Amelie CameronOne of the things we look forward to the most is celebrating Christmas by skiing down the slopes of a snowy mountain. It all sounds like a dream until it’s December and all ski resorts have been fully booked.
Luckily, the Toronto area has a lot of spots for skiing that you can discover (in advance), so you won’t have to go through the disappointment.
From charming resorts to thrilling ski spots, our guide is your ticket to the coolest winter adventures. So, buckle up those boots and get ready for a ride as we unveil the best ski experiences around Toronto.
- Blue Mountain Resort
- Brimacombe
- Calabogie Peaks Resort
- Centennial Park Ski Centre
- Chinguacousy Park
- Dagmar Ski Resort
- Earl Bales Ski and Snowboard Centre
- Glen Eden
- Hidden Valley Highlands Ski Area
- Hockley Valley Resort
- Horseshoe Resort
- Lakeridge Ski Resort
- Mount St Louis Moonstone
- Snow Valley Ski Resort
- Uplands Golf and Ski Club : Golf and Skiing Harmony
Blue Mountain Resort
Address: The Blue Mountains, ON, Canada
Phone Number: +1 833 583 2583
Hours: Open from December to March with open hours changing periodically
Surrounded by picturesque landscapes, Blue Mountain Resort is one of the most popular winter resorts in the area. This place is the place to go skiing with the kids with their assortment of family friendly attractions.
They divide the 364 acres of skiable area they have based on skill level, with areas dedicated to absolute beginners, intermediate skiers, and experts. The beginner area even has rails and a super pipe to practice on.
| Pro Tip: They have 42 named trails on site and 30 nighttime ones that are well lit. If you’re looking for an extended ski, we suggest going for Gord’s Groove. This trail measures 1.6 km or a mile. |
Brimacombe
Address: 4098 Regional Road 9, Orono, ON L0B 1M0, Canada
Phone Number: +1 905 983 5983
Hours:
- Open from Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 9:30 pm
- Open on Sunday from 9 am to 4:30 pm
Brimacombe has one of Southern Ontario’s biggest areas for skiing and snowboarding. Spanning over 70 acres of skiable areas, they have 23 slopes that vary in difficulty levels. There are 7 lifts on site, so waiting time is shorter than other resorts.
There are 11 trails dedicated to night skiing and all of them are well lit and safe for visitors to use from 4 pm to closing from Monday to Saturday.
They only allow alpine skis and snowboards for use on their premises, so check yours before booking a ticket. If you don’t have those, they offer rentals on site including skis, helmets, poles, and boots.
| Pro Tip: Brimacombe takes the safety of their visitors seriously especially considering weather conditions. You can check what the situation is like in the area by checking the Hills Have Eyes page on their website for the live photos that refreshes every minute. |
Calabogie Peaks Resort
Address: 30 Barrett Chute Rd, Calabogie, ON K0J 1H0, Canada
Phone Number: +1 343 242 1003
Hours: Open everyday from 9 am to 4 pm
Although Calabogie Peaks Resort is a bit further away from the city than the other entries on this list, the view you get when you arrive more than makes up for the extra minutes on the road. You’re treated to the sight of Calabogie Lake frozen in winter.
More than the beautiful sites, you can enjoy a wider variety of winter sports and activities here like ice skating, snowshoeing, and snowboarding. But what they’re known for are their ski trails. There are 70 acres of skiable area and 11 lifts on site.
| Pro Tip: The Calabogie Peaks Resort has a hotel on site that you can book in advance so that you can maximize the drive by staying there for the weekend. There are also condos located right on the mountainside that you can look into for lodging. |
Centennial Park Ski Centre
– Media Credit: flaviacristina_to
Address: 256 Centennial Park Rd. Etobicoke, ON M9C 5N3
Phone Number: +1 416 394 8753
Hours:
- Open from Monday to Friday from 2 pm to 9:30 pm
- Open on Saturday from 9 am to 8 pm
- Open on Sunday from 9 am to 6 pm
In the heart of Etobicoke, Centennial Park Ski Centre is operated by the city itself for those who long for the ski slopes but don’t really have time or energy to leave the city.
The ski center has 2 areas. The main hill offers lots of space to ski with 2 runs and one race hill. There’s a chairlift that can fit 4 people at a time here as well.
The other hill is dedicated to beginners, even kids! Since this hill has low elevation, there is no dedicated lift here and you’ll have to walk to the top.
| Pro Tip: The Centennial Park Ski Centre offers ski and snowboarding lessons to visitors during the season where you can have instructors teach you the basics and guide you until you’re able to ski down the slopes on your own. |
Chinguacousy Park
Address: 9050 Bramalea Rd, Brampton, ON L6S 6G7, Canada
Phone Number: +1 905 458 6555
Hours: Open everyday from 6 am to 11 pm
Situated near downtown Toronto, Mount Chinguacousy is another city-owned park that’s extremely accessible. The park is open year round with different attractions opening depending on the season.
In the winter months, they open up their ski and snowboarding hill to visitors. If you enjoy relaxed skiing adventures more than just speeding downhill, then you’ll enjoy it here. Chinguacousy Park offers a laid-back atmosphere.
| Pro Tip: The lift at Chinguacousy Park requires you to buy tickets to get on it. There are tickets for an hour, 3 hours, or for the whole day. You can buy your tickets in advance by calling ahead or booking on their website. |
Dagmar Ski Resort
Address: 1220 Lake Ridge Rd, Uxbridge, ON L9P 1R4, Canada
Phone Number: +1 905 649 2002
Hours:
- Open from Wednesday to Friday from 10 am to 9:30 pm
- Open from Saturday to Sunday from 9 am to 9:30 pm
Dagmar Resort is one of the most popular ski destinations in the area. They have 18 runs that you can go on that vary for different ski expertise. The Terrain Parks here are also not to be dismissed.
Equipped with four chairlifts and two carpet lifts for both day and nighttime adventures, Dagmar ensures skiers and snowboarders have ample opportunities to conquer the slopes with ease and convenience.
Beginners will be glad to know that they have extensive training sessions and classes.
| Pro Tip: The resort has a chalet with panoramic views of the slopes. We suggest grabbing a cup of coffee from the lounge and restaurant or a drink from the bar before coming here to enjoy the views. That way you have something to warm you up. |
Earl Bales Ski and Snowboard Centre
Address: 4169 Bathurst St, North York, ON M3H 3P7, Canada
Phone Number: +1 416 392 2489
Hours:
- Open from Monday to Friday from 2 pm to 9:30 pm
- Open on Saturday from 9 am to 8 pm
- Open on Sunday from 9 am to 6 pm
Situated within Earl Bales Park, the ski and snowboard center is the perfect urban skiing destination. Catering to all ages, the center features a beginner hill equipped with a rope tow and a main hill with two runs and a race hill, which are accessible via a chairlift.
The ski chalet at the top of the main hill, has accessible and clean washrooms. There are also programs that you can sign up for like ski and snowboarding lessons with instructors. The Winter season usually lasts from January to March.
| Pro Tip: The Earl Bales Ski and Snowboard Centre sees the biggest crowds on Saturday and Sunday. If you’re going during those days, try to bring your own equipment because rentals are limited to 2 hours to accommodate more people. |
Glen Eden
Address: 5234 Kelso Rd, Milton, ON L9T 2X7, Canada
Phone Number: +1 905 878 5011
Hours: Open everyday from 8:30 am to 9:30 pm
Glen Eden is located just around 30 to 45 minutes away from the city center so that you won’t have to spend the day going to and fro. Aside from the accessibility, the tickets for their lifts are also pretty affordable. But, that doesn’t mean they compromise on the fun.
Glen Eden is perfect for all kinds of skiers, whether you’re just mastering the slopes or already skiing like a pro. For more expert skiers, you can enjoy the steep runs, while beginners can go on the easier and more intermediate trails at the park.
There are 10 runs, 3 lifts and 2 beginner areas you can use.
| Pro Tip: If you’re a beginner, the Escarpment Run and the Night Hawk are the easiest ones among the 10 that they have. For more difficult ones, the Boomerang and the Challenger are dedicated for expert skiers. |
Hidden Valley Highlands Ski Area
Address: 1655 Hidden Valley Rd, Huntsville, ON P1H 1A4, Canada
Phone Number: +1 705 789 1773
Hours:
- Open from Thursday to Saturday from 9 am to 9 pm
- Open from Sunday to Monday from 9 am to 4 pm
If you and your friends and family have never tried skiing before and want to, but you’re scared to embarrass yourself in front of people, then we suggest going to the Hidden Valley Highlands Ski Area.
This place is lesser known, so it sees less people than more popular ski destinations. Although smaller in size, it’s perfect for beginners and families looking for a more laid-back skiing retreat. The trails aren’t overly hard either.
| Pro Tip: They have lessons available. If you decide to sign up for them, try to arrive at least an hour before to make sure you have enough time to prep, get your ticket, and check in for the lesson at the help desk. |
Hockley Valley Resort
Address: 793522 3rd Line EHS, Mono, ON L9W 5X7, Canada
Phone Number: +1 519 942 0754
Hours:
- Open on Monday from 1 pm to 9 pm
- Open from Tuesday to Saturday from 9 am to 9 pm
- Open on Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm
If you’re looking for a fancy ksi weekend getaway, there’s no other place to go than Hockley Valley Resort. The resort has a hotel and restaurant built in which makes the entire trip so much easier. Plus, the cabin itself is so pretty against the snow.
The area has 15 ski trails with the Easy Rider, the Teddy Bear, and the Little Bear for kids and beginners. They have 6 trails for intermediate riders and 6 other harder ones. If you’re looking for a challenge, go for the Nosedive, the hardest out of all of them
| Pro Tip: After skiing to your heart’s content, we suggest grabbing a bite to eat at the restaurant. Their Zuppa di Cavolo which is kale soup with crispy leeks, pine nites, and herb ricotta crostini really hits the spot. |
Horseshoe Resort
Address: 1101 Horseshoe Valley Rd W, Barrie, ON L4M 4Y8, Canada
Phone Number: +1 705 835 2790
Hours: Open everyday from 9 am to 4 pm
Horseshoe Resort is one of the spots we don’t mind driving to when we want to spend the holiday season skiing. The resort is jam packed with facilities that cater to everyone, so no one feels left out whether we go with friends or family.
They do have areas for beginners, but they’re mostly popular with more skilled and expert skiers, boasting over 29 downhill ski and snowboard runs. They have 4 black runs for seasoned enthusiasts. and 14 blue ones for intermediate skiers.
With over 30 km of well maintained cross country ski trails and night skiing, you won’t run out of things to do.
| Pro Tip: Don’t miss out on dropping by the Tube Park that has Ontario’s longest hill trail. They have other winter activities that you can try like the snowshoe trails, fat biking loop, a slopeside skating rink, and snowmobile guided tours. |
Lakeridge Ski Resort
Address: 790 Chalk Lake Rd, Uxbridge, ON L9P 1R4, Canada
Phone Number: +1 905 649 2058
Hours:
- Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9 am to 9:30 pm
- Open on Monday from 9 am to 4:30 pm
Located on the Oak Ridges Moraine, Lakeridge Resort is open year round and offers tons of activities. During the winter season, they transform into one of the popular spots for winter sports like snowboarding, snow tubing, and skiing.
There are 3 terrain parks for assorted activities. For skiing, they have 18 runs available spreading over 70 acres of space, from the 5 black diamond trails and the 2 extra challenging ones – the Mogul Alley and Rieky’s Run, to the ones for beginners.
They also have a cafeteria, so you won’t have to worry about going hungry while you’re there.
| Pro Tip: If you’re looking for places to stay nearby, we always go to the Trailside Bed and Breakfast at Cosmos Avenue. Not only is it affordable and close by, but the owners, Sue and Bob, are also so sweet and accommodating. |
Mount St Louis Moonstone
Address: R.R.4, 24 Mt St Louis Rd W, Coldwater, ON L0K 1E0, Canada
Phone Number: +1 705 835 2112
Hours:
- Open from Monday to Tuesday from 9 am to 4 pm
- Open from Wednesday to Sunday from 9 am to 9 pm
If you always struggle with unpredictable weather and snow conditions while skiing, then Mount Saint Louis Moonstone is the place to be.
Because of its ideal location along the country’s snow belt and their state of the art snowmaking machine, you can expect great conditions at all times. You can take advantage of this on any of the 35 runs that they have.
These range from all difficulties from beginner trails to expert black ones, but most of them are blue runs for average skiers. The four terrain parks add an element of thrill.
| Pro Tip: The Louis Chalet, Moonstone Chalet, and BeaverTails are all great places to eat while you’re there. We like to go to the Louis Chalet to enjoy a glass of wine with a slice of one of their popular pizzas. |
Snow Valley Ski Resort
Address: 2632 Vespra Valley Rd, Minesing, ON L0L 1Y3, Canada
Phone Number: +1 705 721 7669
Hours:
- Open on Monday from 9 am to 4 pm
- Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9 am to 9 pm
The Snow Valley Ski Resort in Barrie is where we go when we have a family holiday including all of the kids. Because this place is a family-focused resort, they put safety and accessibility as the priorities for their guests.
They offer lessons for skiers and snowboarders of all ages and skill levels. With a 280-foot vertical drop as the highest one and 10 runs of varying difficulty, the resort ensures an inclusive experience.
Beyond skiing, you can try snowshoeing and snow tubing for added winter fun.
| Pro Tip: The team behind Ski Snow Valley put on regular events throughout the winter season like Ladies Night and Slide and Dine Events that you can time your visits to for an extra layer of fun! |
Uplands Golf and Ski Club : Golf and Skiing Harmony
Address: 46 Uplands Ave, Thornhill, ON L4J 1K2, Canada
Phone Number: +1 905 763 7373
Hours:
- Open from Tuesday to Friday from 4:30 pm to 9 pm
- Open on Saturday from 9 am to 9 pm
- Open on Sunday from 9 am to 6 pm
Uplands Ski, known for its golf courses in the summer and its ski slopes in the winter, offers a small yet charming experience in the Greater Toronto Area. With runs that total around 1000 feet and drops of around 100 feet high, this is a great place to learn.
Affordable lift tickets and rental equipment options, along with lowered rates for specific age groups like kids under 6 and senior citizens above 60, make Uplands Golf and Ski Club an accessible destination for all.
| Pro Tip: They host winter camps at the club from the end of December to the start of January, if you don’t want to be there at the same time as the throngs of kids, then we suggest avoiding these dates. |
