The Best Ski and Snowboard Resorts in Canada
Views from SunPeaks Ski Resort
Josh and I lived in Canada for two years, and winter was by far our favorite season. We lived for the snow and took every chance we could to snowboard and travel around Alberta and British Columbia to visit as many ski resorts as we could.
In this article, you will find a list of our favorite ski resorts which we have personally visited. We’ll also include a list of ski resorts we were desperate to visit because of the amazing reviews we heard about them. Unfortunately, we ran out of time to ride them ourselves during the two ski seasons we lived in Canada.
This article will also include tips and guides on everything you need to know about each resort. If you need to know anything about a particular resort, you can go to that section!
1. Revelstoke Mountain Resort
In the top spot of our absolute favorites is Revelstoke Mountain Resort. Revelstoke is only a 3-hour drive from Banff, and during my time living in Banff, I found that as I became a better snowboarder, I started to love driving to Revy often to ski this resort over the resorts in Banff. The number one reason was for a change of scenery, but also because Revelstoke is a much more advanced mountain, and we enjoyed pushing ourselves here as we grew in confidence as snowboarders.
What are the dates of Revelstoke's ski season?
Generally, their season begins closer to the end of November/beginning of December and ends around the end of March/beginning of April. But this, of course, can vary depending on the weather.
Is Revelstoke a beginner-friendly mountain?
You can learn on this mountain, as many kids and families are here on weekends. However, I find Revelstoke a little more intimidating for beginners than other Ski resorts. For instance, there aren’t many green runs here. It's quite a steep mountain, so most runs are blue and black. I also found there to be many more advanced and expert-level riders here, and as a beginner, it can be very daunting having people speed past you and dodge around you when you're just starting. I wouldn't recommend Revelstoke to a new beginner, but after you have a little practice under your belt, it's a great resort to progress on.
About the Mountain
At first glance, you may think Revelstoke is a smaller mountain than others, as they only have five lifts: 1 high-speed gondola, two high-speed quad chairlifts, one fixed-group quad chairlift, and one magic carpet. They also have a park and a children’s park. However, on these chairlifts, many runs peel off, and there are also unmarked runs for the more experienced riders to navigate through the trees. There are also multiple bowls to ride in. We found the runs to be so long that by the time we got to the bottom, our legs were burning, and we appreciated the wait for the chairlift before going up and doing it all over again! Although we found the resort never to be that busy, the longest we waited for a chairlift was 5–10 minutes max. (Please remember that when riding on unmarked trails, there is a risk of avalanches. Always follow all signage and updates from the resort.) For a trail map, follow this link: Revelstoke Winter Trail Map.
Can I work at Revelstoke during the ski season?
Absolutely! One of the reasons I visited Revy frequently is that I had many friends from Australia and the UK working ski seasons there. Some worked up at the mountain; others worked for local businesses. Most of these friends were experienced riders—I don’t know many people who did their first ski season here and had never snowboarded or skied. However, Revelstoke is much smaller than a place like Banff; it’s nowhere near as touristy, and the town is filled with many people who have lived here long term or their whole lives. This means that finding accommodation here can be very competitive.
Visiting Revelstoke in March 2024, with the Stoke chairlift behind us.
To round up why Revelstoke is our favorite resort, We loved this resort because it was always less busy than any of the other resorts we visited. We have never experienced long wait times on the chairlifts, and we absolutely love resorts with extremely long runs that go on for miles. As we became more confident riders, we enjoyed the challenge of the harder runs and loved trying new runs, like riding through the trees and in the bowls. At the top of the mountain is a small burger shack and bar, and they serve the BEST smashed beef patty burgers, which also won us over.
2. Sunshine Ski Resort, Banff
Josh and I lived in Banff for one whole winter season, so we are biased when it comes to Sunshine being our second favorite ski resort. This is the resort where we learned to snowboard, where we met some of our greatest friends, and where we spent nearly every second day of our lives during our first Canadian ski season.
Sunshine is great because it is not only quite big and spread out but also offers a good selection of runs for all levels of riders, from very beginners to more advanced riders.
Where is Sunshine Ski Resort located?
Sunshine is located 20 minutes outside of the town of Banff, and there are free shuttles that run daily from the village of Banff to the bottom of the gondola and back throughout the day. The bus ride is roughly 20 minutes to the parking lot and bottom of the gondola, and it’s about a 20-minute ride to the top of the gondola and the main village of Sunshine.
What are the ski season dates for Sunshine Village?
Banff is usually one of the first resorts to open in Alberta and BC and usually one of the last to close for the season, as Banff has a higher altitude than most resorts. This generally means they get snow sooner, and it stays colder for longer. The opening date for Sunshine can vary from any time around the beginning to the end of November. In my first season, they opened the first week of November as they had a big dump just as I arrived in Banff, but the following year, they opened closer to the end of November, as the snow decided to dump a little later than usual.
The last day Sunshine Village is open for the season is generally on the stat holiday Canada holds in May for National Patriots Day, which usually lands sometime around the 20th–25th of May. This is when Sunshine Village holds the famous closing-day party called Slush Cup. Although this is the last day of the season, generally, by this date, many of the chairlifts have already closed due to a lack of snow. As it starts to warm up, there may only be one or two chairlifts open by this date.
Is Sunshine Village a beginner-friendly mountain?
Yes! I can absolutely say Sunshine is beginner-friendly because it’s where I learned to snowboard. I had only snowboarded once before I moved to Canada, on a family holiday in Austria when I was 17 for just two days. I was starting from scratch and learning all over again. There are green runs spread across Sunshine, and they offer many options for group and private lessons. I could arrive on the day and book a private lesson, as they had so many instructors available.
About the Mountain.
During the week, I found Sunshine to be generally quiet, as it was mostly just locals riding the mountain and the occasional tourists. However, during the busy season, like Christmas time, it was extremely busy. As locals living in Banff, we generally avoided riding on the weekends. We always found weekends to be very busy with families and ski schools, and as Sunshine is only an hour and a half from the city of Calgary, you get many city dwellers coming down for a weekend getaway, so the wait times for chairlifts were longer, and the runs themselves felt more crowded.
However, Sunshine is very spread out, so you can find ways to avoid the crowds even on busy days. Sunshine spans three different mountains: Goat’s Eye Mountain, Standish Mountain, and Lookout Mountain. The resort has 12 lifts, including the gondola, and 5 terrain parks, making Sunshine Village a very popular place for park riders. For a more comprehensive guide on the mountains and trail maps, follow this link: Sunshine Village Trail Maps.
Another important note about Sunshine Ski Resort is the weather. Sunshine gets the most amazing bluebird days we’ve ever seen at any other mountain. Picture those stunning days when there isn’t a cloud in the sky, the sun is shining, and you have peak visibility on every run. However, these days can also be extremely cold, and Sunshine is the coldest mountain we ever snowboarded. An average day riding at Sunshine Village is generally around minus 15 degrees Celsius. However, during the peak of winter, there are some days when Sunshine can reach temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius. When the temperatures drop to negative 30 or negative 40, the resort may close for a few days because it’s simply too cold for the machinery to operate. And trust us, it’s also physically impossible to ride in temperatures this cold!
Can I work a ski season at Banff, Sunshine Village?
Yes! Josh and I worked our first ski season in Banff, Canada, and although I never worked for the resort myself, Josh did for a while. We have an entire article on finding work and accommodation in Banff here if you’re looking for more information.
Image: Views from the top of the “great divide” chairlift at sunshine with our good friend Courtney.
To round up our review on Sunshine, it’s an easy second place for us because of the amount of time we spent at this resort learning to ride, progressing our skills, and becoming confident snowboarders that we are today.
Number 3 - Big White Ski Resort
Number 3 holds a special place in our hearts because we met when Big White was holding the first Altitunes Festival in the snow. Big White is huge and very spread out, and we love it because we've been there over 3 times and still haven’t skied half of the mountain. You would have to spend 1-2 weeks there to cover everything it offers. When you think of Big White, imagine après-ski parties on the mountain, wooden mountain chalets spread across the slopes, and ski-in/ski-out accommodation. It's beautiful and takes 1 minute to get to a chairlift or ski run from your accommodation.
The team riding at Biggie on a cloudy day in March 2024.
Where is Big White Located?
Big White is located in BC, and the closest city is Kelowna, about a 50-minute drive away. If you plan to visit Big White Ski Resort, Kelowna accommodation is usually much cheaper than staying in the heart of Big White. But we highly recommend staying at the resort, as half the experience of Big White is the ski-in/ski-out accommodation. However, keep in mind that it's very isolated, and once you're up on the mountain, there are limited options for shopping, food, and groceries, and it's pretty expensive. There is only one grocery store, one liquor store, and a few restaurants in the main village. We highly recommend grocery shopping in Kelowna and stocking up on all the essentials before you get here. If you’re looking for a late-night pub/bar to party, we recommend Snowshoe Sams as the place to go!
What are the dates of the Big White Ski Resort season?
The mountain generally opens around the end of November or the beginning of December, and the season closes around the end of March or the first week of April.
Is Big White a beginner-friendly mountain?
Yes, definitely. As Big White is so large, there are options for all levels. We know many people from our time in Banff and from visiting Big White who did their first ski season in Canada here because it's a great place to learn. Since all the accommodations and everything you need is right on the mountain, there isn’t much else to do at the resort but ride, which makes it a great place for die-hard riders, advanced skiers, and snowboarders.
The Mountain
Big White has over 2,800 acres of skiable terrain, 16 lifts across the mountain, and 119 designated runs. They also offer multiple parks and areas for cross-country skiing, tubing, and night riding on specific days of the week. When we visited Big White, we found the most extended wait for a chairlift was never longer than 10 minutes, even on weekends when a music festival was happening and it was one of their busiest weekends of the year. For more information and trail maps, follow this link: Big White Ski Resort Trail Maps.
Altitunes Festival
We have to mention this festival as it's where we first met. Over the past two years, there has been a new festival at Big White, and it’s been such a huge success with well-known names performing, I’m sure it will continue to grow in the future. It's usually held around the end of March, close to the end of the season. In the past two years we've attended, we’ve seen some big names perform like Milky Chance, Dillon Francis, The Renegades, Elderbrook, and more. The tickets usually go on sale around December/January, but accommodation gets booked up quickly, so it's best to secure your lodging as soon as possible.
Can I work a ski season at Big White Ski Resort?
Yes, definitely! Many of our friends from Banff did their first season at Big White or, after a season in Banff, moved on to do their second season here. Most people get jobs through the mountain, which provides staff accommodation.
Overall, Big White Ski resort is an easy favorite for us because of the size of the mountain and endless options for runs at all levels. We also love any resort that offers ski-in and ski-out accommodation, and the resort itself is stunning with its vast chalets and European vibe. Plus, this is an excellent resort for nightlife if you like to party.
Number 4 - Lake Louise Ski Resort
In number 4, I (Tamara) can’t personally speak to this as I never made it here, but Josh loved this resort so much that he insisted it be high on the list. My good friend Courtney also rode Lake Louise multiple times during our time living in Banff, and from the way she raved about her day whenever she got back from riding Lake Louise, I understand why it's high on the list. Unfortunately, while living in Banff, I never made it here, as I only had a Sunshine Ski Resort season pass, and my daily budget couldn’t afford a day pass at Lake Louise (the life of being a budget traveler).
Where is Lake Louise Ski Resort?
Lake Louise Ski Resort is 5 minutes from Lake Louise, about a 50-minute drive from Banff. If you're traveling from Banff, a free shuttle runs from Banff directly to the resort a few times a day.
What are the Ski Season dates for Lake Louise?
Josh admiring the views and the Powder at Lake Louise.
As Lake Louise is close to Banff, its season dates are similar. Generally, it opens around mid-November and closes for the winter season a few weeks earlier than Sunshine Village, around the end of April/start of May.
Is Lake Louise Ski Resort beginner-friendly?
It's a great resort if you're new to snowboarding or skiing, but Josh said if you're a beginner, it's best to stick to Sunshine Ski Resort or Norquay Resort in Banff, as these resorts have more beginner-friendly runs than Lake Louise. The runs at Lake Louise can be much longer than those at Sunshine or Mount Norquay, so if you’re very new, it can take beginners a while to get down these runs and be a lot more tiring for a beginner. But in saying that, there is always at least one green run that connects most of the chairlifts spread across the resort, and there’s excellent beginner terrain in the Sunny Side area of the mountain.
About the Mountain
The resort has 12 lifts in total: 1 gondola, eight chairlifts, and three carpets. Lake Louise is huge, with two sides to the mountain to ride on, and is also known for its famous back bowls. From what my friends have said about Lake Louise, what Josh loved the most were the long runs and how many different options there are for all kinds of levels. For more information and trail maps, follow this link: Lake Louise Trail Maps.
Can I work a ski season at Lake Louise?
Yes! We know many people who worked and lived in Lake Louise and traveled out to Banff frequently. There isn’t much in the town of Lake Louise itself, just a few little shops, a tiny grocery store, a liquor store, and a few dining options. Most people living in Lake Louise usually travel to Banff or Canmore to shop or visit Banff for the nightlife. Most people who work during the ski season in Lake Louise live in staff housing, as the only accommodation options are hotels and lodges.
To give an overall review of Josh’s experiences, he loved it as it's a great all-rounder mountain, and he loved there being two sides of the mountain to ride on, making the options endless.
Number 5 - Sun Peaks
We only rode Sun Peaks once across 2 days, and it was nearing the end of their season, and only some of the runs were open. But with the open runs and the few days we spent there, it was enough to have us planning our next trip here in the peak of winter a year in advance. And when you look at a trail map for Sun Peaks and its long runs, it’s easy to see why this is a crowd-pleaser for all levels of riders.
The Sun Peaks sign located at the top of the Sundance Express chair.
Where is Sun Peaks?
Sun Peaks is located in BC, about an hour from the major city of Kamloops. It’s a ski-in/ski-out style resort, so everything you need—from accommodation to restaurants and shops—is right at the bottom of the hill, and you can walk to the chairlifts right outside your door. As soon as you arrive at Sun Peaks, you will feel like you’ve been transported to a little snow town in Europe.
What are the dates of Sun Peaks Ski season?
The season generally begins around mid-to-late November and ends around mid-April. As you get closer to the end of the season, certain parts of the mountain may start to close earlier. From our experience, we visited at the beginning of April, and only about half of the mountain was open. If you want the full experience of what Sun Peaks offers, we recommend visiting during the peak of the season when all runs and chairlifts are open!
Is Sun Peaks a beginner-friendly mountain?
Yes, definitely! Sun Peaks is very family-friendly, and you'll find it packed with families on weekends and school holidays. It's easy to get around as the main village is at the bottom of the mountain, and beginner-friendly runs are easy to access from there.
About the Mountain
Sun Peaks is great for beginners, but because it’s such a large mountain with wide runs and many offshoots from each chairlift, it’s easy for beginners to progress to more advanced runs quickly. It offers great terrain for all levels, and for more advanced riders, there are many long, steep runs, and tree runs. There are three mountains: Tod Mountain, Sundance, and Mount Morrisey. On a clear day, you can enjoy 360-degree views from the top of these mountains. It’s easy to understand why this mountain is called Sun Peaks. The hill has 144 groomed runs, 13 lifts in total, and a 10-acre terrain park. Check out their trail map here!
Can I work a ski season at Sun Peaks?
Yes, definitely! We know a few people who lived and worked on the hill. As the resort is so remote, most jobs provide staff accommodation, and we saw many staff housing on the outskirts of the resort when you first drove in. If you don’t want to travel far to snowboard or ski and enjoy waking up with a chairlift right outside your door, then Sun Peaks could be a great resort to work at for a season.
Overall, we loved Sun Peaks for the two days we were there. And although half the resort was closed, two days still wasn’t enough to explore all the open terrain! You could spend a week at Sun Peaks and still not see it all. We loved the long runs and the tree runs, and we also enjoyed it being a lot quieter than other resorts we’ve visited. If we had spent more time here and came during the peak of winter when snow conditions were better, this resort would have been higher on our list!
Number 6 - Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort
It may be a little controversial that Whistler isn’t higher on our list, as it is so well-known worldwide and has such high expectations and ratings from people. But it's for this reason that it's not higher on our list. We loved the runs at Whistler and how huge the mountain is, with two major peaks—Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain. However, we didn’t love the crowds and the extremely long wait times for the chairlifts every time we visited.
We lived in Vancouver for about six months and made a few visits to Whistler during that time. We may not have visited at the best times, contributing to the long lines. When we visited, it was over the Christmas and New Year's period and on weekends. We also visited on a Friday once, hoping it would be quieter, but the wait times for the chairlifts were similar to what we experienced at Christmas time.
We have a friend who lives in Whistler, and she has told us that during the week (Monday-Thursday), when it’s not school holidays or long weekends, it’s a lot quieter, and the lines are much shorter. So, the secret to enjoying Whistler to its fullest may be visiting during the week and avoiding peak holiday periods!
Where is Whistler located?
Whistler is located on the west coast of BC and is about a 2-hour drive north of Vancouver. There is only one road in and out of Whistler from Vancouver, called the Sea to Sky Highway, and it offers fantastic views of the mountains and ocean as you drive. However, because of this, if there is heavy rainfall (which is common in Vancouver) or recent snow, this road can have significant delays and sometimes be closed. Keep this in mind if you're planning a trip to Whistler.
If you don’t have a car, there are plenty of bus options from the center of Vancouver City, leaving from Burrard Station or the airport to Whistler. The fare is usually around $30-$40 one way. We recommend booking with Skylynx for the best value for money.
What are the dates of the Whistler ski season?
Whistler Ski Resort is split into two mountains, and the opening and closing dates for the two mountains can vary. Both Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain generally open around mid-to-late November. Whistler Mountain usually closes a few weeks earlier than Blackcomb, around mid-to-late April, while Blackcomb typically stays open until mid-May.
Is Whistler a beginner-friendly mountain?
Being a world-renowned mountain, Whistler offers excellent options for all levels of riders, including beginners. That being said, beginners should stick to the designated beginner areas because it’s easy to end up on an advanced run accidentally. Whistler is an excellent place for beginners to progress their skills, and there are fantastic backcountry options for the more advanced riders. If you’re a beginner, it’s best to stick to Whistler Mountain over Blackcomb, as there are more beginner-friendly options.
About the Mountain
The mountain is accessible from the village and all accommodations, which means minimal travel to the top. Whistler has five gondolas spread across the village and broader town, connecting you from the village and your accommodation straight to the mountain. This includes the Peak to Peak Gondola, which connects Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain. With a day pass or season pass, you have free access to all these gondolas and both mountains.
Whistler has 16 chairlifts, three T-bars spread across the mountain, and five terrain parks across both mountains. One of the many perks of Whistler is that it's one of the biggest resorts with the most opportunities. It doesn’t just excel in winter; it’s also popular in the summer for mountain biking and hiking. It's a resort you can visit year-round. For Inter trail maps, check them out here: Whistler Winter Trail Maps.
Can I work a ski season at Whistler?
Definitely. However, it’s not the most accessible ski town in which to find work and accommodation because of how popular and in-demand it is. It's costly in Whistler, so finding a job is usually the easy part. However, finding housing that fits within your budget and your hourly wage can be the hard part.
We have a friend who lives in Whistler and loves it. It has a great community atmosphere and is not just a place for drinking and partying. Many events, such as art events, social gatherings, movie nights, café meetups, and much more, are always happening. The town makes an effort to include everyone, whether you’ve been there for two months or two years.
Overall, we love Whistler. We've been there at least 3-4 times and still haven’t skied half the mountain or been up two-thirds of the chairlifts because we find that whenever we visit, we can stick to one chairlift for hours and explore the many runs that shoot off from it. We also love the town and village of Whistler and its ski-in, ski-out vibe.
The après-ski scene in Whistler is like no other, and you can always guarantee that parties will happen at the bottom of the hill in the resort when you return. Our only advice would be to come during the week and be prepared to hurt your bank account because no visit to Whistler is ever cheap. Every time we visited, it hurt our poor backpacker bank accounts.
Number 7 - Cypress Mountain
The last mountain on our list is Cypress Mountain, located near Vancouver. We spent much time riding this mountain during our 6 months living in Vancouver because they offered night riding, and we worked typical 9-5 jobs in the city. Our afternoons would consist of riding after a long day of work and riding here on the weekends, as it was only 30 minutes from our house (on a good day with no traffic).
Where is Cypress Mountain located?
Cypress Mountain is located roughly a 30-40 minute drive from downtown Vancouver and is one of the biggest resorts in Vancouver. When looking at the mountains across from the city of Vancouver, you can see the top of Cypress Mountain and some of the runs running down on the far west side of North Vancouver.
As Cypress is one of the most popular mountains in Vancouver, traffic during peak times can be horrible. Although it's only 30 minutes away, during peak times it can take you up to an hour and a half to get to the mountain and find parking. If it’s busy, you might get stuck in one of their back parking lots, which is at least a 1.5 km walk up to the resort. We found the best time to drive to the mountain to avoid the crowds was to leave before 3:30 p.m. during the weekdays for the night riding. This helps to avoid the after-school traffic, as many kids are being driven up here for ski school in the evenings, and also avoids the 4-5pm rush before people finish work. We recommend getting there by 8 a.m. on weekends before the resort opens at 9 a.m. If you come after 9 a.m, you could wait an hour to find a park and be stuck in traffic halfway down the main road to the resort.
Is Cypress Mountain beginner-friendly?
Yes, definitely! Cypress Mountain is full of families and kids on the weekends and after school. With it being so close to the city, there are many ski schools in the afternoon, and families visit on the weekend. Since it's a relatively small mountain, it's a great place to learn, as most runs are short, wide, and not very steep. The resort also has a beginner-dedicated chairlift called the Easy Rider, with a run dedicated to beginners only.
The Mountain
Cypress Mountain is much smaller than many of the mountains we’ve been to, with six chairlifts, two of which are high-speed lifts and one magic carpet. There are 61 marked trail runs, with 53 of them being beginner trails. They also have two small terrain parks. Cypress is also known for its cross-country skiing terrain, with 19 km of cross-country trails, a snow tubing park, and many snowshoe trails. It’s a great little mountain with something for everyone—not just skiers and snowboarders. Cypress also offers night riding every day of the week until 10 p.m. Not all chairlifts are open at night, and not all runs are available, but they have fantastic bright lights on the open runs, making it feel almost like you’re still riding during the day. Check out the trail map here: Cypress Mountain Winter Trail Map.
One of our favorite parts of the mountain was the unparalleled views. On a clear day, you can see the city of Vancouver from a distance, with unmatched views of the Lions Gate Bridge and Stanley Park. When the highest chair, the Sky Chair, is open, the views of the backside of the mountain looking towards Whistler and up the Sea-to-Sky Highway are some of our favorite views from a hill!
Can I work a ski season at Cypress Mountain?
Most of the employees on the mountain seemed to be international workers from the UK, Australia, and many European countries. However, we don’t know if they offer staff housing. A few workers we spoke to had their own housing in the city of Vancouver or in the West Vancouver suburbs, which are closest to the mountain.
Overall, we liked Cypress Mountain for its proximity to the city and the night skiing. There’s nowhere else in the world where you can work a 9-5 job in a city during the day and be snowboarding at a ski resort within half an hour after work! We loved the night riding the most and enjoyed riding on weekends in the early mornings. However, because it’s such a small resort, it can start to feel very crowded quickly. We found the runs to be too crowded when it was busy. There are great runs for more advanced skiers, but as we became more confident in our riding, we wanted more challenging runs and found that Cypress didn’t offer enough advanced options. We often stuck to the same 1-2 runs all day, which can become repetitive after a while. It’s a great resort, but we recommend it more for beginners than advanced riders.
Mountains We Wish We Had Visited During Our Winter Seasons in Canada (But Ran Out of Time)
The above mountains are all resorts we visited, and we have rated them based on our own experiences. However, during our time in Canada, we had a few other resorts on our bucket list that we were gutted to miss but can guarantee, from what friends have told us, are must-visits. They should definitely be on your list when you visit Canada!
Kicking Horse Resort
Located in Golden, BC, Golden is surrounded by six national parks, is situated between Banff and Revelstoke, and is roughly an hour and a half's drive from both towns. It's known for its intense vertical drops, unreal powder, and gnarly bowls. It’s not the most beginner-friendly resort and is definitely for more advanced riders.
Marmot Basin, Jasper
Jasper is in western Alberta, in the Canadian Rockies, and the Marmot Basin ski resort is located 40 minutes from the town. Marmot Basin has the highest elevation of all ski resorts in the Canadian Rockies and is known for its laid-back atmosphere and champagne powder. It’s an excellent resort for all riders, from beginner to advanced, with long, gentle runs, steep alpine bowls, and longer black runs.
Panorama Ski Resort
Panorama is located east of BC in the Purcell Mountains, about a 3.5-hour drive from Calgary. It offers alpine views of the Canadian Rockies. We always wanted to try this resort while we lived in Banff since it’s only a 2-hour drive away, and we heard great things about it. It’s known to be much quieter than the resorts in Banff. Panorama is a ski-in, ski-out mountain village popular among families because of its relaxed atmosphere. It's known for its long slopes, hot pools, and generally uncrowded terrain most of the time. From what we heard from friends who visited, you usually have the runs to yourself, which is great if you're a beginner or advanced and want to practice some of your more advanced skills and tricks.
Fernie Alpine Resort
Fernie is located in the southeast corner of BC. When looking at a map, you can see it's pretty close to the Alberta border and the US border below. From the experiences our friends have had in Fernie, the powder after a huge dump is unreal. There are some beginner-friendly runs, but it's a resort that caters more to advanced and expert-level riders. It's known for its five open bowls, tree runs, and freeriding terrain in the alpine.
Riding in Revelstoke, March 2024.
In Conclusion
When it comes down to it, we love every one of these resorts for their unique reasons. We've found the resort that’s number one on our list always changes, depending on our skill level, where we are in our snowboarding journey, our confidence, and how we feel on the days we ride. We lived in Canada for two years and found that once we visited a resort, we would go back multiple times to continue exploring, discovering new runs, and finding areas we hadn’t seen before. There are so many unreal resorts in Canada that we didn’t make it to, and I’m sure the next time we visit Canada, this list will grow. But if you're a first-timer in Canada and are looking to do a snowboarding or ski trip, these are the resorts you mustn’t miss!