Favorite Ski Areas Of Alaska and Western Canada
Alaska and the Canadian Northwest might be known for their rugged, remote terrain and the high-octane adventures often undertaken across it, but that doesn’t mean the only way to experience the singular beauty of this region is via expedition. The top Nordic ski areas listed below manage to make the wondrous wild of this region accessible to all, without watering down its grandeur or taming its exhilarating topography. Be sure to follow the links to the websites of these awesome ski areas for more information and to plan your own trips!
Eaglecrest Nordic Center
Though there might be slightly vaster ski offerings in Alaska, what Eaglecrest Nordic Center lacks in trail length, it makes up for with its convenient location, excellent amenities, and views, views, views. Linked to the Eaglecrest Ski Area, the Center sits just outside of Juneau, on Douglas Island, giving visitors a lush panorama of the island’s peaks and the adjacent Gastineau Channel. Tickets, lessons and equipment can be purchased and rented at the Eaglecrest Lodge, which also offers delicious ski fare and the full après spread at the Tower Bar. Nordic passes are $18 for adults, and kids ski free!
Strathcona Wilderness Centre
The name of this remote gem tells you all you need to know: at Strathcona Wilderness Centre, getting into the wild is the name of the game. Located on a stunning island of forest in the UNESCO Beaver Hills Biosphere Reserve, the Centre’s 15 km of well-maintained trails loop along lake and forest edges and lead curious visitors to various lookouts, and lovely picnic and camping spots. The rental shop has a full range of cross-country ski gear available, as well as sit-skis and skinning equipment for folks to try. Be sure to bring your own ingredients and cook a delicious feast for you and your crew over a woodfire. Plan your expedition to this understated ski destination here!
Photo Credit: JaN Studios
Cypress Mountain Resort
Known as Canada’s most popular cross country ski destination, Cypress Mountain’s 19km of wide corduroy and well-tracked trails offer an utterly unique perspective on the Vancouver area—especially as the Resort is the only Nordic ski center in the North Shore mountains. Used to accommodating throngs of visitors, the Center is equipped with a comprehensive inventory of Nordic gear, as well as the largest Nordic ski school in the country. If you are looking for top-notch terrain accompanied by excellent customer service and caring instruction, then this is the place for you. And if you’re in town for a few nights, don’t miss the Resort’s 8 km of night-skiing trails, which lend a whole other view of Cypress Mountain and its nocturnal beauty. Learn more here!
Whistler Lost Lake
As a general rule, if the Olympics have been to a ski venue, skiing there is going to be a pretty memorable experience. Whistler, and the Lost Lake trails that run along the resort’s edge, are no exception. The Olympic park (which includes a pretty awe-inspiring pass through the Olympic stadium, and swings by the ski jumps) brings 20 some odd kilometers of stellar terrain—of both the expert and the family caliber—to the table. Add to that the 30 km of long, gently undulating trails around Lost Lake, and you have many days’ worth of exhilarating adventuring and fun family activity. You can even extend that to a few nights’ worth of fun, on the fully lit Lost Lake night skiing course! Plan your visit here.
Dakota Ridge
The Ridge for which this one-of-a-kind British Columbia ski destination is named is a sprawling plateau on the Sunshine Coast, whose 1,200-meter-elevation offers sweeping views of both the Coast Mountains and Vancouver Island. Over 20 kilometers of pristine ski trials will lead you through old growth forests and subalpine terrain, all the way up to these gorgeous vistas. A user-pay operation, your trip to Dakota Ridge is really what you make of it. Be sure to pick up a trail map and chat with a volunteer patroller before setting out on a sure-to-be wondrous adventure into the Southwest BC backcountry—which also happens to be Vancouver’s backyard! Learn more about this tucked-away treasure here.
