Within a short 30 minute drive from downtown Vancouver, there are three local ski hills to enjoy. All levels are welcome at the resorts, with a wide variety of runs and terrain to suit everybody. Escape the rainy city and hit the slopes for an action packed, adrenaline filled day in a winter paradise.

Cypress Mountain resort

Location: West Vancouver, BC
Distance from Vancouver: 28 KM - 30 min
1 Day lift ticket: $75.00
Number of lifts: 9
Total runs: 53

To the left from downtown Vancouver, towering above West Vancouver and overlooking Horseshoe Bay is our personal favorite, Cypress Mountain. Cypress offers the highest vertical and claims the most serious skiing experience on The North Shore. The vertical Rise is 1700 feet or just over 600 meters. It offers three quad chairs and two double chairs. The Eagle Express is a high-speed detachable quad.

There are 53 downhill Runs and Cypress hosted both snowboard and freestyle events in the 2010 Olympics. Most of the runs are lighted for Night Skiing offering guests the ability to ski or snowboard from 09:00 Am to 10:00 PM. Cypress also offers Cross Country Skiing, Snowtubing and Snowshoeing Tours.

Cypress offers a fantastic variety of terrain from beautifully groomed slopes to tight tree runs and epic forest explorations, moguls runs, fresh powder lines (fingers crossed) or a day in the terrain park. Cypress mountain is one of the few places in the world you can ski and ride while enjoying spectacular views over the Pacific Ocean. The earlier in the season, the better and drier the snow is, although even on an April morning, one can enjoy a fluffy dry powder run on this enchanted mountain.

There are steep runs through tight little Christmas trees to cruisers that will make your thighs burn. The views of Georgia Straight, Vancouver, English Bay and Howe Sound adorn the views from the trails.

Join Into The Wild on one of our day tours to Cypress Mountain and experience everthing the mountain has to offer. For more information click here.

Grouse mountain

Location: North Vancouver, BC
Distance from Vancouver: 12 KM - 18 min
1 Day lift ticket: $63.00
Number of lifts: 5
Total runs: 34

Grouse Mountain is the most obvious mountain above Vancouver as far as ski hills go. Grouse has a variety of mountain terrain that is suitable for novices and experts.

You can get there on a regular North Vancouver bus. Therefore, do not be surprised to see people carrying skis and snowboards on buses. Grouse is situated right in the middle of The North shore Mountains accessed by its 2800 vertical ft (900metre) Sky Ride Tram from the top of Capilano Road. The one hundred-passenger tram whisks everyone in 8 minutes to an alpine paradise.

The trails are serviced by two quad lifts, two rope tows and a magic carpet ride. The tram operates 365 days a year and the ski season can last from November till April, depending on the snow year.

There are double diamond runs such as “Purgatory” or “Devil’s Advocate” on the Olympic Express or enjoy The Cut for more gentle runs. The Screaming Eagle was Vancouver’s first Quad Chair. There are lots of other activities including snowshoeing and walking trails as well.

mount Seymour

Location: North Vancouver, BC
Distance from Vancouver: 33 KM - 30 min
1 Day lift ticket: $56.00
Number of lifts: 5
Total runs: 40

Mt Seymour is located eastward, to the right of Grouse Mountain when looking at The North Shore Mountains from downtown Vancouver. The Mt Seymour Provincial Park was established in 1936 and the ski hill opened in 1984. You can cruise a few runs or dip into some old growth Cedars for some powder snow. For the more adventurous, there’s a 45-minute hike up Mt Strachan.

Seymour has a base elevation of 1,010 m and a 1,400 m summit giving the mountain 1000 vertical skiable ft (330metres) on five lifts comprised of three double chairs and two surface lifts. Mt Seymour is a charming family ski hill with a real feeling of BC heritage and only minutes drive from North Vancouver and under a half hour from downtown.