Spring is a sweet spot for family ski trips in Canada—think sunny days, deep snow and better deals. From powder-filled British Columbia to festive Quebec villages and the high peaks of Banff, these five resorts mix great terrain, kid-friendly fun and memorable mountain vibes that make spring skiing irresistible.
Highlights
- Spring skiing in Canada runs through mid-April.
- These 5 family-approved resorts offer terrain for every ability.
- Beyond skiing, you’ll find festivals, villages, and unforgettable mountain scenery
Why My Family Loves Spring Skiing in Canada
Just because cherry blossoms are blooming doesn’t mean it’s time to get off the slopes. In fact, spring is one of the very best times to bring your family to ski in Canada, thanks to sunnier days, deep snowpacks and some of the longest ski seasons in North America. Warmer temperatures mean more comfortable days on the mountain and discounted lift tickets and lodging deals add value to budget-conscious travelers.
And I know my kids (even now they’re grown) would pick fun on the slopes any chance they get. So, if you’re ready to add some spring to your family’s ski vacation, here are our top choices.
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1. Big White Ski Resort, British Columbia
Families form the heart of this interior BC resort, known for its dry powder snow, cheerful pedestrian-friendly village, mixed runs for all abilities and plentiful kid activities.
- Ski until: Mid-April
- Vibe: laid-back, multi-generational atmosphere with many returning skiers of all ages and abilities here to enjoy each other and the slopes.
Why Bring Your Family to Big White?
- Big White’s focus on family has received multiple accolades, including the 2025 winner of the Best International Ski Resorts Choice Awards.
- Five alpine bowls and 119 runs over 2,800 acres of terrain offer runs for every level of skier (19% green, 57% blue, 29% black).
- The beloved village offers a welcoming, friendly atmosphere and a fully ski-in, ski-out experience.
- Almost every lift leads to a variety of different-level runs. For families like ours whose kids way surpass their mother’s nervous green-run-only skiing, it means that we can all go up together and reunite at the bottom after our own ride on the mountain.
- The intuitive layout makes it easy to navigate and gives peace of mind knowing that the kids (or more likely myself) can’t get too lost or end up on a run that exceeds ability.
- An Olympic-sized outdoor rink welcomes skaters and shinny players day and night. At the Happy Valley Adventure Park, take part in activities like dog sledding, tubing, horse-drawn sleigh rides and the Twinkling Trail, where you can walk amidst a light display in the forest.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Take a free ‘snow host’ tour on your first day. These volunteers know the mountain inside out and are happy to share their expertise. Tours meet at 10:20 AM daily, and hosts group participants according to level.
Anything Else to Know?
- Big White doesn’t make snow. Every unique flake has fallen from the sky, and it’s the feather-light powder that skiers dream about.
- If you’ve always wanted to try tree skiing, this is the place to do it. Their glades have been rated among the best in North America and include widely spaced beginner options.
- Tall, eerie ‘snow ghosts’ often dot the mountain. They form when clouds drift over the slopes, coating the trees in rimed ice crystals that transform them into otherworldly sculptures.
- Well-marked hiking and snowshoe trails criss-cross a winter wonderland with snow-covered tall pines.
Where to Stay at Big White
Sundance Resort has spacious condo-style suites, including some with full kitchens, fireplaces, and private hot tubs. Their outdoor swimming pool with a corkscrew slide keeps kids entertained, while adults warm up in the hot tubs. More budget-friendly options in the village include White Crystal Inn and Urban Retreat Hostel.
How to Get to Big White
Located in interior British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, Big White Ski Resort is easiest to reach by air and car. The closest airport is Kelowna International Airport (about a 55-minute drive), and shuttles are available with advanced reservations.
Other options include Spokane (a 2.5- to 3-hour drive) and Vancouver (a four- to five-hour journey through the mountains).
2. Fernie Alpine Resort, British Columbia
This Rocky Mountain ski resort stands out for its deep powder, varied terrain and its proximity to an authentic mountain town filled with local businesses and attractions.
- Ski until : Mid-April
- Vibe: Relaxed, youthful atmosphere for mountain lovers who know why they’re here.
Why Bring Your Family to Fernie?
- Fernie averages more than 30 feet of snowfall each winter, often more than other better-known Rocky Mountain resorts. And again, this is the prized powder that’s formed when Pacific moisture collides with Arctic air.
- Offers specialized kids trails and an extensive beginner terrain.
- More than a ski village, the town of Fernie, only 5 kms from the ski resort, has a historic downtown filled with art galleries, museums and excellent eateries. Our family loved exploring this authentic mountain community and it also gave us a lot of options for activities, accommodations and dining at different price points.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Self-guided tours offer insight and a more in-depth understanding of a town’s history without any cost. Download the Iconic Fernie App for seven themed tours: Local Heritage, Best Photography Spots, Exploring Nature, Artistic Explorations, Family Fun and Yum and the Heritage Pub Tour. Not only will you see the best sights, but you can also collect points to redeem for swag at the Fernie Visitor’s Centre.
What Else Should I Know?
- Fernie prides itself on its legends and folklore, like ‘the Griz’, a towering, fur-clad hermit with super-human strength that roams the backcountry. Every spring, he’s celebrated on Griz Days when the town erupts in parades, live music, snow sculptures, and quirky competitions, all culminating in the legendary appearance of the Griz himself, who descends from the mountain to toast another powder-filled season.
- Many Fernieites abide by the ‘20 cm rule’, which simply states that when more than eight inches of snow falls overnight, locals go skiing instead of work.
Where to Stay in Fernie
Consider Lizard Creek Lodge for ski-in/ski-out accommodation on the mountain, which has 85 residential-style condo suites for a home-away-from-home feel with fully equipped kitchens, fireplaces and hot tubs. More budget-friendly options in town include the Fernie Fox Inn and the Raging Elk.
How to Get to Fernie
Located in southeastern British Columbia, Fernie Alpine Resort is easiest to reach by air and car. The closest airport is Canadian Rockies International Airport in Cranbrook, BC (about an hour’s drive).
Other options include Spokane (a 4.5- to 5-hour drive), Glacier Park (2 hours) and Calgary (a 3.5 to 4-hour scenic journey).
Renting a car is advisable as there is no regular public transportation available.
3. Mont Tremblant Ski Resort, Quebec
Named one of National Geographic’s top ski towns, Mont Tremblant’s European-styled pedestrian village, diverse terrain and outdoor joie-de-vivre has been drawing families for 85 years.
- Ski until: Mid-April
- Vibe: A multi-generational, festive playground with a French twist.
Why Bring Your Family to Mont Tremblant?
- The ski area covers 755 acres with 102 ski trails for all levels. A long green run snakes through a postcard-perfect forest, and advanced pistes plunge down the mountain’s north side
- At 2,871 feet, the summit offers spectacular views of the Laurentian Mountains, some of the oldest in the world.
- In addition to being ski-in/ski-out, the cobblestoned village has boutiques, art galleries, restaurants and a stage, where live bands provide musical accompaniment to the diners, skiers and wanderers warming up by the fire pits. Our kids loved the lively atmosphere here and the free cabriolet (an open gondola) that whisked us across the village.
Anything Else I Should Know?
- The resort borders Mont Tremblant National Park, one of Quebec’s oldest protected areas, with access to over 80 miles of trails and 400 lakes.
- A snow-hardened maple taffy treat symbolizes the start of spring for many Quebeckers and you can taste one at the Cabane a Sucre in the village or off the resort in the surrounding region.
- The Tremblant Apres Ski festival combines sunshine, ski and music every weekend from March 15 to April 12 with DJs, live music and lots of sunny terraces to enjoy them on.
Where to Stay at Mont Tremblant
For a real treat, the Fairmont Tremblant can’t be beat. Located in the village at the foot of the mountain means you can ski in and out and enjoy all the apres-ski festivities at its doorstep. Many of their 312 rooms feature views of the mountain and amenities include a 15-treatment-room spa, gym, billiards room, cinema and pools. But the piece de resistance is the 16,000-square-foot outdoor terrace with a heated pool, hot tub and fire pits, perfect for enjoying a flute of champagne under the stars.
More budget-friendly accommodations like the Holiday Inn Express can be found right in the village.
SheBuysTravel Money-saving Tip: Book directly on the Mount Tremblant site to enjoy a 15% discount on stays of two nights or more as well as perks like free skate rentals and marshmallows.
How to Get to Mont Tremblant
Located in Quebec’s Laurentian Mountains, Mont Tremblant is easiest to reach by air and car. The closest airport is Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (about a 90-minute drive). Book a shuttle transfer to the pedestrian village if you’re not renting a car.
4. Club Med Charlevoix, Quebec
Club Med’s first Canadian resort provides families with a care-free, all-inclusive mountain adventure on the banks of the St. Lawrence River.
- Ski until : Mid-April
- Vibe: A care-free, sociable French ski escape with equal parts family fun and grown-up indulgence.
Why Bring Your Family to Club Med Charlevoix?
- The price includes EVERYTHING (lift tickets, rentals, activities, childcare, meals, alcoholic drinks), making it a truly hassle-free ski vacation. We found all the guides to be enthusiastic and knowledgeable, and loved the variety of programming that included winter hiking and wellness offerings.
- At the Mini Club for kids over four, Great Organizers (AKA staff who are referred to as GOs) lead kids in all kinds of activities that go beyond skiing. In the circus class, for example, your little acrobat can try trapeze, trampoline and juggling.
- At 2,526 feet, Le Massif’s vertical drop is the longest in Canada east of the Rockies. The slopes boast 53 runs, 350+ acres of skiable terrain, eight lifts and spectacular views of the partially frozen St. Lawrence River.
Anything Else I Should Know?
- Le Massif lies in the Charlevoix Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO-designated region celebrated for the meeting of mountain and river, where a meteorite impact 350 million years ago created a vast crater that resulted in its remarkable biodiversity and dramatic landscape.
- Club Med has a culture all its own with themed nights, group dances and a philosophy rooted in happiness.
Where to Stay in Club Med Charlevoix
The resort’s ski-in/ski-out accommodation has 302 units, including spacious family suites with two separate bedrooms and 25 suites with two bathrooms, two bedrooms, a living room and a wide balcony. All meals, alcoholic drinks, amenities like their indoor and outdoor pools, Nordic spa and even taxes and tips are included in their price.
How to Get to Club Med Charlevoix
Situated in the Charlevoix region of Quebec, the resort is best accessed via Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport , roughly a 90-minute drive along a scenic coastal highway. Shuttles are available with advance booking.
5. Banff Sunshine Village Ski Resort, Alberta
Perched 7,200 feet high on the Continental Divide in Canada’s most iconic landscape, Banff Sunshine boasts a seven-month ski season and 360-degree views of the Rocky Mountains.
- Ski until: Late-May
- Vibe: High-alpine exhilaration with skiers from around the world united by its bucket-list skiing and scenery.
Why Bring Your Family to Banff Sunshine Village Ski Resort?
- Its high-altitude location means consistent snow, with an average of 30 feet of powder a year.
- Access 3,300 acres of terrain across three mountains and two provinces, with 130 named runs served by 12 lifts.
- We found that even getting to the resort in the eight-passenger high-speed gondola that rises 7,200 feet above the clouds thrilled us. The grandeur and awesomeness of the high peaks lived in our memories long after the trip itself.
- Even beginners can glide above the clouds on cruiser runs, and advanced skiers have their choice of adrenaline-inducing steep verticals.
- World-class ski lessons and an excellent on-resort daycare with lots of flexible options to suit kids of all abilities.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Purchase lift tickets online in advance to save money and time. With the Ski Banff App, you can head straight to the gondola with your mobile ticket. If you’re staying for a week or longer, consider the Sunshine Super Card, which gives you three free days of skiing.
Anything Else I Should Know?
- It’s the only ski resort located in Banff National Park, Canada’s first national park, established in 1885, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Features Canada’s only heated chairlift, the WaWa Quad.
- Named among the top ten off-piste runs in the world, Sunshine’s hair-raising Delirium Dive plunges down 2,000 feet of vertical on the spine of the continental divide.
Where to Stay in Banff Sunshine Village Ski Resort
At 7,200 feet, Sunshine Mountain Lodge, the only ski-in/ski-out accommodation in Banff National Park, provides spacious rooms and suites with fireplaces and private balconies. Enjoy apres-ski at one of the village’s eateries (Mad Trapper’s is an institution) and relax in the sauna and the large outdoor hot tub. Kids can enjoy movie nights, tobogganing and hot chocolate by the fire. More budget-friendly accommodations can be found in the nearby town of Banff, with options like HI Banff Alpine Centre, Irwin’s Mountain Inn and Red Carpet Inn.
How to Get to Banff Sunshine Village Ski Resort
Banff Sunshine is most easily reached via Calgary International Airport , about a 90-minute drive west through the Rockies. Shuttles are available both from the airport and the town of Banff.
Happy Spring Skiing!
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