CANADA'S WINTER WONDERLANDS
From groomed trails and pristine woods to epic peaks and a skating trail, here's a guide to the very best of our country's winter pursuits.
By Dick Snyder
CANADA’S GLOBAL RENOWN as a winter paradise may well be irrefutable. We may not have invented winter, but we certainly know how to enjoy it. For Canadians, it’s a simple concept. Winter is not just a season, it’s a way of life. And we do it well. In the spirit of winter, here are five of the best places in Canada to embrace snow, ice and all the wintry elements that help make this nation great.
SNOWBOARDING
Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort
Whistler, B.C.
Blackcomb Mountain was the first B.C. resort to embrace snowboarding in the 1987-88 season, and Whistler followed suit the next year. (The two resorts merged in 1997.) Thus, an outlaw sport turned legit, with Canada at the forefront. Today, with more than 3,200 hectares (32 km2) of terrain across two massive mountains, there really is something for everybody and all skill levels. Beyond the slopes, the vibrant village offers dining to suit all tastes and budgets, as well as shops and boutiques, and a lively après scene.
Claim to fame: Ross Rebagliati — Whistler’s adopted son, originally from North Vancouver — won the first Olympic gold medal for snowboarding in the men’s Giant Slalom in Nagano, Japan, in 1998. Whistler granted him a lifetime pass and let him name his own run. Ross’s Gold is described as “a fast fall-line speedster with nice healthy rollers.” Year after year, global ski publications such as Ski Magazine name Whistler Blackcomb North America’s number 1 resort.
Good to know: This place attracts ski buffs from around the world, which means it can get busy. Book ahead to avoid disappointment.
“Beyond the slopes, the vibrant village offers dining to suit all tastes and budgets, as well as shops and boutiques, and a lively après scene.”
DOWNHILL SKIING
SkiBig3
Banff, Alta. It’s worth taking the time to ski Banff the right way — and that means skiing at all three of the incredible resorts that make up the SkiBig3 collective. Lake Louise may be the most famous, as it’s consistently crowned “best ski resort” at the World Ski Awards. With 1,700 hectares (17 km2) of wonderfully diverse terrain, it’s earned the nickname “the friendly giant.” Banff Sunshine is often described as “Canada’s best snow” — it can get 30 feet in a season — and is a coveted spot for fans of all-natural powder. Mt. Norquay, just 10 minutes from downtown Banff, celebrates 100 years of family-friendly ski fun this year. It’s prized for its relaxed atmosphere and excellent ski school.
Claim to fame: Olympian and World Cup Champion Ken Read trained at Banff, and still skis there. “The snow and great terrain of our ski resorts gave me the tools to challenge the best in the world in the World Cup,” he says. “Best of all, nothing compares to the spectacular vistas of the Canadian Rockies on our crisp, clear winter mornings.”
Good to know: The season is long in the Rockies. “We have great snow from November to May,” Read says, “and an outstanding choice of world-class slopes.”
Learning the ropes at Banff Sunshine. | PHOTO: COURTESY OF BANFF SUNSHINE
With 1,700 hectares of all sorts of terrain, the Lake Louise Ski Resort has become known as “the friendly giant.” | PHOTO: TRAVEL ALBERTA/JOHN PRICE
ICE SKATING
Winnipeg, Man.
Skating at Winnipeg’s Nestaweya River Trail is a winter tradition. The junction of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers — known as The Forks — has been a place where Indigenous Peoples, fur traders, settlers and immigrants have come together for more than 6,000 years. Out on the ice, skaters get a fantastic and rather unique perspective of Winnipeg’s skyline and the riverbanks — a view that’s only possible to get from a boat at any other time of year. The trail is free to explore, and skates are available from Iceland Skate Rentals. Conditions are monitored daily, and the trail is regularly groomed to ensure an optimal skating experience.
Claim to fame: While it no longer holds a record in the Guinness World Records, this is one of the longest naturally frozen skating trails in the world, extending up to 10 km, depending on the weather.
Good to know: Warming huts are built along the trail in the third week of January (or so). Each hut is unique, the designs chosen through an international competition.
CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING
Parc linéaire Le P’tit Train du Nord
Laurentians, Que.
This former railway line — its name means “little train of the north” — was decommissioned in the 1980s and converted to a multi-use trail, stretching 234 km from Bois-des-Filion north to Mont-Laurier. You’ll ski into remarkably diverse landscapes, through forests and fields, around lakes and rivers, and right into towns like Val-David, Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts and Mont-Tremblant. Stop for a bite, or for the night.
Claim to fame: This is the longest linear park in Canada. It’s relatively flat and easy for skiers of all skill levels.
Good to know: Many of the train stations, located very near the trail, have been converted into restaurants, information centres and rest areas.
(Left to right) Skates aren't the only way to get around on ice at Winnipeg’s Nestaweya River Trail; pausing on the Parc linéaire Le P’tit Train du Nord; ice bikes are available for rent on the Nestaweya River Trail.| PHOTOS: COURTESY OF TRAVEL MANITOBA; COURTESY OF LE P’TIT TRAIN DU NORD; COURTESY OF TRAVEL MANITOBA
SNOWSHOEING
Fundy National Park, N.B. Outdoor enthusiasts can find breathtaking snowshoeing adventures on more than a dozen trails at Fundy National Park, with its soaring coastal vistas and winter-wonderland Acadian forests — watch for wildlife! Adventurous sorts can book overnight stays in insulated cabins, tents or yurts. Some trails are dedicated to snowshoeing, others may be shared with fatbikers and cross-country skiers.
Claim to fame: A “must-see,” according to Hiking NB bloggers James and Vicki Donald, are the Midland Ice Caves. “Our favourite trail is the Third Vault Falls Trail. The ice-covered waterfall is spectacular in the winter,” James Donald says. “The valley below the falls is deep and narrow, so it is an intimate experience.”
Good to know: James suggests ice grippers if you are going to see the waterfalls. “Know your limits and be prepared to turn around if the ice conditions are unsafe.” CAA
Snowshoeing in Fundy National Park. | PHOTOS: COURTESY OF FUNDY NATIONAL PARK
This cabin in the park offers a great view of the Bay of Fundy. | PHOTO: COURTESY OF FUNDY NATIONAL PARK
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