Condé Nast Reveals Readers’ Choice Top 5 Canadian Ski Resorts

Canadians are famously low-key, but when the topic turns to recreating in winter, that modesty disappears. Canada has 223 unique ski resorts at last count, ranging from community hills to world-class destinations. When 65% of a country is covered by snow for more than 50% of the year, winter sports become ingrained in the national identity.

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For the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2026, international readers voted on their five favorite ski resorts. Together, these destinations represent the pinnacle of Canadian winter travel as we count them down, 5 to 1.

#5 Lake Louise, Alberta (88.67)

Lake Louise Ski Resort covers 4,200 acres of expansive terrain spread across four distinct faces. The mountain’s natural layout allows riders to transition seamlessly from wide, rolling groomers to steep high-alpine chutes, delivering a vertical drop of 3,250 feet (991 meters). The backside powder bowls offer deep natural snow, set against postcard views of the Victoria Glacier. Recent infrastructure upgrades include a multi-year lift expansion that opened newly accessible terrain in the West Bowl without altering the historic charm of the base lodge.

#4 Silver Star Mountain, British Columbia (88.77)

Silver Star Mountain Resort, in the Monashees of interior British Columbia, is celebrated for its dry Okanagan powder. The mountain offers 3,282 skiable acres and a vertical drop of 2,500 feet (760 meters). While the front side has gentle terrain and family-friendly runs, the back side drops down into steep, technical glades and expert chutes. This Vernon destination also holds serious pedigree as the hometown resort of freestyle snowboarding legend Jess Kimura.

#3 Banff Sunshine, Alberta (91.71)

High on the Continental Divide, Banff Sunshine is celebrated for hosting one of the longest non-glacial ski seasons in Canada, stretching from early November to late May. Averaging up to 30 feet (9 meters) of light, dry annual snowfall, the resort features unique, high-alpine terrain on Lookout Mountain where you can shred across the provincial border into British Columbia and back again in a single run. With a vertical drop of 3,510 feet (1,070 meters), Sunshine features world-class freeride zones like Delirium Dive alongside a lively mid-mountain village station, and Canada’s only heated chairlift to keep the good times rolling.

#2 Mont-Tremblant, Quebec (91.80)

Mont-Tremblant serves as the premier destination for eastern skiing, located an easy two-hour drive from downtown Montreal. The resort features a balanced trail network across four distinct mountain faces, offering an impressive vertical drop of 2,116 feet (645 meters) on its south side. A snowmaking infrastructure of over 1,200 snowguns keeps conditions consistent, and the European-style, pedestrian-only village drives an après-ski scene and a nightlife that runs late into the night.

#1 Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia (92.58)

Whistler Blackcomb secures the top spot with an unmatched 8,171 acres of skiable terrain across two interconnected, towering peaks. This Epic Pass giant features a vertical drop of 5,280 feet (1,609 meters), rivaled only by Revelstoke. The size of Whistler‘s footprint accommodates everything from wide, winding family tracks to high-alpine glaciers and steep, technical chutes. For destination travelers, Whistler is a direct two-hour drive from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) via the scenic Sea-to-Sky highway corridor. Beyond the trail map, the valley base functions as a centralized hub with numerous shopping, dining, and accommodation options.

• Related: Condé Nast Reveals Readers’ Choice Top 20 European Ski Resorts

Mapping Your Great White Winter

These five reader-voted standouts prove that Canadian mountain culture is world-class. Securing the #2 spot, Quebec’s Mont-Tremblant represents the East. Tucked into the Laurentian Mountains — one of the oldest ranges on the planet — and located just a two-hour drive from Montreal, Tremblant stands as the iconic flagship of a province that holds 80 individual operating ski hills. The remaining four selections celebrate the vast alpine terrain of Western Canada. In the Alberta Rockies, long-time powerhouses Banff Sunshine and Lake Louise represent the SkiBig3 alliance. Banff National Park’s three resorts – Sunshine, Lake Louise, and Norquay – can be accessed on the Ikon Pass.

Further west into British Columbia, Whistler Blackcomb, North America’s largest ski resort, secures the number one position. Rounding out the provincial spotlight is the Monashee range of BC’s interior, where Silver Star Mountain Resort can now be accessed as a full partner on the Ikon Pass network.

From the rugged alpine peaks of Banff National Park to the vast mountain ranges of British Columbia and the vibrant culture of Quebec, the best ski resorts in Canada offer an unmatched variety of experiences.  As you’re dreaming up your next ski vacation, look North.