Mont Écho was once one of Quebec’s major ski resorts, offering between 15 and 25 ski runs with 3 lifts. Unfortunately it didn’t last very long, staying open just between 1963 and 1978. It’s demise would foreshadow the struggle seen by many Quebec ski resorts over the years. Skier 72 took a deep dive into the ski area’s history.
Mont Echo, was incorporated in 1963 by Ontario businessmen. They installed two GMD Mueller double chairlifts and a Poma lift, boasting a 1,500-foot vertical drop and 15 trails, drawing skiers from Quebec and Vermont.
A three-story base lodge was prefabricated in Ontario. Despite joining the pioneering Ski East pass program (with resorts like Jay Peak), operations suffered from poor snow in the low, flat base area, prone to rain and with a required uphill sections, while relying solely on natural snow without making systems.
The resort faced bankruptcy in 1968 but was acquired by Cerro Alta Corporation. It invested in grooming and lift rebuilds in 1970, plus a strong ski instruction program. Competition from nine nearby hills and fickle weather led to weekends-only ops in 1977-78. Unfortunately the ’78 season was its last.
Lifts were removed in 1979 and sold to Mont Sutton; the lodge became a hunting spot before burning in 2005. Nature has reclaimed the site, with trails overgrown and unmappable today.
