Sure, we’ve got three mountains across the inlet plus one mega resort a two hour’s drive from Kitsilano.
But if you’re a winter sports fan or thinking about becoming one, and you’d rather lose the crowds, check out these three top skiing and snowboarding hills in BC.
Red Mountain Resort
As one of the oldest in North America, Red, in the West Kootenays, is a classic ski hill that’s managed to keep its old school charm without needlessly overdeveloping it. Geared towards intermediate and expert level skiers and riders, the 110 marked runs are spread across three stellar mountains and are deep in light, dry powder. Want to become an owner of Red Mountain Resort? That’s right, own a piece of it for as little as $1,000. See the details here. Red is in the small, charming town of Rossland, a former gold mining hotspot from the 1890s. It will take you about 7 hours of driving east to get here, but the laid-back lifestyle and queue-less waits for chairlifts, awesome food, and absolutely no traffic will make it worth your while.
SilverStar Mountain Resort
Just north of Vernon, in the north Okanagan, SilverStar is a family-friendly resort that’s perfect for all levels with about 20 out of the 132 groomed ski and snowboarding runs designated for beginners alone. There are loads of other winter activities to be done here as well, such as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, tubing, skating, and horse-drawn sleigh rides. SilverStar’s village is colourful and cute with plenty of restaurants, shops, and services, and a range of ski-in/ski-out accommodations. Driving time from Kitsilano is about 5 hours.
Mount Washington Alpine Resort
The closest of these three ski resorts, Mount Washington is near the Comox Valley about halfway up on Vancouver Island. It’s got some of the best powder in BC, mild weather, and 82 excellent runs ranging from beginners to expert. It’s not a huge resort, but it doesn’t need to be. Dining options, lessons, rentals, and ski-in/ski-out lodges are all still available here, and it’s all good value. Along with the usual snowsports, you can also toboggan here for $2 a person/$5 per family (if you bring your own toboggan). It’ll take you about 4 hours to get here, depending on the ferry schedule, of course.
Last modified: August 6, 2020
