Ski resort Cypress Mountain

Cypress Mountain is the biggest of Vancouver’s local ski resorts and feels the most like an Alpine ski resort, with varied terrain on three different mountains and a bustling base area. The ski resort hosted the moguls, aerials, half-pipe, ski and snowboard cross and parallel giant slalom events at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and you can still ski the Olympic mogul run there today. Despite the drive up, which can be harrowing in foggy weather, the view from the slopes of downtown Vancouver and the ocean during the sunset can’t be beat!

Beginners at Cypress will mostly stay on the nursery slope, with the possibility to advance to the very long Collins piste. The Eagle Express and the Lions Express are the go-to lifts for intermediate skiers, with plenty of blue runs and some lovely tame blacks through the trees. Up on the Sky Chair you’ll find some steeper mogul runs through the trees. The Raven Ridge chair also has some double-black diamond runs but they are highly dependent on snow cover. Be careful not to stray into the permanently closed area on Mt. Strachan as it is deceptively dangerous. In addition to its downhill ski area, Cypress Mountain also has 19km of cross-country trails and 10km of snowshoe trails, as well as a snow tubing park. Both the nordic and downhill areas have an assortment of restaurants. The après-ski scene revolves around the Crazy Raven Bar & Grill. Cypress Mountain offers a variety of ski lessons starting from age 3. There is a magic carpet, however it is only accessible for tots who are taking formal ski lessons. To get to Cypress, you can drive or take the Cypress Mountain shuttle bus (about 15 quid) from Vancouver.