Canada

A Ski Vacation in Canada Canada is very well known for having legendary ski resorts. Skiing and snowboarding is considered an institution in Canada and for good reason. There is no shortage of great snow in Canada, and the mountains are big and naturally beautiful. Lift infrastructure and resort facilities are impressive without being overly grandiose, and the laidback atmosphere and friendly locals are a major drawcard.

With the exception of Whistler ski resort and Banff, the resorts feel almost deserted. The lack of crowds keeps powderhounds very happy with plenty of opportunities for fresh tracks. And if the ski resorts aren’t enough to satisfy every whim, powderhounds can spread their wings and go heli-skiing in BC Canada. Alternatively powder hounds can become powder cats and go cat skiing in Canada.

Ski Resorts in Canada There are many resorts in British Columbia (BC) in western Canada. Examples include the mega resort of Whistler-Blackcomb near Vancouver, and Silver Star and Big White ski resort near Kelowna in the Okanagan. The powder triangle is in the south-eastern corner of BC, but there’s a bit of debate as to how far the triangle extends partly because some people use the term interchangeably with "the powder highway". The area includes Red Mountain, Whitewater, and Fernie ski resort, and the triangle possibly also extends up north to Revelstoke ski resort and Kicking Horse near Golden.

In the neighbouring province of Alberta there are also many resorts. Some examples include those around the ski area of Banff (Sunshine, Norquay and Lake Louise) and Nakiska near Calgary.

Canada also has ski resorts in Ontario and Quebec, but the word on the street is that these are adequate for the locals, but not worthy of an overseas trip considering there’s so much on offer in the west.

Snow and Powder in Canada The quality and quantity of snow varies across Canada. See the Canada resort statistics page for comparison of annual snowfall at each resort. The general distribution of snowfall reflects the proximity of a region to moisture sources, with higher annual snowfall in coastal regions such as Whistler. The powder is generally wetter near the coast and the temperatures slightly warmer. So even though some resorts further east have lower annual snowfalls (e.g. Lake Louise ski resort), the powder is often drier and the snow quality is well maintained due to the altitude and low temperatures.

The Powder Triangle in the BC interior has quantity and quality when it comes to snowfall. This region is renowned for large quantities of light dry powder with a whopping 12-18 metres of snowfall per season on average. This area is home to many Canada cat skiing and heli-ski operators who make the most of all this powder.

Skiing Terrain Canadian resorts are renowned for plenty of vertical and ski terrain. You'll definitely need a pre-season fitness program to cope with the thigh-burning ultra-long runs. Most Canadian resorts have something for everyone with runs for all ability levels. However Canada is famous for its steeps with many resorts providing hair-raising runs that are definitely worthy of their double black diamond status.

Heli-Skiing and Cat Skiing British Columbia is the home of heli-skiing. CMH pioneered heliskiing and the company now has 12 different locations. BC also has another 15 heli-ski operators, and with 20 cat ski operators, Canada could also be considered the capital of snowcat skiing.

Cat skiing and heli-skiing are absolute heaven for powderhounds and a highlight of any skiing holiday to Canada. See our overview of Canada heli-skiing and Canada cat-skiing for more information.

Cost of a Ski Holiday in Canada Canada provides a quality snow holiday at reasonable prices, and considering the currency exchange is commonly favourable for those from the US, UK and Europe, the costs are even better. Whilst lift tickets are not dirt cheap, they're certainly cheaper than in Australia, New Zealand or the US.

Ski towns and resorts have a range of accommodations that provide good value for money, and for those wanting to travel on a shoe-string, there are always good quality budget accommodation options.

The food, accommodation and activities at Whistler-Blackcomb ski resort are relatively expensive. Banff can also be pricey, but there are a range of inexpensive accommodation options available. Silver Star ski resort and Big White offer better value for money, and when you get off the beaten track at places such as Revelstoke, Whitewater and Red Mountain, the value for money is fantastic.

Why Ski or Snowboard in Canada? Canada has a great combination of good snow and impressive terrain, uncrowded slopes, and a very laid-back culture that makes for a very relaxed holiday. The only problem with skiing or snowboarding in Canada is that once you’ve experienced it you’ll be forever addicted. Awesome eh?!

For a detailed comparison of many Canadian resorts download our resort statistics comparison and Powderhounds resort rating documents.