Every ski bum dreams of spending a couple of weeks traveling the Powder Highway. From Whistler to Red Mountain, to Roger’s Pass and Quebec, Canada offers some of the most consistent and overall rad skiing in the world. It’s like Europe, except for the home-brewed espresso is replaced by Tim Hortons and the croissants are substituted by poutine.
So if this is the year you leave the States to ski Canada, visit the following 10 resorts.
10) Mont-Sainte-Anne
Although Mont-Sainte-Anne resembles a hill more than it resembles a mountain, this resort offers some of the best views in all of skiing. With the ice-packed St. Lawrence river running beneath its slopes and meandering hills all around, Mont-Sainte-Anne is a must for any east coast skier. Also, don’t forget to stop at one of the sugar shacks located on the La Pichard trail.
Vertical Drop- 2,050 ft
Skiable Terrain- 547 acres
Number of Lifts- 9
Annual Snowfall- 188 inches
9) Panorama
With 4,300 vertical feet, Panorama is no slouch of a ski resort. Although many of its trails are geared towards novice skiers, the terrain located in Taynton Bowl is worth the visit alone.
Vertical Drop- 4,019 ft
Skiable Terrain- 2,847 acres
Number of Lifts- 10
Annual Snowfall- 196 inches
8) Sunshine Village
Sunshine Village is a local’s favorite within the Ski Banff resort complex and its Delirium Dive is one of the rowdiest zones in North America. Definitely not for your everyday Jerry (although Jerry doesn’t care what we think, Jerry just goes), the “dive” is at a minimum 40 degrees and only open when avalanche conditions permit. It’s no surprise that this is where shredders like Eric Hjorleifson and Chris Ruebens cut their teeth.
Vertical Drop- 3,514 ft
Skiable Terrain- 3,358 acres
Number of Lifts- 12
Annual Snowfall- 360 inches
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7) Fernie Alpine Resort
This resort is home to some of the biggest mountains in interior British Columbia and boasts a 440 inch annual snowfall total. Lizard Bowl is the crown jewel of Fernie and if its open… Head directly there.
Vertical Drop- 3,550 ft
Skiable Terrain- 2,500 acres
Number of Lifts- 10
Annual Snowfall- 444 inches
6) Lake Louise
Lake Louise is a ski area in Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies, known for its turquoise, glacier-fed lake ringed by high peaks and overlooked by a stately chateau. The skiing is some of the best in Alberta with insane views and a connection with nature and wildlife that you do not find at many resorts.Vertical Drop- 3,250′
Skiable Terrain- 4200 acres
Number of Lifts- 10
Annual Snowfall- 179″
5) Red Mountain Resort
Image: Red Mountain Facebook Page
Red Mountain may just be soul skiing’s epicenter from which all ski bum dreams of no lift lines, perfectly spaced glades, and lift accessed touring spring from. Once a fairly quant ski hill with lots of backcountry options, the resort now includes the neighboring Grey Mountain, which puts Red Mountain in the running with the likes of Revelstoke and Kicking Horse for quality and amount of terrain the southern B.C. resort offers.
Vertical Drop- 2,919ft
Skiable Terrain- 4,200 acres
Number of Lifts- 7
Annual Snowfall- 300 inches
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4) Whitewater Ski Resort
Known for its legendary pillows, Whitewater is a homegrown ski community that lies just outside the town of Nelson in British Columbia’s legendary Kootenay mountains. No matter what, Whitewater should be a mandatory stop on everyone’s powder highway trip. Although it’s a relative dwarf compared to Whistler, the terrain it offers more than makes up for its humble size. Not to mention, the grassroots vibe is worth the trip alone.
Vertical Drop- 2,044ft
Skiable Terrain- 1,184 acres
Number of Lifts- 4
Annual Snowfall- 472 inches
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3) Revelstoke Mountain Resort
Offering up the biggest vertical drop in North America from its iconic “Stoke Chair”, Revelstoke is Jackson Hole’s first cousin to the north. With expansive in bounds as well as backcountry opportunities, Revelstoke is coming into its own as a premier destination for skiers and boarders.
Vertical Drop- 5,620 ft
Skiable Terrain- 3,120 acres
Number of Lifts- 5
Annual Snowfall- 440 inches
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2) Kicking Horse Mountain Resort
Image: Kicking Horse Facebook Page
Kicking Horse is a world of its own. With its own big mountain comp “Wrangle the Chute,” its obvious that this resort is nothing short of unique. With couloirs spilling off multiple aspects of the mountain, Kicking Horse is a big mountain skier’s dream. Also, being on the border of Alberta and Columbia puts it just far enough out-of-the-way to see minimal lift lines even though its lifts serve some of the best terrain in North America.
Vertical Drop- 4,133 ft
Skiable Terrain- 2,800 acres
Number of Lifts- 5
Annual Snowfall- 295 inches
Also Read: The Top 10 Ski Resorts to Visit This Winter
1) Whistler Blackcomb
Simply put, Whistler is a beast. From Hollywood lines off the Peak Chair to runs like Staircase and Surf’s Up, the mountains that make up Whistler Blackcomb were made for skiing. And although Vail Resorts is creating a competitor by combining Park City and the Canyons as the second largest ski area in North America, Whistler still blows all the competition out of the water with its immense terrain and variety.
Vertical Drop- 5,280ft
Skiable Terrain- 8,171 acres
Number of Lifts- 37
Annual Snowfall- 458 inches