| Make this year's winter ski vacation one to | | | | Where is it?Above the town of Golden in the |
| remember by getting away to a hidden gem of | | | | Canadian Rockies, 3.5 hours west of Calgary (a scenic |
| Western Canada. While the crowds flock to big-brand | | | | drive through Banff and Yoho national Parks). |
| resorts, you'll be waist-deep in North America's best | | | | Why you should go: Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is |
| powder with no lines to get in your way of making | | | | the Rockies' newest alpine resort and already gaining |
| fresh tracks. | | | | notoriety as offering "the champagne of powders," |
| Canada ski vacations have it all: snowy landscapes of | | | | the lightest and driest snow" , as well as the second |
| mountains, valleys, and glacial lakes; deepest and | | | | longest ski-out in Canada. It features a vertical drop |
| most consistent snow; internationally known parties | | | | of 4133 ft/1260 m, 2600 acres of skiing terrain over |
| and resorts… and the crowds who love them. | | | | 78 trails, with 275 inches of snowfall a year. |
| So, for a line-free ski vacation this winter, consider | | | | Red Mountain |
| one of Western Canada's lesser known gems. They | | | | Where is it? In southern BC just outside of Rossland, |
| may not have Whistler's glitz and glamour, but locals | | | | 2.5 hours from Spokane, Washington, or 7.5 hours |
| in the know find the best powder here. | | | | from Vancouver or Calgary. |
| Fernie | | | | Why you should go:Known for its powder and terrain |
| Where is it? In the Canadian Rockies, a 3.5 hour drive | | | | over two mountains - Red and Granite - Red |
| from Calgary International Airport and an hour and 15 | | | | Mountain Resort appeals to skiers and boarders alike, |
| minutes from Cranbrook, BC (served by Time Air and | | | | and particularly those looking for a thrill. It features a |
| Air BC). The town of Fernie is five minutes away. | | | | vertical drop of 2909 ft/887 m, 1686 acres of terrain |
| Why you should go: This world-class ski area is | | | | on over 87 runs, and 300 inches of snowfall a year. |
| known among locals as the powder capital of the | | | | Panorama Mountain Village Resort |
| Rockies - the snow is excellent. In addition, the ski | | | | Where is it? Located on the western slopes of the |
| area has recently been redeveloped to offer more | | | | Canadian Rockies, Panorama is a 3.5 hour drive from |
| accommodation (including ski-in/ski-out) and vast new | | | | Calgary International Airport and 2 hours south-west |
| terrain. It features a vertical drop of 2811 ft/857 m, | | | | of Banff. |
| 2500 acres of skiiable terrain on 106 trails, and 348 | | | | Why you should go: Panorama has its relatively |
| inches of snow a year. | | | | remote location in the Purcell Mountains to thank for |
| Sun Peaks | | | | the lack of crowds plaguing other resorts in the |
| Where is it? In BC's interior, 4.5 hours from | | | | Rockies. It features a vertical drop of 4000 ft/1220 |
| Vancouver along the scenic Coquihalla Highway, and | | | | m (the highest in the Canadian Rockies), 119 trails and |
| 45 minutes from Kamloops. | | | | 187 inches of snow a year. |
| Why you should go: Sun Peaks is friendly and fun, | | | | Whether you're taking to the slopes for the first |
| with great snow, blue skies, and lots of trails. It | | | | time, or looking for an expert thrill, these mountains |
| features a vertical drop of 2891 ft/881 m, 3678 | | | | have it all. Fewer crowds mean more time on the |
| acres of skiing terrain on 117 runs, with 220 inches of | | | | mountains, so get outside this winter with these |
| snow a year. | | | | unknown gems. |
| Kicking Horse | | | | |