Why should British Columbia, Canada be on the top of your ski bucket list?
Many of the world’s greatest ski destinations are located within British Columbia. The combination of big mountains, great snow and vibrant mountain towns is the perfect mix to help create a ski trip of a lifetime.
With the Canadian on par with the Aussie dollar, now is a great time to plan a BC ski trip!
Here’s our list of 10 reasons why you have to ski BC on your next ski trip.
Riding fresh powder in Whistler’s Flute Bowl. Photo: Andrew Strain
1. Whistler Blackcomb – North America’s largest ski resort!
Consistently rated as the number one ski resort in North America, Whistler Blackcomb is a 1.5 hour drive from Vancouver. Whistler Blackcomb is North America’s largest ski resort and spans two mountains, connected by the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola. You’ll never get bored skiing or snowboarding at Whistler Blackcomb, with more than 200 marked runs, 16 alpine bowls and three glaciers. A truly global destination resort with glamorous après and loads of activities off the mountain that cater to everyone. You will have a truly memorable holiday at Whistler Blackcomb.
Skiing through the snow ghosts at Revelstoke Mountain Resort. Photo: Andrew Strain
2. Revelstoke Mountain Resort – North America’s longest lift serviced vertical.
Canada’s newest ski destination, Revelstoke Mountain Resort, gives skiers and snowboarders access to the continent’s longest lift-serviced vertical at 1,712 metres. The best part? The village base is only 512 metres above sea level, which means you won’t be short of breath plowing through the nine to 13 metres of powder the resort sees on average each season. Lap the alpine before ending the day with a slow, easy cruise down The Last Spike, a 15.2-kilometre green run that winds its way to the village base.
If you love ski-in / ski-out accommodation, you are in luck in British Columbia where most resorts are well serviced in this area. With easy access to and from skiing, you’ll have more time to relax before and after skiing, without the stress of jumping in a car or a bus to access the mountain. Options include private slopes-side cabin rentals, hotels at the base of gondolas, and ski-in/ski-out condo rentals. The Josie Hotel at RED Mountain Resort, Whistler’s new Pod Hotel, and a few new boutique hotels in Revelstoke are great options. Big White Ski Resort has the largest ski-in/ski-out village in Canada and at Sun Peaks Resort the modern village is a ski-through affair, so you can ski right up to your hotel, local coffee shop, or dinner reservation through the pedestrian-only ski village.
Dogsledding is offered at many ski resorts across British Columbia.
4. Loads to do beyond skiing!
Skiing is one reason to make a holiday to British Columbia, but there are so many other activities to enjoy too. Winter is full of reasons to play in the snow. Most ski resorts offer dogsledding, a chance to glide through the forest pulled by a team of mountain-loving sled dogs. Or you can lace up and skate along Apex Mountain Resort’s one-kilometre skating loop. At Big White Resort you can climb a frozen tower of ice, standing 18 metres tall. Cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and a simple stroll through an alpine village are all great ways to spend time between laps down the mountain or rest days. There are plenty of winter activities to enjoy around British Columbia.
Skiing powder at Revelstoke Mountain Resort. Photo: Ian Houghton
5. Powder Highway road trip!
The ultimate ski road trip is found in BC’s southeastern corner. This powder-seekers loop travels through the Kootenays and deep into the heart of the Rocky, Purcell, and Monashee mountains. Eight lift-service alpine resorts, two dozen cat-ski and heli-ski operations, and backcountry lodges punctuate the landscape. Ski them all, or choose just a few—BC’s Powder Highway will not disappoint.
Photo: Big Red Cats
6. Thousands of acres of cat-skiing accessed terrain!
BC is a vast snow covered area, and you can access loads of pristine powder snow using professional cat-skiing operators located here. Former Australian ski team member, Kieron Gaul created Big Red Cats based out of RED Mountain Resort and has over 500 named runs, spread out over 20,000 acres.
For those wanting to experience cat skiing from $10, try your hand at Mt Kirkup Cat Skiing located at RED Mountain Resort. This unique set-up will get you hooked on cat skiing!
Walking the trail to Schooner Cove in Tofino. Photo: @nathanielatakora via Instagram
7. Ski and surf on the same day
There aren’t many places in North America where you can ski on a mountain while taking in views of the ocean. There are fewer still where you can ski in the morning and surf in the afternoon. On Vancouver Island, you can do it all. Grab first tracks at Mount Washington, then head to Tofino and learn to surf Chesterman Beach or tackle the swell at Long Beach. For lovers of both swell and snow, Vancouver Island is paradise.
Eagle’s Eye Restaurant at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. Photo: Reuben Krabbe
8. Apres-ski at Canada’s highest-elevated restaurant
The views from Eagle’s Eye Restaurant at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort are some of the best in Canada. A meal, or just an après, at Canada’s highest-elevated restaurant at 2,346 metres above sea level is a must-do. You don’t even need to come down: you can book a stay in the Eagle’s Eye Suites. That means guaranteed first tracks from your own private mountain-top retreat.
Mica Heli Skiing near Revelstoke. Photo: Blake Jorgenson
9. BC is the birthplace of heli-skiing
Over 50 years ago, Hans Gmoser—legendary climber, mountain guide, and backcountry skier—whisked a few intrepid skiers into the Bugaboo Mountains by helicopter. Soon after, the first commercial heli-ski operation in the world was up and running. Now, BC is home to dozens of heli-ski operations, with terrain that stretches from the far corners of Northern BC, to the rugged Coast Mountains, and into the Canadian Rockies. Choose from one-day boutique operations to week-long adrenaline getaways. Why not give it a go where it all began?
Skiing over Vancouver’s city lights on Grouse Mountain. Photo: Pierre Leclerc/Getty Images
10. Night ski above Vancouver’s city lights at three resorts
Where else in North America can you ski on three different mountains while gazing down upon a major metropolis? By travelling less than 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver, you can ski at Cypress Mountain, Grouse Mountain, or Mt Seymour before heading back into the city for an evening on the town. Glide down perfectly groomed night-skiing runs while the city lights twinkle below.
To learn more about skiing in British Columbia click here http://winterwith.in/home