It’s no secret that Canada is home to some of the world’s best skiing. However, the popularity of many of Canada’s ski resorts often comes with limited parking, lift lines, and crowded slopes. Nevertheless, Canada is full of ski areas where you’ll find little to no lift lines and uncrowded ski areas. You’ll just have to look beyond the bigger destination ski resorts and may have to get off the beaten path. Below, we highlight some of the best uncrowded ski resorts across Canada.
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The Best Uncrowded Ski Resorts in Canada
Powder King, British Columbia
Located in Northern British Columbia, Powder King combines uncrowded slopes with tons of powder, receiving nearly 500 inches of snow on average every season. It may have just 37 trails and three lifts, but with 925 acres of skiable terrain and 2,100 feet of vertical, Powder King has a lot to explore. It also has a ski school and access to tons of other activities like snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and more. Powder King is hours from any of British Columbia or Alberta’s major cities, adding to its remoteness. It’s not called the “Whisper of the North” for nothing. Budget travelers who want first tracks should check out Powder King’s ski-in, ski-out hostel right on the slopes.
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Sun Peaks, British Columbia
While Sun Peaks is the second-largest ski resort in Canada in terms of terrain (4,270 acres), it’s quieter and less crowded than many other destination ski resorts in British Columbia. This is in part due to it’s location, north of Kamloops, British Columbia, which is more than a four-hour drive from Vancouver (Whistler is an hour and a half from Vancouver). Sun Peaks is spread out across three mountains, Tod, Sundance, and Morrissey, and offers a mix of terrain for all levels, along with a charming village vibe and good snow conditions most of the ski season. First-timers can take advantage of the resort’s Sun Hosts, offering daily mountain tours to help give skiers and riders a lay of the land.
Sun Peaks is particularly popular with families because of its great ski school, daycare facility, and tons of activities for kids. We named it one of the top ski resorts in North America for families.
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SilverStar, British Columbia
SilverStar is tucked away in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, an hour away from Kelowna International Airport (YLW). Boasting tons of all-natural snow, SilverStar is ideal for those looking to skip the lift lines and head straight for the powder; it receives nearly 300 inches of annual snow on average. With more than 3,000 skiable acres across four distinct mountains, it has lots of terrain for every level of skier and rider. SilverStar has tons of cruisers, while more advanced skiers can head to the steep black diamond runs off the Vance Creek Summit. Head to Silver Woods for great glade skiing. All total the resort has 12 lifts, more than 130 marked runs, and dozens of cross-country trails. SilverStar has an excellent snow school program with plenty of options for kids to level up as they hone their skills. Other highlights include progressive terrain parks, snow tubing, and night skiing.
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Whitewater Ski Resort, British Columbia
Whitewater, located near Nelson in British Columbia’s southern interior, is renowned as a powder playground with consistent snowfall and featuring steeps, deeps, chutes, bowls, and what’s described as the “best glade skiing on the planet.” It’s also one of the least crowded ski resorts in British Columbia thanks to its more off-the-beaten-path location that is hours from a large city. In fact, you won’t find Wi-Fi here and you’re unlikely to have cell service. Boasting nearly 500 inches of annual snow, 3,247 acres of skiable terrain, and 2,014 feet of vertical drop, Whitewater is a gem in a province known for so many great ski areas. Note that while it has plenty of terrain for beginners and intermediate skiers, more than half the mountain is for advanced and expert skiers and riders.
Among the many benefits of skiing at Whitewater is the access to nearby hot springs. After a long day on the slopes, head to Halycon Hot Springs Resort or the Ainsworth Hot Springs Resort to rest those ski legs.
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Castle Mountain, Alberta
Castle Mountain, located in Southern Alberta, may be a lesser-known Canada ski area, but mustn’t be overlooked as the province’s second-largest resort by acreage (3,592 acres). Its remote location and the limited commercial development keeps it relatively uncrowded. Castle Mountain, a skier-owned and operated resort, prides itself on a love for dry powder and challenging terrain, which includes plenty of steeps, excellent tree skiing, and a great mix of open bowls and narrow chutes. The mountain feels vast and wild, with plenty of space for skiers and snowboarders to spread out and explore.
Castle Mountain also has a notable cat skiing operation, the Powder Stagecoach, which is one of the only resort-based cat skiing operations of its kind. If you’re making the three-hour drive from Calgary, make it a weekend by staying at the Castle Mountain Ski Lodge and Hotel. Bonus: Castle Mountain is also one of Canada’s most affordable ski areas, which we wrote about here, offering 20% off lift tickets when they’re purchased online ahead of time.
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Marmot Basin, Alberta
Marmot Basin is another affordable and uncrowded ski resort in Alberta, featuring terrain suited for every type of skier, an easy-to-navigate layout, and short lift lines. Located in Jasper National Park, Marmot Basin is a more unassuming and less crowded ski area than Alberta’s Banff ski resorts, in part because it’s further north, making for a nearly five-hour drive from Calgary. It’s popular with families because of its wide-open slopes, tons of green and blue runs, and family ski package that makes it affordable for families to ski together.
Marmot Basin boasts a plentiful 1,720 acres of skiable terrain across five mountains with stunning views of the surrounding Canadian Rockies. The wide-open terrain spreads people out, helping to curate a relaxed, uncrowded experience and an easygoing vibe. In addition to its affordable lift tickets and multiple pass options, Marmot Basin is also a member of The Mountain Collective.
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Le Masif de Charlevoix, Quebec
Rising high above the St. Lawrence River, Le Massif de Charlevoix is a spectacular mountain that’s located just an hour east of Quebec City. It’s known for steep runs and the most vertical east of the Canadian Rockies with 2,526 feet of drop. Le Masif de Charlevoix is also home to Club Med’s first all-inclusive mountain resort in North America. Guests can enjoy a great day of skiing with breathtaking views of the St. Lawrence River and then come back to their accommodations to soak in hot tubs overlooking the river. Top it all off with aprés-ski and dinner on-property at Le Chalet or Le Marché. Le Massif provides a peaceful, authentic Canadian ski experience away from the crowds.
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Mont Sutton, Quebec
Mont Sutton has been a mainstay in the Quebec ski scene since 1960. It’s conveniently located just an hour and a half from Montreal, so it’s not nearly as remote as some of the other Canadian ski resorts on this list. Yet despite its proximity to Montreal, it’s relatively uncrowded with little to no lift lines. This is thanks in part to nearly half of its skiable terrain being comprised of glades. Even still, more than half of its 60 trails are green and blue runs so that every type of skier and rider will find something to love. Mont Sutton is also a great family ski area because of its Family Zone, featuring a magic carpet and chairlift dedicated to the family zone, easy trails, and a beginner’s terrain park.
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Header image: ©Robb Thompson of SilverStar Resort
Read about the best uncrowded ski resorts in the U.S. here.
January 22, 2025
