10 Best Beginners Ski Resorts in Canada

Although Canada’s ski fields are a magnet for the world’s top skiers and snowboarders, there are plenty of good options for those who lack confidence on the slopes. Canada is an affordable destination to ski in spring when the snow is amazing and there are plenty of beginners ski resorts. Fortunately, the best ski resorts in Canada have a variety of slopes and lessons to help new skiers. Here are our best beginners ski resorts in Canada. Skiing is one of the top things to do in Canada in winter. 

Best beginners ski resorts in Canada

1- Mont Tremblant, Quebec

More than a dash of French flair fills the air at Mont Tremblant, which celebrated its 75th birthday not so long ago.

One of the reasons its the best beginners ski resort to choose is that Mont Tremblant is close enough to Montreal to visit as a day trip.

In winter, the colourful village looks like a page out of a storybook.

There are plenty of green runs and easy slopes to learn one, making it fun and safe for beginners.

2- Mont Sainte Anne, Quebec

The best beginners ski resort near Quebec City, Mont Sainte Anne is only 30 minutes from Quebec City.

It has 69 trails and a large beginner’s zone.

Other activities include snowshoeing, dogsledding and tubing.

There’s also a ski museum and the ski resort is close to Quebec City, so there are plenty of city diversions.

A fun time to visit is during the Quebec Winter Carnival when the place is abuzz with festivities.

3- Silver Star, British Columbia

Silver Star ski resort near Vernon in British Columbia is a star when it comes to a family holiday.

Silver Star’s village centre has a cheerful 19th-century mining town theme that looks like a page from a children’s picture book.

A high snowfall makes it easy for the resort’s management to organise a host of winter activities and there is plenty on the programme for families. 

The family snow sports clinics, races and relays makes it one of the best beginners ski resorts in BC. 

BOOK A SILVERSTAR HOTEL

4- Sun Peaks Resort, British Columbia

Located near Kamloops, Sun Peaks Resort has three mountains with a diversity of terrain suitable for beginners, intermediate and advanced skiers.

The village has a European charm and there are plenty of ski-in ski-out accommodation options.

The 1,500-hectare ski area is the second largest in British Columbia and the third-largest in Canada.

It offers both alpine and Nordic skiing.

There’s range of activities, including the Snow Limo (it looks like a seat attached to a tilting frame that is also attached to skis), which was invented in British Columbia and designed to help people experience skiing, regardless of age or ability.

BOOK A HOTEL AT SUN PEAKS

5- Lake Louise Ski Resort, Alberta

Lake Louise Ski Resort has stunning scenery and it’s a great ski resort for beginners because there is plenty to do around the area.

Banff National Park has 6,641 square kilometres of mountainous landscape and was the first national park established in Canada.

Things to do include riding the Banff Gondola, for spectacular panoramic views of the Canadian Rockies and Banff, which is a buzzy town with plenty of hotels, restaurants and shops. Another fun activity is dog sledding through the winter wonderland landscape.

BOOK A HOTEL AT LAKE LOUISE

6- Sunshine Village, Banff

One of the reasons Sunshine Village is a good beginner ski resort is that the blue runs easier than other ski areas.

This means that begining skiers can get to ski a lot of the terraine. 

Ski the blue runs on Mount Standish and Lookout Mountain as well as Goat’s Eye Mountain, where you can stop to gaze at the Wild West area and its classic steep slope for hard-core skiers.

It also has on-mountain accommodation at Sunshine Mountain Lodge.

Fortunately, you don’t need to be able to ski to soak up the scenery.

Exploring the region on snowshoes will get you to remote parts of the mountains.

7- Marmot Basin, Jasper

Marmot Basin has 677 hectares of terrain, seven lifts, three high-speed quads and Canada’s highest base elevation at 1697m.

Trails are split between novice, intermediate, advanced and expert.

An iconic place to stay is the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, which is a winter wonderland with scenes out of a Christmas card.

The resort’s shuttle departs and returns twice a day.

8- Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia

Whistler and Blackcomb are two side-by-side mountains which form the biggest area of slopes in North America.

The ski slopes of Whistler-Blackcomb attract some of the world’s best skiers but you don’t have to be an expert skier or snowboarder to enjoy this Winter Olympics venue.

Stay at the Four Seasons Whistler and take advantage of the hotel’s ski concierge at the base of Blackcomb Mountain.

The service allows you to go skiing without having to carry your gear to the slopes, as all your equipment is transferred to the ski concierge for you.

It’s perfect for beginners!

9- Le Massif, Quebec

The highest point east of the Canadian Rockies, the best way to get there is a one-hour train ride from Quebec City, which is worth the journey in itself.

Le Massif has alpine and cross-country skiing, snowboarding and ice-climbing.

One reason it’s a good beginner ski resort is the amazing scenery and other activities.

Non-skiers might like to try rodelling, a form of sledding on the 7.5km Mont à Liguori trail, or a gourmet tour of the Charlevoix area.

10- Blue Mountain Resort, Ontario

With both daytime and nighttime skiing, Blue Mountain Resort is the best beginners ski resort in Ontario.

It has 36 runs and it’s easy access makes it the third most popular ski resort in Canada.

Non-skiing activities include sliding down the escarpment in the Ridge Runner Mountain Coaster at more than 40-km-per-hour or skating at the Mill Pond Rink or toboggan tours.