Canada

Ikon Adds Red Mountain as a Pass Partner

Alterra has announced that Red Mountain in British Columbia, Canada will partner with Ikon starting in the 2020-21 season. With COVID restrictions looming, it’s unlikely that U.S. passholders will be able to take advantage of the addition this season.

Steamboat and Tremblant Delay Opening Dates, Stratton May Do the Same

Tremblant, Steamboat, and Stratton suggested later starts to the 2020-21 season than previously planned, making them the third, fourth, and fifth mountains owned by Alterra to make such announcements.

Squaw/Alpine Opens A Day Early, Several Other North American Resorts Open This Week

Multiple North American resorts open for the 2020-21 season this week. We’ve detailed the opening-week access details for each of these mountains here.

State of 2020-21 Resort Operations

With COVID-19 cases continuing to persist across North America, we’re seeing some resorts tighten capacity restrictions or push back openings, either voluntarily or by state mandate. As you debate whether to book a trip this season, we’ve decided to aggregate all we know in one place.

State of 2021-22 Ski Resort Operating Plans, Opening Dates, and Updates

In the wake of the rapidly spreading COVID-19 Omicron variant, several resorts have added new mask mandates. No outdoor capacity restrictions have been reinstated as of yet.

Initial Impressions: Lake Louise

We visited this Banff SkiBig3 resort to get some powdery early-season turns in, but the extraordinarily frigid temperatures caught us off guard.

Nakiska

This Alberta resort offers convenient slopes close to Calgary and higher-quality terrain than a typical local hill, but it’s no match for nearby destinations further west in the Canadian Rockies.

Mount Norquay

Banff’s town hill is way too small to be a destination in its own right, but it offers a local vibe and empty slopes.

Fernie

It’s hard not to love this remote Canadian resort on a good day, but a combination of variable weather, wide-ranging logistical shortcomings, and outdated infrastructure put it at a major disadvantage compared to its cutthroat Rockies competition.

Kimberley

This Western Canada resort doesn’t have the footprint or snow totals to compete with the best destinations, but it offers a great value and family-friendly setup.

Tremblant

This busy, frigid resort offers a well-rounded East Coast experience and spectacular base village.

Red Mountain

While it lacks creature comforts that typical travelers might expect from a destination ski resort, this Western Canada resort offers a raw, authentic big mountain experience.

Silver Star

While it doesn’t offer the same terrain distinctiveness as several competitors, this Western Canada resort stands out with one of the most accessible ski-in/ski-out setups on the continent.

Sun Peaks

This massive Interior British Columbia resort offers impeccable grooming and a family-friendly footprint but falls short in particularly distinctive terrain.

Panorama

This remote Canadian resort brings impressive vertical and a ton of character, but it may not offer quite as well-rounded of an overall mountain experience as some competitors.

Kicking Horse

It may not be as tough or striking as the best in the Canadian Rockies, but this British Columbia resort still has a lot to offer.

Big White

It may not be as tough or striking as the best in the Canadian Rockies, but this British Columbia resort still has a lot to offer.

Revelstoke

This one-of-a-kind Canadian Rockies resort should be on every expert’s bucket list, but it feels like it hasn’t been developed to its full potential.

Banff Sunshine Village

This absolutely striking resort has consistent snow and terrain for everyone, although frigid spells are common during the core season.

Lake Louise

While it sees the occasional extreme cold spell, this Banff resort’s jaw-dropping vistas and varied terrain distinguish it from competitors.

Whistler Blackcomb

Despite somewhat variable snow conditions, this massive resort delivers one of the most well-rounded experiences we’ve seen anywhere.