Transit-friendly skiing and snowboarding places near Vancouver
Transit-friendly skiing and snowboarding places near Vancouver
Vancouver and snow might not be the best of friends, but you can call them long-lost friends. They meet occasionally and everyone is pleasantly surprised. Until snow bids adieu and heads to its favourite friends on the North Shore.
So, what do Vancouverites do when they want some snow? They head to the mountains that offer breathtaking views – and of course, there’s snow!
Skiing, snowshoeing, snowboarding, and snowtubing are just some of the activities you can do on snow. The local ski mountains – Cypress, Grouse, and Mt Seymour (from west to east) – attract Vancouverites every winter, urging them to strap on their skis, snowboards, and snowshoes. Some of these also have ice rinks!
The best part – these are all accessible by transit! So, without further ado, The Buzzer blog has some fun ideas!
Note: Resort/activity timings, and prices may be subject to change. Check official websites for exact details.
Grouse Mountain
Location: 6400 Nancy Greene Way, North Vancouver
Transit: Ride the SeaBus from Waterfront SkyTrain Station to the Lonsdale Quay and connect with Bus #236 directly to Grouse Mountain. There’s also a shuttle that operates between the mountain and Canada Place but purchase of a mountain admission ticket is required.
The resort has 33 runs, many of them centered around The Cut, with spectacular views of Vancouver. While this one lacks in size (only 86 hectares of skiable terrain), it offers lots of variety for beginners.
Cypress Mountain
Location: 6000 Cypress Bowl Road, West Vancouver
Transit: Take Skytrain or the bus to Waterfront SkyTrain station. Then ride the SeaBus to the private Cypress Mountain Express Bus at Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver.
The biggest of the North Shore resorts with 240 hectares of skiable terrain. There are 53 runs, along with great snowshoe and fondue tours. Don’t forget to check out their snow tube park!
Mt. Seymour
Location: 1700 Mount Seymour Road North Vancouver
Transit: Take the SkyTrain or a bus to Rupert Skytrain Station or Parkgate Community Centre (in North Vancouver) and connect with the Mt Seymour shuttle bus.
The smallest of the North Shore resorts, with only 80 hectares of ski-able terrain, this one is ideal for beginners and is a great family resort.
Whistler Blackcomb
Location: 329-2055 Lake Placid Road, Whistler
Transit: Services like Epic Rides and Snowbus operate shuttle buses to Whistler. They pick up passengers from Waterfront and Burrard SkyTrain stations, Capilano Road, and the Sheraton Wall Centre in Downtown Vancouver.
Offering incredible views, Whistler-Blackcomb has everything from a dedicated beginner area to challenging powder-filled bowls. With the Peak 2 Peak gondola, you can zip between the top of both Whistler and Blackcomb mountains! Once in Whistler, use the Whistler Transit System (in partnership with BC Transit) to get around.
While the weather in Vancouver is currently sunny, the forecast calls for a few days of incessant rain – so, hopefully, some snow on these mountains! Don’t forget to snap those stunning Insta-worthy images and share it on your IG! Make sure you include the hashtag #MyTransLink, so we can feature your clicks on our channel. Also hit the follow button on Facebook and Twitter because that’s where all the cool stuff happens!
Author: Tanushree Pillai
