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Winter Wonderland
The Vancouver Island region is beautiful in any season, but winter makes us really stand out. The climate is mild enough that almost every activity you can do in summer, you can also do in winter. In fact, some activities are even better in winter!
Storm Watching on the West Coast of Vancouver Island
Storm Watching
The wildest winter activity on Vancouver Island is watching Mother Nature perform at her dramatic best. From November through February, the west coast of Vancouver Island is battered by some of the most spectacular weather you are likely to see. Gale-force winds whipping the saltwater into a stinging spray, eight-metre waves exploding against jagged shores, and thrashing rain — storm watching is an unforgettable experience, especially when enjoyed from the comfort of a luxurious, fireplace-warmed resort. Winter storm-watching packages are available from several properties in the Ucluelet/Tofino area. You can make your winter storm-watching experience truly stress-busting with fine dining and soothing treatments at opulent spas.
ALPINE ACTIVITIES
Downhill Skiing, Snowboarding, Cross-Country Skiing, and Snowshoeing > Vancouver Island’s temperate climate is the mildest in Canada and snow is rare in the south and east parts of the Island. The only significant snowfall happens in the mountains. And when it falls, it comes in heaps: about 10 metres per year on average. Some years, Vancouver Island peaks get more snow than Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains, British Columbia’s most renowned skiing areas.
You can really give your winter vacation in the Vancouver Island region a twist by combining an alpine activity such as skiing with an activity like golfing, kayaking, fishing, or cycling. That’ll give you something to tell the folks back home!
Downhill skiing at Mount Washington Alpine Resort, Vancouver Island
Mount Washington Alpine Resort > Mount Washington is a year-round recreation area offering a wide range of activities from hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking in summer to all kinds of fun in the snow in winter — alpine skiing, snowtubing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. Selected by a number of International Olympic Committee teams as their pre-2010 team-training centre, Mount Washington boasts the deepest all-natural snow base in Canada and is the Vancouver Island region’s largest alpine sports area.
Recent developments at Mount Washington include the Vancouver Island Mountain Sports Centre (VIMSC) project, which involved upgrades to the nordic trail network, biathlon range, and trail lighting systems, as well as a facility for athletes and recreational users. Big news also includes the addition of four Magic Carpets, covered ski lifts that operate like moveable walkways at an airport.
For downhill skiers and snowboarders, Mount Washington has 60 runs, an expert-only bowl, two terrain parks, a half-pipe, and high-speed chair lifts including Canada’s first double off-load lift. Cross-country skiers can skim along 55 km of trails, including some that extend into Strathcona Provincial Park. Mount Washington also has 20 km of gentle to rolling hills for snowshoeing, adding to the winter fun at this popular destination.
Special events are held at Mount Washington throughout the year and make getaways even more fun. A variety of dining and accommodation options, equipment rentals, and skiing and snowboarding lessons are available at the resort, as well as in Courtenay (Comox Valley) and Campbell River.
Mount Cain > Located off Highway 19 in the Nimpkish Valley between Sayward and Port McNeill, Mount Cain was named Best Community Ski Hill by Ski Canada magazine.
The summit of Mount Cain, Vancouver Island
With a vertical drop of 450 metres and a reputation for powder runs, Mount Cain is a great family ski option and has 18 runs for downhill skiing and snowboarding accessed by two T-bars and a handle tow. Mount Cain also has plenty of cross-country trails ranging from gentle sub-alpine slopes to mountaineering cliffs. Mount Cain is only open weekends so untouched powder accumulates all week long.
Open from about mid-December to mid-April, Mount Cain is an excellent choice for a weekend family activity. A restaurant and a ski shop with rentals are located on site, as well as some accommodation, including new group hostel accommodation that opened last season. Chains are mandatory for vehicles driving to the resort. Bus transport can be arranged.
North Central Island
Pacific Rim Region
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