Winter Recreation

While Vancouver [1] is the gateway to world-renowned Whistler [2] and Blackcomb, the city boasts three other alpine resorts on its back doorstep.

Grouse Mountain

Towering above North Vancouver, the slopes of Grouse Mountain (Nancy Greene Way, 604/980-9311, www.grousemountain.com [3]) can be seen from many parts of the city, but as you’d expect, on a clear day views from up there are much more spectacular. Four chairlifts and a couple of T-bars serve 24 runs and a vertical rise of 365 meters (1,200 feet).

Most runs are lit daily until 10 p.m. and overlook the city of Vancouver, laid out in all its brilliance far below. Facilities at the resort include a snowboard park, a rental shop, a ski and snowboard school, and a couple of dining choices. Lift tickets are adult $58, senior and youth $42, child $31.

Cypress Mountain

Cypress Mountain (Cypress Bowl Road, Exit 8 off Hwy 1, 604/926-5612, www.cypressmountain.com [4]) hosted the freestyle skiing and snowboarding events of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. It offers about 25 runs across a vertical rise of 534 meters (1,750 feet). Spectacular views take in Howe Sound and Vancouver Island [5]. Lift tickets are adult $52, senior and child $29. Cypress also caters to cross-country skiers and snowshoers, with 16 kilometers (10 miles) of groomed and track-set trails, some of which are lit for night skiing.

Mount Seymour

With the highest base elevation of Vancouver [1]’s three alpine resorts, Mount Seymour (604/986-2261, www.mountseymour.com [6]) has snow that is somewhat reliable, but the area’s relatively gentle terrain will be of interest only to beginning and intermediate skiers and boarders. Four chairlifts serve 20 runs and a vertical rise of 365 meters (1,200 feet). Daily lift passes are adult $44, senior $32, child $24. You can also rent snowshoes ($16) and tramp along the resort’s trail system ($10 for a day pass), but the Friday night guided snowshoe walk ($45) is a real treat—and not only because of the chocolate fondue at the end.

The resort is in Mount Seymour Provincial Park [7]. To get there, head north off the TransCanada Highway 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) east of the Lions Gate Bridge, following the Mount Seymour Parkway to Mount Seymour Road.