Mt Washington Alpine Resort

Some year-round venues stand out the most during the winter months, and the Mt Washington Alpine Resort is an example of that. Sitting on the eastern portion of Vancouver Island, the facilities offer one of the best chances to ski or ride during a storm dump, thanks to the amount of snowfall it gets. While the southern portion of the island might be warm enough to grow lemons or olives, the latitude and elevation here provide good alpine conditions along the edge of the Pacific Ocean.

Motorists will use Trans-Canada Highway 1 (Horseshoe Bay-Departure Bay), or Ferry, to get to Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The Inland Island Highway (Highway 19) provides access north of Nanaimo and Comex Valley. Those flying here can take connecting flights from Vancouver to Comex Valley Airport.

Positioned for Winter Success

The old saying goes, "location is everything," and the Mt Washington Alpine Resort takes advantage of its elevation and the moisture in the air to create some of North America's best snowfall. It has a base elevation of 3,553 feet and a summit of 5,210 feet. Combine that with the moist air from the Pacific Ocean, and the ski area receives an average annual snowfall exceeding 432 inches. That means skiers and snowboarders have a reasonable chance to play in a storm or carve fresh tracks right after.

Slopeside accommodations, rooms in the village, or lodging options in local communities offer guests lots of options. There are several places at the Mt Washington Alpine Resort serving drinks and food. These range from grab-and-go to fine dining. Adding live entertainment and nightlife fun makes for a perfect place to enjoy apres-ski. The demo center, ski and snowboard shop, corner store, and Raven Retail provide alpine-themed shopping and downhill necessities that guests may (or may not) need.

Learning to ski or ride at the Mt Washington Alpine Resort is easy, thanks to the quality instructors at the Snow School. Adults and children can take group or private lessons. Multi-week camps allow park rats to get family members ready with more than the fundamentals, and the atmosphere is productive for first-timers through advanced ski bums.

Lots of Snow to Explore

The deep snowfall found at the Mt Washington Alpine Resort is good for more than downhill runs. A Snow Tube Park is a fun way for everyone to play in the snow, with one-hour tickets including a tube to play on. The Raven Lodge is next to the Family Sliding Zone, where guests can enjoy tobogganing. Fat biking is available on nine miles of cross-country trails, along with cross-country and snowshoeing on a 34-mile long system of trails of varying degrees of difficulty.

The Mt Washington Alpine Resort covers 1,700 acres with a vertical of 1,657 feet. Serious skiers and riders will want to explore the 400 acres of bowls, glades, and steep drops on the Outback. Guest can enjoy 82 runs at the Mt Washington Alpine Resort rated at green/beginner (10 runs), blue/intermediate (25 runs), black diamond/advanced (21 runs), or double black diamond/expert (10 runs). The Mt Washington Alpine Resort uses ten lifts to move guests uphill.