2 Jan

Skiing in Vancouver: The mountains are closer than you think

It’s not easy living in the shadow of North America’s most famous ski resort. Located two hours north of Vancouver, Whistler Blackcomb has been named the best place to ski on the continent by Conde Naste, Outside Magazine and National Geographic. And during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, billions of viewers around the world admired Whistler’s pristine slopes from their living rooms.

But, what many visitors to Vancouver don’t realize is that there are also great ski runs a lot closer to the city. In fact, you barely have to leave downtown. Just minutes from the city center rise three exceptional ski mountains. With varied terrain and diverse offerings, Grouse, Cypress and Seymour mountains all receive abundant snowfall and attract world-class skiers. Here’s a peek at what to expect:

Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver: Venue for freestyle skiing and snowboarding during the 2010 Olympics, Cypress boasts 53 named alpine runs and some 12 miles of cross-country tracks. It has six chairlifts, 600 skiable acres and a vertical rise of more than 2000 feet.

Mount Seymour, North Vancouver: Smaller and more intimate than Vancouver’s other mountains, Seymour offers 39 marked trails, multiple terrain parks and six miles of snowshoeing trails. It has five chairlifts, 200 skiable acres and a vertical rise of approximately 1,000 feet.

Grouse Mountain, North Vancouver: Especially popular among travelers, the easily accessible Grouse features 26 ski runs, a pair of terrain parks and six miles of snowshoe trails. It has four chairlifts, 212 skiable acres and a vertical rise of nearly 1,200 feet.