Mount Washington Alpine Ski Resort

Mt Washington Ski Resort is Vancouver Island’s main ski resort. It is mostly visited by Vancouver Island residents. Mt. Washington is where you would go if you have been to other BC ski resorts, and want to explore Vancouver Island.

Mt Washington Ski Resort is a great place for families. It is a great terrain for beginners and offers easy progressions on covered magic carpets that lead to a 6-pack chairlift at high speeds.

The Mt Washington Alpine Resort has 1,700 acres (688 ha) of skiable terrain, 5 express chairlifts and 81 runs over 505m of vertical (1.084 – 1.593m).

The terrain is ideal with runs categorized as 14% beginner to 35% intermediate, 36% advanced to 36% advanced and 15% expert. For beginners, there are amazing covered magic carpets that can be used to get started and then you will find nice graded runs. Intermediate terrain is okay, with only a few top-to-bottom blue runs. Advanced riders will find a mixture of cut runs and glades that bump up. Experts have The Outback zone, which has a combination of trees and open slopes. These runs are appropriately rated double black diamonds.

Mt Washington receives a lot of snowfall, with an average of 11.6m per season. As is to be expected from such a location on the coast, snow tends to fall quite heavy. Fresh snow is best as it can quickly deteriorate. Vancouver Island is known for its mild climate. The elevation isn’t very high and the main portion of the hill faces southwest so it is important to choose the right days to ski off the beaten path.

Mt Washington Ski Resort offers all the necessary amenities for snowboarders and skiers, including equipment rentals, snowsports school, child care, and a ski and snowboard shop. There are also a few dining options, but they are limited during the week.

Cross country trails run for 55 km on Mount Washington. Trail fees apply, which can be quite expensive but are worth it. On weekends, you can also enjoy a snowshoe fondue trip. You can also ride a fat bike. You can also rent a tubing machine from the resort.