The Top British Columbia Ski Resorts

Clock Icon 12 minutes read
Update Icon Jan 03, 2022

Are you looking for a ski resort in British Columbia, Canada? If so, there are plenty of amazing resorts that can vie for the best ski area available. Regardless of whether you like to ski or snowboard, there are plenty of options for both Canadian and international skiers. There are even opportunities to go heli-skiing at some of the best ski resorts that North America has to offer. With high snowfall rates, the opportunity to take a beautiful gondola ride, and ski-in ski-out resorts that compare favorably to anything found in the Rockies, it is easy to see why so many people fall in love with the backcountry, family-friendly skiing opportunities in British Columbia.

Before you purchase lift tickets, take a look at some of the top BC ski resorts available, and choose one of the best BC ski resorts for your next trip!

Sun Peaks Resort

Sun Peaks, British Columbia (Photo Credit: Harry Beugelink)

Even though there are plenty of resorts you can put in the top spot, Sun Peaks Resort is more than deserving. It gives you access to the second-largest ski area in Canada. There are more than 4200 acres you can ski, and you have access to 3 separate mountains that each has its own personality. The mountains include Mount Morrissey, Mount Sundance, and mount Todd. You will find more than 130 named runs, with plenty of opportunities for skiers of all levels.

This ski resort has become more popular during the past few years because of its improved uphill capacity. For example, they recently put in a brand new chairlift, called the Crystal Chair, which can increase the uphill capacity by approximately 20 percent.

In total, the resort has a vertical drop of clothes to 2900 ft and 13 separate lifts. The area also gets approximately 18 feet of snow annually. Of course, there is plenty to do off the slopes as well. You might want to check out the alpine village, situated right at the base of the last run. There are plenty of restaurants and shops that you can explore when you are done skiing for the day.

SilverStar Mountain Resort

SilverStar Mountain Resort has been open for more than 60 years. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that it is ranked as one of the best ski resorts in North America. Located in British Columbia, it is known as an amazing location for families. It has more than 130 runs and has a vertical drop of approximately 2500 ft. There is even a run that is more than 5 miles long.

There is plenty of intermediate skiing terrain situated in this resort. The back area of the mountain is very steep and deep, getting plenty of skiing opportunities for advanced skiers. Without a doubt, one of the highlights is the village located right in the middle of the sea area. There are plenty of shops, restaurants, and accommodations. Even though parking spots are limited, there are plenty of opportunities for you to select a rental that has ski-in, ski-out opportunities. If you are looking for an amazing experience, why not take a look at this resort?

Whistler Blackcomb

Whistler & Blackcomb Mountains, British Columbia (Photo Credit: Pierre Leclerc)

Whistler is regularly rated as one of the best ski resorts in the world, so it should be no surprise that it has a spot on this list as well! The resort is actually a combination of two separate mountains that have more than 240 runs. Therefore, you can ski for hours on end and never ski the same trail twice! You can access the resort relatively easily from the downtown Vancouver area or via the Sea to Sky Highway.

Because of where the resort is located, it has a deep base throughout the year because of its tremendous snowfall. Every year, the resort receives close to 36 ft of snow. Therefore, there is a good chance that your favorite runs will always be accessible. The resort even put in a gondola that can seat 10 people at a time! Therefore, a trip to Whistler will surely give you the opportunity to maximize your time in the snow! When you are done, take in some amazing views, enjoy a delicious meal, and relax with a hot bath or shower!

Revelstoke Mountain Resort

Mount Revelstoke National Park, British Columbia (Photo Credit: David Bukach)

If you are looking for a resort that is filled with challenging terrain, then you’ll certainly want to take a look at Revelstoke. Located in the Eastern area of British Columbia, the mountain receives more than thirty feet of snow every year. The actual skiing area is located on Mount McKenzie. It features the highest vertical drop of any resort in North America, with a total distance of more than 5,600 feet.

Given the massive vertical drop, it should come as no surprise that this is also home to some of the most challenging skiing to rain. Even though there are plenty of beginner options available, there are plenty of opportunities for you to challenge yourself as well. You can take advantage of helicopter skiing, sign up for some amazing accommodations, and take a look at private rentals. If you are looking for the best resort in British Columbia, you should certainly not pass up the opportunity to check out everything that Revelstoke has to offer.

Big White Ski Resort

When people think about Big White Ski Resort, they usually think about an amazing location that has plenty of white snow. Of course, it has been a player named, and the resort received more than 25 feet of snow every year. As you take a ride on the chairlift, you may see some trees that are covered in snow that resemble ghosts! The resort has close to 120 named runs and about 16 lifts, including a high-capacity gondola. Of course, there are plenty of other unnamed runs that you can check out as well.

The resort is known for its long, open, cruising runs that are meant for intermediate skiers. If this is your first time skiing, you will still have the opportunity to take lessons on the bunny hill before you move up. Then, if you are an advanced skier, you may want to sign up for lessons that expose you to some of the toughest trails on the mountain. This is one of the best ways to get better on your skis. You may want to check out a few jumps, boxes, bumps, and rails located in the terrain park. If you want to go out at night, you have the opportunity to do so as well!

Red Mountain Resort

If you are someone who likes classical runs, you’ll certainly enjoy Red Mountain Resort. This gem is often overlooked, but it has plenty of opportunities for skiing and snowboarding, given that it receives approximately 25 feet of snow every year. You have access to more than 3800 acres of skiing and more than 110 runs, some of which go on for miles. If you like to ski in the trees, then you’ll want to take a look at some of the glades as well.

The lift lines here are very short, so you should be able to maximize your runs during the day. Even though it is getting more popular, the resort is making improvements to increase the number of people that it can handle. The resort is also looking at opening up some new runs on other areas of the mountain as well as cat skiing opportunities off the powder highway. You might also want to try cats being, which is a great opportunity for you to ski off the beaten trail. You might want to check out Rossland as well, which has a variety of accommodations and a lot of history behind it. There are plenty of places to stay, so make sure you consider all options available, both on and off the ski hill, for your ski trip.

Apex Mountain Resort

If you call yourself a powder king, then you’ll certainly want to check out Apex, which is located in Penticton. The area is known for its dry snow, fluffy powder, and beautiful skies. Even though this is a beautiful ski resort, it is not nearly as popular as many of the other options on this list. For this reason, there are plenty of opportunities for you to maximize your time on the slopes. The average wait time here is only two minutes, so you can get up and down as quickly as possible.

In addition, it is the only ski resort located in the Okanagan Valley that has a northwest face. Therefore, the brand new powder snow is not affected by the sun, which means there are plenty of opportunities to maximize your skiing. Every year, the ski resort receives approximately 20 feet of fresh powder, so you can certainly take advantage of everything this area has to offer. There are plenty of groomed runs as well, allowing you to practice your skill. Check out everything this beautiful ski resort offers.

Panorama Mountain Resort

If you are looking for a mountain that gives you access to wide-open runs, then you’ll certainly want to check out Panorama. The mountain is approximately 20 minutes by car from Invermere, and this is a mountain that is meant for families. There are plenty of advanced runs as well, but most of the mountain is mostly beginner and intermediate slopes. This means green circles and blue squares. If you are looking for a steep area, you’ll want to check out Taynton Bowl, which is deep and steep.

The total vertical drop at this resort is more than 4600 ft. There are close to 130 named runs and a total of ten lifts to get you from the bottom to the top. This includes a quick gondola ride. Do not overlook this beautiful place that is meant for people of all levels.

Kicking Horse Mountain Resort

There are a lot of people who have fallen in love with Kicking Horse, and it is located in Golden, right in the middle of British Columbia. This area is known for its amazing amount of powder snow. Therefore, it is truly a place that is meant for skiers. It receives approximately 24 feet of snow annually, and the vast majority of the runs are meant for intermediate and advanced skiers. Therefore, if you want to tackle everything this resort has to offer, you should be an experienced skier. There are plenty of opportunities for lessons as well.

The resort has a high uphill capacity. You can go from the bottom to the top in just 12 minutes thanks to a beautiful Gondola. If you go from top to bottom, you’ll drop in altitude by more than 4,300 ft. There are plenty of surface lifts and traditional chairlifts available as well. Therefore, if you really want to challenge yourself, consider signing up to spend a week at this beautiful resort. You’ll be glad you did.

Kimberley Alpine Resort

Even though the Kimberly resort is relatively small, it is still one of the most popular options in British Columbia. There is still more than asking to keep you busy, and the mountain is home to the longest run with lights and the largest gladed ski areas. There are four separate mountains you can see. They include Northstar Mountain, Black Forest, Tamarack Ridge, and Vimy Ridge. The first mountain on the list is meant for beginners, while the other mountains are meant for people with more experience. In total, the area is home to 1800 acres and 80 separate runs.

Even though you may feel like you will be done relatively quickly, there are plenty of night skiing opportunities available as well. Therefore, just because the sun goes down does it mean you need to get off the mountain. You can also take advantage of dog sledding opportunities along with beautiful restaurants and accommodations for the apres-ski opportunities. This is also one of the most affordable options available, so you may want to consider adding this one to your left.

Mount Washington Alpine Resort

If you are looking for a hidden treasure, then you may want to check out Mount Washington Alpine Resort on Vancouver Island. This is one of the most affordable options in the area, and it gives you access to a vertical drop of approximately 1500 ft. The resort supposedly receives approximately 33 ft of snow every year, so you should have your fill of fresh powder.

This is a relatively relaxed area. It is meant for families, and you can learn how to ski. There are four magic carpets, which means that there are plenty of opportunities for beginners to learn. There are still a handful of intermediate and advanced runs, but this area is mostly meant for beginners. If you have young children who are learning how to ski, this could be the place to go. There are cross-country trails, a tubing park, and bike trails you can explore as well. Therefore, when you are tired of your skis, there is still a lot to do.

Get Ready for an Amazing Skiing Experience

These are just a few of the numerous British Columbia ski resorts available. There are plenty of other options to consider as well, including Harper Mountain, Manning Park, and Shames Mountain. Baniff in the winter has so much to offer. With so many ski towns available, it should be relatively easy for you to find skiable terrain! When you want to take a break from skiing, consider trying out dog sledding, snowmobiling, or snowshoeing! Don’t forget to check out some of the terrain parks as well, which have some of the biggest jumps in the region! Then, be sure to take a look at some vacation rentals as well! There are plenty of options with beautiful views that will have you wanting to come back over and over again!