Here’s what you need to know before you head out to hit the slopes on Vancouver’s local mountains this year

Winter has arrived early for Vancouverites this year and, as of today, two of our three local ski resorts are already open! We all know that this ski and snowboard season will look different from previous years. I’m here to help you navigate it. Let’s have a look at how each of Vancouver’s ski resorts are going to function for the 20/21 season.

Before we get into each individual mountain, there are some similarities. As expected, all three of Vancouver’s ski resorts will require face coverings to be worn while in public spaces and in lift lines. For most avid riders, these are already part of our attire.

All three resorts also require that rentals be pre-purchased online before arriving on-site.

All mountains are also limiting chairlift rides to those in your party so expect longer lines this year.

I regularly ride with a face covering to protect my face from the cold wind so this change isn’t really an issue. I’ll just have to ensure it’s covering my mouth and nose properly while riding the lifts and inside chalets.

Vancouver’s Ski Resorts

Cypress Mountain

OPEN – Current mountain hours are 9 am – 10 pm. Always check their website for current conditions before heading up. They have a very detailed page with weather, current snow levels and webcams.

Cypress Mountain is Vancouver’s only ski resort located in West Vancouver. It is also Vancouver’s largest ski resort. It has 6 chair lifts with a total lift length of 4.3 kilometres. There are 53 runs as well as 19 km of cross-country ski trails.

It sits at an elevation of 1,440 meters, making it Vancouver’s highest mountain resort. Sweeping views of the city and water can be seen from Cypress Mountain. There is a lookout point on the drive up the mountain and it’s definitely worth a stop.

The stunning city views from the top of the Sky Chairlift.

What’s new at Cypress this year

There are no ticket sales on-site. Day passes must be purchased online in advance this year. Full-day passes start at $79, but the earlier you purchase, the more you save. Since you have to purchase your pass before you go, you might as well try and plan ahead and save some money. Visit the Cypress Mountain website to purchase your tickets.

Season pass holders can arrive and ride, no reservations or time limits have been put into place. This is great news for me since this is where I ride 😉

The entire mountain has gone cashless this year so be sure to bring your debit or credit card for any food and beverage purchases you’ll want to make while there.

Amazing sunsets are a common sight while riding up the Lion’s Express Chair

Grouse Mountain

Regular mountain hours are 9 am – 9 pm. Current conditions can always be found on their website here.

Vancouver has two ski resorts located in North Vancouver, one of which is Grouse Mountain. Grouse Mountain has 4 chair lifts with a total lift length of 5.9 kilometres. It has a total of 33 runs.

At an elevation of over 1,250 meters, Grouse is the only mountain that has a Skyride gondola that takes visitors to the top of the mountain where the ski lifts are located. When planning your visit to Grouse, take this into consideration since this year you must pre-book both your uphill and downhill rides on the Skyride gondola.

My friend Benedicta and I enjoying the evening views at Grouse Mountain

What’s new at Grouse Mountain this year

Advanced online tickets are recommended, but not required; however, the Skyride Gondola must be pre-booked in advance. Adult day pass lift ticket prices vary depending on when you plan to go and range from $46 – $72. They can be purchased online at the Grouse Mountain Website.

They do not mention going cashless, but I would be prepared and bring your debit or credit card just in case.

Stunning city views and sunsets from the top of Grouse Mountain

Seymour Mountain

Mountain hours are 9:30 am – 9:30 pm on weekdays and 8:30 am – 9:30 pm on weekends. Current conditions can be found online here and I always recommend checking before heading up.

North Vancouver’s other ski resort is Seymour Mountain. At an elevation of 1,265 meters, it is slightly higher than Grouse Mountain. Seymour has the fewest lifts of the North Shore mountains at just 3 lifts serving 40 runs.

What’s new at Seymount this year

They have initiated time limits of four hours for their weekend and holiday day passes this year. This applies to season pass holders as well, which is a big differentiation from the other two resorts, which have not implemented time limits.

Passes must be pre-purchased before arriving this year. Adult lift tickets range in price from $39-$70 depending on the day and time. Visit the official Mount Seymour website for full details and to purchase tickets in advance of your visit.

Mount Seymour will be cashless this season, with debit or credit accepted.

Ocean views with a sunset at Seymour Mountain

And there you have it, your guide to navigating Vancouver’s ski resorts this winter season. I hope this information has been helpful to you. This year has certainly been a strange one, but we’re all in this together so let’s help each other out and make the best of it. If you’re just learning, check out my post on 9 snowboarding tips for beginners.

Looking for more winter adventures to enjoy? Check out my 8 awesome winter adventures in Vancouver article. If you’re not into the cold weather and would rather stay home, warm and cozy, check out my article on 5 ways to make a staycation an amazing vacation. Breakfast in bed, anyone?

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