreal, Tremblant regularly pegged as the premier hill in Eastern North America.
Mont-Sainte-Anne Mountain Resort
Love the mountains but not the early mornings? Mont Sainte-Anne has you covered offering the most night skiing in the country, with 19 lit-up trails covering more than 15 km open Wednesday to Saturday from 4 to 9 p.m.
Less than an hour’s drive from Quebec City, Mount Saint-Anne is home to cross country skiing, dogsledding, snowshoeing, paragliding, ice canyoning, ice skating, tubing, a ski museum and three Nordic spas.
Le Massif de Charlevoix
For looking for an authentic, rugged outdoor experience there’s Le Massif.
Pre-development, the lift system consisted of a van ride up the mountain’s main access road and a snowmobile tow to the start of your run.
With a reputation for getting, and keeping, lots of snow, the hill offers views of the St. Lawrence that give the impression you’re headed for a dip in it at the end of your run.With a reputation for getting, and keeping, lots of snow, the hill offers views of the St. Lawrence that give the impression you’re headed for a dip in it at the end of your run.
Part of Quebec’s Charlevoix region, Le Massif and nearby town Baie-St-Paul are renowned for their cuisine. Book a meal at one of the many fine restaurants, meet a local cheesemaker or hop on board the train for a round-trip excursion with gourmet meal included.
Marble Mountain
An old-school mom and pop resort in Newfoundland’s rugged west coast Long Range Mountains.
Remote, but worth the hike, Marble boasts Atlantic Canada’s highest vertical, and nearby Corner Brook is the snowiest city in the country.
Plus, you’ll get a chance to sample that famous Newfoundland hospitality.
Martock
While not on par with many of the top ski establishments in British Columbia or Alberta, ski-lovers in Atlantic Canada do have a few options, one of which is the Martock, a short drive from Halifax, which offers a mix of cross-country and alpine trails.
Which is your favourite place to hit the powder and where are you still hoping to try out? Let us know in the comments below.
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