Epic ski towns are just one of many reasons to consider pointing your compass toward British Columbia. You might come to BC for the snowy slopes, but find yourself staying for the endless natural beauty, friendly people, interesting cultures, and all four seasons.
Millions of people travel to BC each winter for vacation, and the following ski towns all make excellent choices for such a trip. Of course, if you’re thinking of moving to this part of Canada, the towns below would be worthy choices for that purpose, as well.
Whistler, BC
Not only is Whistler one of the best ski towns in BC, but it would be easy to argue that this is one of the best ski towns in the world. Whistler draws visitors from around the world each winter to enjoy the huge ski area along with the beautiful scenery and exciting nightlife. If you have the pleasure to visit, pay attention to how many different languages you hear while walking around the village – this is truly a global destination.
If you look at the population of town, you’ll find that it was only around 14,000 as of 2021. That makes it sound like a modest town, and in many ways, it is – but if you are there at the height of ski season, that population will not be accurate. With so many places to stay, and so many outdoor adventures to be had, far more people are present during the peak winter and summer seasons.
The experience available in and around the village is a big part of the appeal of this place, but let’s not overlook the skiing itself. There are two mountains used here, Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain, and they are connected by the incredible Peak 2 Peak Gondola. You’ve likely ridden on plenty of gondolas as a skier, but the experience of riding this one above the valley between the two mountains is unlike anything else.
When you add up what is available between the two mountains, you’ll find more than 200 runs, over 8,00 acres of total terrain, a whopping 37 feet of snow each year on average, and around three dozen total lifts. It’s hard to imagine getting bored here, and, with so many options for lodging nestled at the base of the mountains, you may not need a car for the entire time you are here.
Vancouver, BC
The city of Vancouver, British Columbia doesn’t fit anyone’s definition of a “town”. More than 2.5 million people live in the metropolitan area, and as of 2021, more than 650,000 lived in the city itself. We’ve included it on our list, however, because there are a couple of reliable skiing options in the city and several others within a two hour drive, plus, so much else to do year-round.
As for the city itself, we aren’t going to be able to do Vancouver justice in this short article. Safe to say, no matter what you like to do when you aren’t skiing, you can find it. Excellent dining and shopping options are available throughout the city, there are tons of great hotels, and Stanley Park near downtown is a popular spot to get out for a walk and some sightseeing.
When the time comes to look for some slopes, you’ll have a couple of easily accessible options –
- Grouse Mountain—Located in North Vancouver, Grouse Mountain provides some of the best city views you will ever see in a ski area. There is a nice mix of run difficulties here, night skiing is offered, and a terrain park is available. This isn’t the biggest mountain you’ll ever ski, but given its proximity to a major city, it’s a very enjoyable experience.
- Cypress Mountain—Drive just a bit farther to the west to reach Cypress Mountain, featuring more skiable terrain than Grouse. There are actually three mountains in use here, which adds up to 600 skiable acres and 53 runs to try. A significant portion of those are in the intermediate and difficult categories, so this is a good place for an experienced skier or boarder to spend time.
There is certainly no small ski town experience to be had here, so if that’s what you are after, you’ll want to look well beyond Vancouver. However, if a big city visit – or big city living – are more your style, the Vancouver ski scene has a lot to offer.
Kelowna, BC
Kelowna sits on the eastern shores of Okanagan Lake and had a population of just over 140,000 in 2021. Between what you’ll find directly in the city, and what you can access across the lake in West Kelowna, you’ll have everything you need here in terms of amenities and services.
One of the biggest attractions in Kelowna is the selection of wineries found throughout the city. Choose to visit for a wine tasting, a meal in one of the restaurants, or just to pick up a bottle to take back to your room. These upscale facilities can elevate your experience when the skiing is done for the day.
Speaking of riding, it’s only a short drive away at Big White Ski Resort. You typically won’t wait long to get to the top of a run here, thanks to the availability of 16 total lifts and a whopping 119 trails, the longest of which stretches out for 4.5 miles. There is a vertical drop over 2,500 feet, and an average snow year sees over 24 feet fall on the resort.
Beyond the skiing, there are plenty of places to eat and drink. Other amenities include a tube park, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.
Sun Peaks, BC
For those who are partial to a true small-town skiing experience, Sun Peaks is appealing. The 2021 Census puts the population of Sun Peaks at around 1,400, which is a significant jump from the last estimate in 2016. The growth in popularity is easy to understand when you make it up to this resort town, which is only a short drive from the larger city of Kamloops.
Sun Peaks Resort is the draw to this area, which offers a welcoming village setting and an enjoyable – and expansive — skiing experience. Here is some of what you can expect to find on the slopes –
- The ski area is huge, with more than 4,200 skiable acres in total
- That area is serviced by 13 lifts, including three high-speed quads
- A large 10-acre terrain park is located on the property as well
You aren’t going to discover a lot of action in town, but that might be exactly what you are looking for out of this experience. There is a market, along with a few places to eat, so you should be able to get what you need without driving back down to larger nearby cities.
Invermere, BC
There are many beautiful destinations in British Columbia – and in neighboring Alberta – including Vancouver Island, the Sea-to-Sky Highway that leads to Whistler, the Canadian Rockies, and on and on. One location that gets overlooked compared to the rest is the Columbia Valley, yet this spot deserves plenty of attention in its own right.
The Columbia Valley is where you’ll find Invermere, a pretty town set in the valley near the Columbia River. The 2021 Census found just under 4,000 people to be living in this town, which qualifies as a ski town thanks to its close proximity to Panorama Mountain Resort. Plenty of local dining establishments will be happy to serve you in town, and if you decide to call this place home, summer activities in the area include golf, hiking, water sports, and more.
Getting to Panorama Mountain Resort from Invermere requires only a short drive up into the hills to the west of town. The big selling point for skiers to head to this destination is the impressive vertical that the mountain offers – more than 4,200 feet from the top down to the base of the ski area. That impressive drop, along with nearly 3,000 total patrolled acres, means you’ll have plenty of opportunities to let your skis run and get your heart rate up.
Golden, BC
Staying within the Columbia Valley, we head further north for our last ski town in British Columbia. Golden is another spot that’s just the right size to feel like a bustling ski town – the 2021 Census identified around 4,000 living here on a full-time basis. Like so many of the towns in this part of Western Canada, Golden has endless scenery for visitors and residents to enjoy, and those who love the outdoors will find themselves staying busy throughout the year.
Dining options in town range from standard fast food chains to popular local spots, and it’s easy to pick out one of many lodging options for your stay. One notable local attraction that you might want to check out if you are here in the summer months is the Golden Skybridge, offering an incredible view of the area and a bit of a thrill.
Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is found west of town and is yet another excellent ski destination in British Columbia. Like so many of the other mountains we’ve highlighted in this article, you’ll find great stats here – over 4,300 feet of vertical drop, over 120 runs, and an average annual snowfall of around 24 feet. When you add those numbers up, and you add in the small-town experience of staying or living in Golden, you have a recipe for ski heaven.
It’s hard to go wrong when picking a ski town in Canada, especially in British Columbia. Wherever you go, you are likely to encounter some of the best skiing and snowboarding you’ve ever enjoyed – and the scenery tends to be pretty solid at the same time. Good luck with your adventures out west in Canada and be safe on the slopes!
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