Rated Ski Resorts in Canada

Fernie Alpine Resort is a great ski vacation option for almost anyone. You can plan a family vacation here, a friends weekend or week-long getaway, or park yourself here for a winter. The snow and skiing are comparable to other resorts in Western Canada, with an average snowfall close to 30 feet each season. The runs are a good mix of terrain, from open bowls to groomed runs and glades.

This out-of-the-way ski resort in the interior of British Columbia has long been a favorite with advanced and expert skiers and known particularly for its awesome tree skiing. Located near Rossland, Red Mountain takes a little more time and planning to access, but the reward is uncrowded runs, a friendly town with old-school charm, and reasonable prices. Each season, Red receives 25 feet of snow, and when it dumps, this is the place to come to find great powder days.

Lesser known on an international scale, Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, outside of Golden, BC, is a three-hour drive from the city of Calgary, and is frequented by both families and hardcore skiers. The mountain has 4,133 feet of vertical, an average of 24 feet of snow each season, incredible expert terrain, steeps, and great hike-to powder runs.

SilverStar Mountain Resort is a family focused resort with a charming village at the base of the slopes. Buildings in the village are painted in bright colors and are all designed around a similar concept.

Sun Peaks is Canada's second largest ski area, after Whistler but is still largely unknown outside of Canada and even one of the lesser-known resorts within Canada. Given the amount of terrain, spread over three mountains, it's not surprising this resort offers a little something for everyone, with steeps, cruisers, and tree skiing. And, although you can find a wide variety of runs, Sun Peaks is particularly focused on beginner and intermediate skiing, making it a great choice for families.

Located in the interior of British Columbia, about a 2.5-hour drive from the city of Kelowna, Revelstoke is a little more difficult to get to than some resorts but well worth the effort. The mountain sees a high number of powder days; has few crowds; and offers excellent terrain, from open bowls to tree runs and beginner areas. You can generally be assured of good conditions here; the resort receives an average of 30 feet of snow each season.

Big White is known for awesome powder days, wide-open views, an abundance of intermediate runs, as well as a good mix of beginner and expert terrain. This is a wonderful family resort, with plenty of convenient accommodation options, including ski-in, ski-out lodging.

Located in Banff National Park, not far from the town of Banff, Sunshine Village is heavenly on a sunny day. A gondola uploads skiers from the parking lot to the village at the base of the runs. Lifts from here take you to runs above the tree line, where wide-open bowls filled with 23 feet of snow each season, offer incredible views over the rugged peaks of the Rocky Mountains.

Lake Louise Ski Resort does not have on-site accommodation but does have fantastic day use facilities at the base, with restaurants serving tasty meals, as well as other on-mountain restaurants. Skiers can base themselves in the nearby village of Lake Louise or in the town of Banff, about 45 minutes away.

Lake Louise, in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, and less than an hour from the town of Banff, is one of Canada's most well-known resorts. From the slopes, majestic views stretch out over the Bow Valley and surrounding mountains and beyond to the palatial Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.