All four of Red’s chairlifts are slow. It’s a bit limited for blue-runs though. Located 9 mi southwest of Banff Village, the resort has terrain for beginners up to steep terrain for expert skiers. Lake Louise is spectacularly set in Banff National Park, with great views from the ski area of peaks and glaciers including Canada’s Matterhorn lookalike, Mount Assiniboine. Silver Star Mountain Resort : 6. The Steller quad chairlift accesses some beginner and intermediate terrain, giving the resort a family appeal that it previously lacked before.Â, The resort also has its own snowcat and heliski operations for accessing untracked snow. This automatically puts it on the shortlist of most transatlantic visitors – and certainly intermediates who like to rack up the miles without repeating the same slopes. One side of the village opens right onto the slopes. In Silver Star the lodgings are halfway up the hill, so the day can start with a run not a lift. Skiresort.info presents the best beginner slopes in Canada or easy ski resorts in Canada. But of course the biggest and best known of Canadian ski resorts are in British Columbia, neighbouring Alberta, and Quebec in the east. Since Vail Resorts bought Whistler in 2016 the lifts have consistently been upgraded. Owing to the current coronavirus pandemic, these rates may change. The deep-powder runs in Whistler are great for experts, while thrill-seekers will love the heli-skiing in Banff. Fernie’s resort village is convenient but small, with few eating and drinking options. From £1,400 in a studio apartment with Frontier Ski. Panorama Mountain Resort : 8. However, keep in mind that Red Mountain has a bad reputation as being difficult to get to from the major airports. Had a waterpark area attached, included with stay. It has two distinct advantages over the airborne version – it’s kinder on the wallet and there’s a welcome long  rest between runs as the snowcat trundles back up the hill from the bottom of the run. Although best known as an experts’ mountain, Fernie also has a great nursery slope and very quiet, gentle runs to practise on. With usually plentiful snowfall and generally quiet slopes, Canada offers huge attractions for skiers and snowboarders coming from the UK. It’s located next to the Peak 2 Peak gondola that connects Whistler and Blackcomb.Â. The largest of the SkiBig3 resorts in UNESCO-designated Banff National Park, the self-proclaimed “friendly giant of Canadian skiing” earns its keep with … Daily activity programmes are offered, and there’s a list of babysitters for out-of-hours care. Many skiers visit Big White for its off-piste terrain because there is abundant snowfall and groomed trails that provide excellent conditions for tree skiing. Canada is a long way to go to learn to ski or snowboard, but for those prepared to make the transatlantic journey, Sun Peaks is a great place for first turns. Panorama offers a variety of terrain blanketed with light dry interior BC powder. Kicking Horse was developed in 2000 when a new gondola opened up what was previously purely heliskiing terrain; now there’s a tiny village at the base. Sunshine Village, 20 minutes away, is a fair size (3,358 acres), and is known for its steep terrain and plenty of snow. Piste grooming is great, and anyone going off-piste can do so without a guide. Nonetheless, it’s important at all times to remain aware of snow and weather conditions that may affect personal safety.Â. It’s close to the restaurants and shops and a two-minute walk from the lifts.Â. Revelstoke and Kicking Horse both have great steep and deep terrain. We asked readers and ski aficionados for their favourite ski destinations in Canada, and then we factored in some of our own preferred resorts. Mont Tremblant’s biggest attraction is the experience of a cozy French alpine resort, conveniently located just 1.5 hours from Montreal and less than two hours from Ottawa. Of these, among the most convenient is Big White – virtually all the hotels and apartments in this modern resort are ski-in/ski-out, with the main lifts starting below village level. Here's 10 best spring skiing resorts in North America. For variety or a night out, the town of Banff is a scenic 45-minute drive away. Best Ski Resorts in Canada. From its early days as Tod Mountain, Sun Peaks has matured into one of the best and most underrated ski domains in Canada. Whistler gets an average of almost 12m of snow a year and has high bowls and chutes that are usually powder filled. Until 2008, Revelstoke attracted only a contrasting clientele of wealthy international heli-skiers and a scattering of locals, who frequented slopes served by one short lift. A simple chalet was built in 1890, and the first Chateau Lake Louise in 1911. Other activities to enjoy include sleigh rides, watching a game of ice hockey, or strapping on the snowshoes and hitting the hiking trails – even in the depths of winter! Nearly all accommodation is either ski-in/ski-out or less than 30 seconds walk to the snow.Â. For the most spectacular scenic views imaginable, book a room overlooking the lake at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. However Britons get more for their money in Canadian resorts than in America.Â. Keep in mind that the options are limited at the base if you wish to seek out accommodation and dining. To get the most out of Fernie’s 2,500 acres of terrain across five alpine bowls it’s best to be shown around the ski area by a local early in the holiday. British-owned Chalet Bighorn at the resort village has eight extremely large bedroom suites and consistently wins awards as the top luxury chalet in North America – the quality of service and cuisine is extraordinary. Morrisey which are all connected through a well-organised lift system. Revelstoke Mountain Resort : 4. Resort Ski-in/ski-out Distance Lift pass price (3 days adult, 2019/2020) Is there a resort village? Norquay is ideal for beginners especially since you will be able to accumulate verticals quickly on the groomers. Mont Tremblant - the best ski resort on the East Mont Tremblant’s biggest attraction is the experience of a cozy French alpine resort, conveniently located just 1.5 hours from Montreal and less than two hours from Ottawa. 10 best Ski Resorts in Canada Name ; 1. The highlight of Big White would be its ski-in/ ski-out village which is important for those who want convenient access to the slopes. Big White is ideal for first powder turns, with regular snowfalls and lots of easy intermediate slopes. For experts, the numerous high open bowls offer a wide range of possibilities, complemented by regular dumps of powder streaming in from the nearby Pacific. It has a friendly, attractive, small village comprising low-rise pastel-coloured buildings with a vaguely Tirolean feel, and a short traffic-free main street. You'll feel like you're in the Alps as soon you step into the charming ski village at the base of the mountain, with its quaint French village architecture and European plaza filled with cafes, pubs, and restaurants. Sun Peaks is a small purpose-built village with one main, traffic-free street and comprehensive child-care facilities through the Sundance Kids Centre and the ski school’s Sun Tots and Sun Kids programmes. Whistler, as … Norquay is only a few minutes away, but tiny, with just 190 acres of terrain including a good nursery area. Revelstoke has a small resort village at the foot of the slopes, with a hotel, separate restaurant, bar and coffee shop. In the town, you will find great accommodation and dining options that compliment the old-school ski-town vibe. There are also great snowcat operations nearby – Island Lake Catskiing and Fernie Wilderness Adventures. The village has limited après bars and shopping, but there are some decent restaurants. A heated fast quad chairlift on Lookout Mountain gives access to some double black diamond runs in comfort. Lake Louise, 45 minutes away, is the largest area, with 4,200 acres of terrain best suited to intermediates and experts, served by 10 lifts. Panorama mountain has 2,975 acres of terrain and a 1,300m vertical, one of the biggest in North America, and there are slopes to suit beginners, adventurous intermediates and experts. Although small in size, the resort still offers an undeniably breathtaking view of the region. Browse Local Freshies Travel Guides to be a local wherever you go. Best ski resorts in Canada 2019. The ski-in/ski-out Firelight Lodge is in the heart of Silver Star’s village, skating pond and tubing hill as well as the Silver Queen lift. Canada is the land of maple syrup, diversity and politeness and challenging terrains. There is limited beginner terrain at Revelstoke but intermediates and above will love the long, groomed tracks that course right back to the base. By: Doug O'Neill. RK Heliski is based in the village, with a big lodge and heli-pad; it specialises in taking out first-timers and provides fat skis or snowboards to make powder easier.Â, The central Pine Inn is located at the foot of the slopes, a short walk from the ski school meeting point and hot springs.Â. Spanning over four mountains with 132 marked trails, SilverStar offers beginner-friendly trails, as well as expert ones, and over 100 kilometres of cross country terrain. #8 Best Value of 59 Ski Resorts in Canada “Douglas Fir is approximately 21 minutes from Sunshine Village 44 minutes from Lake Louise Ski Resort, and 16 minutes from Mount Norquay Ski Area.” “Great location near sightseeing in Banff. Once you get to the resort, you won’t need a car as the village is all within walking (skiing) distance. Mont Tremblant is also extremely family-friendly, offering a great ski school, play centers and non-skiing activities such as snowshoeing, fat biking and cross-country skiing. Sun Peaks offers an unparalleled family ski experience that is also relatively affordable in comparison to neighboring resorts. Don’t fret if you’re not an expert, as expansion in recent years has opened up more intermediate terrain and you’ll hardly ever see crowds around the resort. In Lake Louise, all three sectors have plenty to amuse intermediates and experts alike, though deep powder is not a certainty. Still not well known on the UK market, Red Mountain has long been a cult resort for experts who can handle the steep terrain and tree runs of its original Granite mountain. Perhaps surprisingly, skiing in Canada is possible in all 10 of Canada’s provinces. We urge you to turn off your ad blocker for The Telegraph website so that you can continue to access our quality content in the future. So hang tight, here’s our list of the top Canadian resorts! Three different ski areas make up Banff Park. Instead, you can stay in the town of Fernie which is around 5 mi away or at Kimberley resort which is around 90 minutes away but many visitors like to combine the two in one trip. The combined terrain of these two mountains makes it the largest ski resort in North America. Read our community guidelines in full, Revelstoke receives around 12m of powder each year, Fernie is ideal for experts looking for a challenge, Sun Peaks is home to the second largest ski area in Canada, Whistler is North America's most popular resort for all abilities, Panorama ski resort has terrain to suit all levels including experts, The views of the glacier and lake from Lake Louise's ski area are breathtaking, Read more: 13 things you can only learn on a skiing holiday in Canada, Read more: The best accommodation in Whistler, Read more: The best accommodation in Banff, Revealed: The world's most luxurious ski resorts, Thousands of British ski instructors face a bleak future if Brexit deal isn't reached, The ultimate Christmas gift guide for travel lovers, The 30 best Christmas gifts for skiers and snowboarders, ‘In a split second everything could turn’ – The dangers of skiing when lifts are closed revealed, Exclusive offer: Up to 55% off Intersport equipment hire, Book wintersports travel insurance with a trusted provider, Where can I go skiing this winter? Whistler’s two linked mountains, Whistler and Blackcomb, together form the biggest ski area in North America, 4,757 acres, with 200 trails. The old mining town of Rossland, a short drive (or free bus ride) away, offers more options for dining and lodging than the resort’s base village. Revelstoke has solidified its reputation as a big mountain terrain with the biggest vertical in North America and as one of the hosts of the Freeskiing World Tour. Whistler. With over 65 runs spanning over 1800 resort acres, there is so much to do at Kimberley. It is also the most accessible resort from Kelowna, just an hour drive away from the airport. Slopes are steep, ungroomed and largely in the shelter of trees. Crystal Lodge & Suites is set in the heart of Whistler Village. The latest rules and restrictions in ski resorts, Britain's top indoor snow centres and dry ski slopes for a ski trip on home soil, Ski touring: Where to hit the slopes, even when the lifts are shut, The best hotels in Cortina d'Ampezzo for a ski holiday in Italy's chicest resort, The best hotels in Megève for a five-star stay in the French Alps, From piste to pub to pillow: an insider ski holiday guide to Cortina d'Ampezzo, From piste to pub to pillow: an insider ski holiday guide to Megève, Can I go skiing? Nestled in the British Columbia Coast Mountains, under 2 hours from Vancouver, Whistler/Blackcomb is Canada's top ski destination and one of the best in the world. The resort has plenty of open bowl skiing, as well as wide groomers runs and glades with around 68% of trails catered towards beginners and intermediates. You need to be a subscriber to join the conversation. The only Canadian resort with more terrain is Whistler. 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