Where to go snowboarding in Canada? Whistler, Revelstoke, Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper and Big White are some of the best snowboarding places in Canada! The profile of these white mountains in north america on both sides of the border between Alberta and British Columbia inspires respect and desire for adventure.
Canada is the world's second large country by its landmass. Because it is so large, it is important that you choose your adventures beforehand, you just don't want to miss out on anything that you might find interesting and fun. There are so many things you can do from walking with polar bears to coining in the isolated lake while spotting mousses. Canada has the best wildlife encounters you will ever be able to experience.
1. Whistler
Whistler/Blackcomb hosted the Winter Olympics, so if it is good enough for the best athletes in the world it would have to be pretty damn good place to snowboard in Canada. You can still get a photo in front of the Olympic rings and the first nation Inuksuk up on the peak of the mountain, with incredible views of Whistler and the surrounding national park.
It is a hard life snowboarding in Whistler. You actually have to choose what mountain to take on...*insert taco girl voice* 'Why don't we have both?' Whistler/Blackcomb consists of two monstrous mountains with a peak-to-peak gondola connecting them. It is the longest and highest lift in the world and even has a see-through glass floor.
As for the slopes, they are suitable for all abilities, from the beginners on the bunny hill to the thrill seekers who like to go back-country. Just stick to a run that suits your ability or check out the park and pipes if that is your scene. It's a given that the cool places to snowboard in Canada also attracts a crowd, so avoid major holidays unless you like waiting in lift queues.
2. Revelstoke
It is not everywhere that you can get dropped off at the top of the mountain by a helicopter and snowboard backcountry down to the bottom. More than 45% of the runs are for intermediate snowboarders, with a couple of options for snowboard for beginners to ease into it. Revelstoke's longest run is a staggering 15.2km blue/green run, winding down from the top to the bottom of the mountain.
3. Banff
Banff's Sunshine Village is one of best place to snowboard in Canada, with really epic high-speed gondolas that have 90-degree sharp bends, giving you a fun ride up and down the mountain. The terrain is pretty large and quite diverse, however, there is a ton of flat spots which tend to get annoying when you are snowboarding and do not pick up enough speed.
The best resorts in Canada gets packed on weekends, especially Banff in winter as the highly populated city of Calgary is not too far. If you find yourself up in Banff be sure to stay at one of the best hostels in Banff!
4. Kelowna
Big White is located in the Okanagan Valley of BC and offers crowd-free slopes with great terrain park suiting all abilities. The best place to snowboard in Canada are ski-in-ski-out, so you can quickly stop for lunch or a beer and head straight back out to the mountain. According to the official stats, the trails are 18% beginner, 22% advanced and 6% expert.
It is definitely one of the best places to snowboard in Canada for intermediates. If you are looking for freshly dumped double packed snow, then you have come to the right place. Big White gets an average snowfall of 7.4 m, so there is no need to be the first ones on the hills in the morning to enjoy the fresh powder.
5. Quebec
Winter will always feature at least one good blizzard, usually more. Temperatures can dip to -20 or lower. Again, at least once you will see a deep freeze where temperatures can be -30 for a week. But if you ski or snowboard, the Laurentian mountains are there. The center of Montreal is a huge park that is gorgeous on a brilliant winter day.
7. Jasper
Beautiful scenery is the cherry on the ice-cream at Jasper's Marmot Basin. It ticks all the boxes for snowboarders, with tons of power, hundreds of runs, challenging slopes, great free riding and next to no crowds.
Located in the city of Alberta, specifically at one end of the Glacier Highway, Jasper National Park is the northernmost national park in the Rocky Mountains. The impressive bears, moose, reindeer, caribou, to the fearsome wolves and lynxes roam in full freedom through this park. Mount Edith Cavell is one of the most iconic peaks of the Rocky Mountains, as well as one of the most impressive postcards of Jasper National Park.
Maligne Lake is the largest natural lake in the Rocky Mountains. In it you can also see the so-called Spirit Island, a small island that has become one of the most famous views of this place. Maligne Canyon is one of the most prized spots in Jasper National Park thanks to the attractiveness of its unspoilt nature. Along the way you can see how the Maligne River is making its way from Lake Maligne to Lake Medicine.
Like Lake Edith, Lake Annette is an alpine lake whose origins date back to the Ice Age. It is widely popular with locals, so it is not strange that during your visit you will find family picnicking, boating or just swimming. Athabasca Glacier is the most accessible of all the Rocky Mountains, as well as one of the most comfortable places to visit in Jasper National Park.
Athabasca waterfalls are the most famous in Jasper National Park, which is not surprising. Canada is an amazing country, with kind, humble people and the most incredible places to snowboard in the world. The best places to snowboard in Canada, have the best conditions, biggest mountains, epic views and fresh powdered snow.
Even if you are not the best at snowboarding or skiing, there are still tons of options everywhere with some of the best cities to visit in Canada. Check out Whistler, Revelstoke, Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper and Big White as they are the best places to snowboard in Canada!
Cold weather activities are not my thing, but I have always wanted to give snowboarding a try. And Canada has many places that sound perfect for this activity
ReplyDeleteI used to be such an avid snowboarder but the last few winters I haven't had a chance to get out! There are some really great hills in Canada and this list is correct - these are the best places!
ReplyDeleteI've been to Revelstoke and Lake Louise from the list and as an intermediate snowboarder, I had a wonderful time at both of those resorts. Canadian snowboarding resorts all represent quality and awesome time spending, so I'm sure the rest of places in your article are all great.
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