Canada is a sovereign country located in North America. Its territory is organized into ten provinces and three territories. Its capital city is Ottawa, and its most populous cities are Toronto, followed by Montreal and Vancouver. Canada is commonly considered one of the most developed countries with a high quality of life in the world, boasting the eighth-largest economy despite having a population of approximately 40 million.
It occupies a large part of North America, sharing land borders with the contiguous United States to the south and with the state and territory of Alaska to the northwest. It stretches from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and its northern border is defined by the Arctic Ocean. With its total area (including its waters), it is the second-largest country in the world, after Russia. In terms of land area, it ranks fourth (land area refers to the total area minus the area of lakes and rivers).
The cold weather, extensive mountain ranges, and latitude make Canada one of the best places to go skiing. If you love freeride skiing and ski mountaineering, there are several impressive ski resorts in the country. It’s worth noting that Canada has more than 250 ski areas but now we will focus on the 8 largest ones with the best freeride terrain and powder snow:
1- Whistler Blackcomb: a freeride paradise all year round.
Number of Lifts: 35
Number of Slopes: 200+
Total Terrain: 3,307 hectares (8,171 acres)
Top Elevation: 2,284 meters (7,494 feet)
Vertical: 1,609 meters (5,280 feet)
2- Lake Louise: powder bliss in a stunning national park.
Number of Lifts: 11
Number of Slopes: 145
Total Terrain: 1,700 hectares (4,200 acres)
Top Elevation: 2,637 meters (8,650 feet)
Vertical: 991 meters (3,250 feet)
3- Sunshine Village: long winter seasons and lots of pow.
Number of Lifts: 12
Number of slopes: 145
Total Terrain: 1,359 hectares (3,358 acres)
Top Elevation: 2,730 meters (8,954 feet)
Vertical: 1,070 meters (3,514 feet)
The Powder Highway Resorts
Embark on a legendary ski road trip along the Powder Highway, a route that winds through British Columbia and Alberta. This incredible journey takes you through some of the world’s best ski resorts, each with its unique charm and exceptional powder conditions. These are 5 of the largest resorts in the Powder Highway we recommend for freeride and deep pow lines:
4- Fernie: a cradle of world-class skiers.
Number of Lifts: 10
Number of Slopes: 146
Total Terrain: 1,012 hectares (2,500 acres)
Top Elevation: 2,134 meters (7,000 feet)
Vertical: 1,082 meters (3,550 feet)
5- Red Mountain Resort: a historic gem in British Columbia.
Number of Lifts: 8
Number of Slopes: 119
Total Terrain: 1,559 hectares (3,850 acres)
Top Elevation: 2,075 meters (6,805 feet)
Vertical: 888 meters (2,919 feet)
6- Kicking Horse: home of the Canadian Freeride World Tour.
Number of Lifts: 5
Number of slopes: 120+
Total Terrain: 1,410 hectares (3,486 acres)
Top Elevation: 2,505 meters (8,218 feet)
Vertical: 1,315 meters (4314 feet)
7- Revelstoke: North America’s greatest vertical feet.
Number of Lifts: 7
Number of Slopes: 75
Total Terrain: 1,262 hectares (3,121 acres)
Top Elevation: 2,225 meters (7,300 feet)
Vertical: 1,713 meters (5,620 feet)
8- Whitewater: where excessive snow is a delight.
Number of Lifts: 4
Number of Slopes: 82
Total Terrain: 958 hectares (2,367 acres)
Top Elevation: 2,042 meters (6,699 feet)
Vertical: 623 meters (2,044 feet)
