Blue Mountain

Located in southern Ontario, the Blue Mountain Ski Resort is the third-busiest winter downhill venue in Canada. On average, the ski area has ticket sales above 750,000 annually. The resort offers many other activities besides alpine skiing and riding, making it a winter destination for the whole family.

Driving to the winter venue is easy, with several highways leading north out of Toronto. Highway 26 is the target roadway, which travels near the resort. The Toronto Pearson International Airport and Billy Bishop Regional Airport will handle guests flying to southern Ontario. Americans traveling up from New York will often drive through Niagra Falls, a popular attraction for residents of both nations.

Skiing on a Slope on the Bay

Sitting on a portion of the Niagra Escarpment, the Blue Mountain Ski Resort is just 0.6-miles south of Nottawasaga Bay, with Lake Huron to the west and Lake Ontario to the southeast. It does not get as much lake-effect snow as other venues in the Great Lakes region, but the area receives about 120 inches of snowfall each year. Snowmaking capabilities on all but four acres of the ski area mean more consistent conditions that last longer.

Nine lodging options, ranging from hotel rooms to private homes, allow guests at the Blue Mountain Ski Resort to find overnight accommodations that match their budget and needs. With almost 30 eateries on-site or nearby, guests should find it easy to stay hydrated and fueled before, during, or after hitting the slopes. Local bars and nightclubs offer adults a chance to unwind after skiing or riding all day and are an ideal place for groups to meet.

The Blue Mountain Ski Resort has on-site shopping for typical resort necessities and gear. Guests can increase their retail experience to over 20 shops with off-site establishments added to the equation, offering anything the family could want or need.

Activities for Everyone

The Blue Mountain experience includes a skating loop (skates are available), fat bikes that folks can take for a spin, rides on the Ridge Runner Mountain Coaster, snowshoe trails to explore, and ski touring that provides uphill opportunities for adventurers.

The Blue Mountain Ski Resort has three terrain parks with varying degrees of difficulty to challenge guests. Beginners and intermediates can rip and shred on L-Park or Yahoo, while intermediates/advanced/expert ski bums will want to try Badlands. Brain buckets are a must, but only Badlands requires a pass.

Blue Mountain has a base elevation of 750 feet and a summit that reaches 1,480 feet. Guests have 720 feet of vertical to ski and ride down as they carve the 364 skiable acres found here. There are 42 named trails, 30 of which have lighting for night skiing and riding. The longest run is Gord's Groove which reaches about a mile in total length.

Eleven runs are rated green for newbies to enjoy, 15 rates as blue for intermediates to explore, eight have black diamond ratings for advanced skiers and riders, with eight expert runs rated at a double diamond.

Guests skiing or riding at the Blue Mountain have 11 lifts at their service.