Let’s face it, even though it’s not yet winter, any avid skier will admit that the excitement of sliding with the slopes through unkempt woody terrains is extremely thrilling. If you ever happen to be in Ottawa Canada, you will realize just how awesome it can be because Ottawa is known for plenty of hilly terrains. So without further ado, here are the best resorts you will find near Ottawa.
Mont Cascades Ski Resort
If you are looking for a resort for night skiing, Mont Cascades is the place to be. This resort comes with a breathtaking view from the top, especially when night falls. What’s even more pleasing is the fact that the resort is only 20 minutes away from Ottawa. It has 20 runs that are designed for the ultimate fun experience.
For night skiing enthusiasts, there are 15 runs available, not to mention 5 chair lifts, with 2 extra quad lifts that keep the whole experience frustration-free. The summit elevation of the mountain is about 1000ft with a vertical drop of 541 feet. Overall, the entire area covers about 60 acres of skiable terrain, which is great. Other services include a boutique, a rental and repair shop plus a restaurant, and lodging, to mention only a few.
Cost: $159 as a pair of 4 or more and in all ages/individuals $199
Hours: 3 pm to 12 pm daily
Ski Vorlage Resort
Who said just because winter is here, you can’t have some fun? Well, located in Wakefield, Ski Vorlage brings about the ultimate Skier’s dream in the form of beautiful trails. It serves as a great location for learning how to ski, and with over 140 certified instructors, you can get access to skiing and snowboarding experts from top-level practitioners. The resort has 18 runs, with 13 dedicated to night skiing. Other services offered by the resort include events and wedding services as well as accommodation facilities.
Cost: Adult daily rates $33, students $26, and kids under 12 yrs $20
Opening and Closing time: 9 am to 4 pm daily except on Saturday
Camp Fortune
With a total of 20 runs, Camp fortune is another great resort that is only 15 minutes away from Ottawa. It offers skiers some of the best deals in town with options such as quad lift services and runs that go from intermediate to difficult and even extremely difficult. The summit sits on a valley that measures 360 feet with a 590 feet skyline and a vertical drop of 512 feet. If you go with kids, they can get a chance to make their own snowman thanks to a terrain park that has full snowmaking capabilities that work great.
Costs: Lift daily charges Adults $46, Youth $25, and children $8
Opening and Closing hours: Weekdays 9 am to 10 pm, the weekend at 8: 30 am to 10 pm on Saturdays and 8:30 to 4 pm on Sundays
Mont Ste-Marie
This resort has a vertical drop of 1,252 feet with a top elevation of 1,910 feet which makes it one of the highest privately owned ski resorts in Ottawa. There are about 100 acres of skiable land on the resort, and it is only a thirty-minute drive from downtown Ottawa making it a great location for a retreat with friends or family.
Out of the 20 trails available, 5 are dedicated to beginners, 7 for intermediate skiers, and 7 for expert skiers. There are also two trails for high-speed quad skiing with a chairlift and one for surface lift. It features extra amenities such as hiking and mountain biking events, skiing, and snowboarding, as well as a variety of options for accommodation. On average, this resort receives about 300 cm of snow which is not much but decent enough for a good skiing experience.
Cost: Weekdays $34, Discounted privilege Card $59
Opening and Closing Hours: Depends on the time of the year but mostly open daily from 9 am to 4 pm
Calabogie piece
It’s only an hour’s drive from Ottawa to get to this beautiful resort that sits right next to Calabogie Lake. Hands down, the Calabogie Piece resort has one of the best-groomed snow trails mixed with hills that can be enjoyed even by those just starting out with skiing. The top elevation point is about 1200 feet with a vertical drop of 761 feet and a skiable area of 69 acres.
For runs, you get to enjoy the 24 trails that are divided into 3 levels of difficulty. The resort has a reputation for year-round activities and features accommodation options that come with complimentary parking, indoor swimming pools, a fitness room, and even wedding and conference rooms to mention just a few.
Cost: Weeknights $79, weekends $89
Sommet Edelweiss
Located 45 kilometers from Ottawa, Sommet Edelweiss Resort is a 33-minute drive away with the best ski and lodge services in Wakefield. The park has a top elevation of 1,148 ft with a massive 160 acres of skiable land, not to mention a vertical drop of 656 feet.
There is more, this resort is designed to be family-friendly with beginner and intermediate terrains, a snow tubing park and a cafeteria, a repair shop as well a restaurant to mention just a few of the options. The resort has 20 trails, of which 45 percent are dedicated to beginners, 25 percent for intermediate skiers, and 30 percent for advanced skiers.
Cost: $55
Opening and Closing Hours: Daily from 9: 15 am to 3 pm
Mont Tremblant
Mont Tremblant, also known as Tremblant, is a two-hour drive from Ottawa. The name of this resort’s mountain was derived from the indigenous people who lived around the mountain and referred to the mountain as the “trembling mountain.” Therefore, the Tremblant has an elevation of 2,871ft, making it one of the tallest mountains you will find in the area.
It comes with a whopping total of 96 runs, of which 21 percent are dedicated to beginners, 32 percent to intermediates, and 46 percent to advanced skiers. Apart from the 600 acres of skiable and snowboarding land, the resort offers other facilities, including a pedestrian village that is essentially an open-air gondola that allows skiers to shop or access transportation. Additionally, the resort offers amazing packages for families as well.
Cost: Ranges from $126 to 342
Hours: daily from 9:39 am to 10:00 pm
Conclusion
Well, there you have it. With our list of the best Ottawa ski resorts; you have no reason to stay at home this coming winter, especially if you love skiing in the great outdoors. In case you need to learn some skills, no problem, as these resorts comes with classes that take beginners through the ropes as they learn to navigate the terrains. Afterward, you can get some good practice in a ski resort. After all, a good number of resorts offer easy runs for those who are just starting out, so why not give it a try?