Canada Is the Best Value for Skiers This Season—Here’s Where to Go and Where to Stay

• Why We Love It: lakeside sleigh rides, dog sled tours, afternoon tea at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Ice Magic Festival
• Where to Stay: Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise (from $316/night) or sister property Fairmont Banff Springs (from $537/night), Burgess Lookout Cabin (from $137/night)

It’s easy to indulge in untouched powder at Lake Louise, a resort that has excellent bowl skiing and also boasts views of the idyllic lake of the same name, known for its turquoise-hued waters come summertime. During the frozen winter season, you can peep it from the summit of the mountain, and then conquer four separate mountain faces and 4,200+ acres of terrain. The ski resort has thrilling additions in store for the 2023 ski season: 48 energy-efficient snow guns and new flowing lines for West Bowl glading that make tree skiing a breeze.

Located at the bottom of the slopes, you can fuel up on sushi at Kuma Yama, right at the mountain. Or, make the easy drive to the charming town of Banff for locally sourced beef at Chuck’s Steakhouse, a stylish ranch-inspired eatery with primo cuts of carne and a hard-to-resist potato gratin starring shallots, nutmeg and gruyère cheese.

• Why We Love It: heated chair lifts, backcountry freeride zones (avalanche gear required)
• Where to Stay: Sunshine Mountain Lodge (from $230/night), Tiny Home (from $149/night)

This laid-back winter playground is the definition of fun, and one of the few resorts out there ideal for visiting at the end of the ski season. Ski or ride in the annual Slush Cup, a boozy competition that marks the start of spring, giving athletes the chance to try their hand at skimming Banff’s best outdoor ice bath (bikinis, board shorts, and banana costumes welcome). The mountain is a paradise for those who love wide open skiing and great for intermediates and advanced skiers alike. Grab a trail map and look for Waterfall Run, a favorite that passes a frozen waterfall. If you’re an intermediate skier, try out World Cup and hang the turn on Green Run (an easy one for beginners) and breathe in the crisp, clean mountain air as you glide down. When you work up an appetite, kick off your ski boots and make your way into Banff, where Hello Sunshine has tasty Japanese BBQ, karaoke rooms, handsome modern fireplaces and good vibes.

• Why We Love It: heli-skiing, blower powder, extreme terrain, extra-long runs including one that clocks in over 6 miles
• Where to Stay: Palliser Lodge (from $125 /night), Chamonix Chalet ($447/night)

With more than 100 runs to choose from, there’s something for everyone at Kicking Horse—and that variety extends to Boo the Bear, the resort’s real-life grizzly mascot (rescued from poachers as a cub) who is free to hibernate in his own 20-acre mountainside habitat. Advanced skiers are big fans of Kicking Horse for the challenges it presents, as well as the Whitewall/Feuz Bowl and the recently added Rudi’s Bowl. With so much physical activity, after a long day on the slopes, you can treat yourself to gourmet fare with a view at Eagle’s Eye, perched just off the gondola at 7,700 feet. For a more laid-back meal in a yurt setting, Heaven’s Door Yurt offers “funky mountain soul food” at the base of the Stairway to Heaven chairlift.

• Why We Love It: Five-star dining, Nordic spa, blazing fire spinners night show
• Where to Stay: Fairmont Chateau Whistler (from $429/night) or Delta Hotels by Marriott Whistler Village Suites (from $160/night), Luxury Townhouse (from $314/night)

Whistler Blackcomb is undoubtedly on your radar already, and no wonder, as it’s considered the crème de la crème of North American ski resorts by many. That’s because it’s spread across two separate mountains (Whistler and Blackcomb, respectively) with over 8,000 acres of incredibly varied terrain and a staggering 40+ feet of annual snowfall. Heli-skiing offers access to over 400,000 acres of virgin backcountry pow, and you don't need to be a super advanced skier to try it out while you're in British Columbia, either. The luxury travel experts at Scott Dunn mention being an intermediate skier is just fine, and can make it happen as part of their "Extraordinary Canada" itinerary, which combines on-mountain time at the famed Whistler before climbing aboard a helicopter to access remote backcountry terrain.

The après-ski scene at Whistler can be exhilarating in a whole other way. Discover ski retail, art galleries, night life, and more in the Alpine wonderland of Whistler Village. Dine at Rimrock Café for upscale classics like lobster bisque, beef tenderloin tartare, and seared foie gras in an unpretentious and authentic mountain lodge atmosphere.

• Why We Love It: family friendly, tandem paragliding, art classes, mountain hut dining
• Where to Stay: Ski Tip Lodge (from $143/night), Panorama Condo (from $89/night)

Looking for a view? The aptly named Panorama combines that with nearly 3,000 acres of varied terrain and a 4,200+ foot vertical drop. Take a few turns around the mountain’s long cruising runs, with Skyline and Rollercoaster being a highlight.

The exceptional ski area has more to it than meets the eye, offering visitors the opportunity to explore a frozen paradise by snowmobiling through the Purcell wilderness, tandem paragliding from the mountain’s summit, or enjoy tranquil snowshoeing through the forest. When you’re looking to grub, try the unforgettable gourmet dining at 8,000 feet from the cozy comfort of a mountain hut; you’ll also be offered an extensive menu of local B.C. wines, craft beers, and liqueurs.

• Why We Love It: Revy Beer Festival, inclusive initiatives (Colour The Slopes), 120 years of small-town charm, The Last Spike (North America’s longest ski trail at 9.5 miles)
• Where to Stay: The Sutton Place Hotel (from $172/night), Modern Farmhouse (from $287/night)

Uniquely located in a rainforest and home to the most vertical drop in North America at 5,620 feet, Revelstoke is one of the most breathtaking ski resorts celebrated by those in the know. Kick your mornings off by riding up to three runs of untouched powder when you enroll in the First Tracks program and get right into what the mountain is famous for: glades and fast groomers. When you’re shredding Revelstoke, make sure to budget time in your day to hit the Hot Sauce and Rodeo runs a few times — you won’t regret it. If you’re a real thrill-seeker, you can heli-ski past centuries-old, towering trees in an old-growth cedar rainforest. When the muscles ache from a day filled with fun, soak into a local hot spring or hit up one of the resort’s many dining options. The Mac Tavern offers a range of yummy street-style inspired food, and you can shoot pool or play board games while you wait for your meal.