Ski Areas on Vancouver Island

Set in western British Columbia, Vancouver Island lies across the Straight of Georgia from Vancouver, and is home to the capital city of Victoria.

Many ski areas are found near cities like Courtenay and Campbell River, so grab your goggles and hit the slopes. The northernmost area of Vancouver Island's ski parks, Mount Cain is a scenic, two-hour drive from Campbell River near the city of Woss.

Mount Cain Alpine Park is an intimate ski area, featuring 21 runs, and 1,499 feet of vertical terrain for skiing, snowboarding, and plenty of also cross-country skiing.

The Vancouver Island city of Courtenay yields two nearby ski areas: Mount Washington for Alpine skiing, and Strathcona Provincial Park for Nordic skiing. Both are set in the Vancouver Island Ranges near Comox Valley, providing Mount Washington with 10 meters of annual snowfall – one of Canada's deepest snow packs.

Mount Washington Alpine Resort has a top elevation of 1,590 meters, and features 60 ski runs, two terrain parks, and six chair lifts serving 1,200 visitors per hour.

Mount Washington also yields 55 kilometers of trail for cross-country skiing – some of which run into the nearby Strathcona Provincial Park. Strathcona Park features cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails in the popular Paradise Meadows sector of the park.

Mount Washington

Outdoor fun abounds on Vancouver Island. Since 1979, Mount Washington Alpine Resort has been home to a variety of outdoor enthusiasts. The resort is conveniently located off of Strathcona Parkway, near Courtenay and the Comox Valley, allowing for easy access for travelers on the island.

Whether looking for winter or summer recreation, this year-round resort has it all. Those ready for a lot of snow, love to hit the slopes and experience skiing and snowboarding in some of the deepest snow in the world. Receiving an average snowfall of thirty-eight feet each year, the resort's eighty-one runs, over 1,700 acres are ready for action.

Snowshoeing and ice skating are also popular winter activities at the resort. Summer proves to be just as fun, with a variety of mountain biking trails accessible by the HAWK high-speed chairlift. Scenic mile high chairlift rides, alpine hiking, disc golf, mini golf and the bungy trampoline are great ways to enjoy the warm days of summer.