Mount Washington Alpine Resort, Canada

Mount Washington Alpine Resort, Canada

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Guide To Mount Washington Alpine Resort

Mount Washington is a holidaymaker’s dream.

The resort is home to some of the most breathtaking views in North America. It has scenic coastal alpine views with the Pacific Ocean as a backdrop on one end and Strathcona Park on the other.

And that’s not all.

The resort experiences some of the highest powder dumps in the world, between 10 and 11.9 meters per season, of the famous high-quality British Columbia snow. Skiers and snowboarders also delight in the fine weather settings including mild temperatures and great visibility as the terrain lies below the tree line.

Aside from winter thrills, the resort transforms into an adventure location in summer. Some of the activities at the resort include mountain biking, hiking, and a flurry of alpine activities.

And with a wide range of tailored and reasonably-priced tickets, you get unlimited access to the slopes, enjoy epic views, and share and create memorable moments at the resort. One more great thing about the resort is that the fun does not end when the sun dips below the horizon. During the evening, select slopes at the resort are flood-lit to allow late skiers and snowboarders as well as those who just can’t get enough of the snow to keep shredding powder until 9:00 PM.

What Mount Washington Alpine Resort has to offer 

Services

Mountain Features

Resort Features

MOUNT WASHINGTON Alpine RESORT OPEN DATES AND TIMES

Mount Washington Ski Field is estimated to be open

Between the dates of December 9, 2022 and estimated to close on April 10, 2023 for the 2022 season.

Ski life Services at Mount Washington Resort open as early as 9:30 AM and last to close is at 5:30 PM.

Mountain Map/ Info

Mount Washington Ski Resort Trail Map

Mount Washington Alpine Resort Terrain

Mount Washington Ski Resort features 1,700 acres of dynamic skiable terrain. The slopes have something for every ability and level of skier and snowboarder. The terrain includes 81 runs that span across 505 meters of vertical (highest point 1,593 meters and the lowest point 1,084).

The official stats for the resort’s 60 kilometers of ski slopes are as follows:

  • 14% beginner, 
  • 35% intermediate 
  • 36% advanced
  • 15% expert

Beginner Terrain at Mount Washington

The resort has several dedicated beginner runs where absolute novices and less confident beginners can learn to ski or snowboard, without the more experienced thrill-seekers scaring them by whizzing past. The runs are also serviced by an experienced grooming team that keeps them in great condition that is conducive to learning. 

More confident beginners will delight in the progression slopes off of the Hawk Chairlift. These slopes are steeper, allowing for a faster schuss downslope, and preparing the riders for more challenging intermediate slopes.

Intermediate Skiing at Mount Washington

The resort makes it easy to progress from beginner to intermediate level. There are great short blue runs that low-level intermediates and more confident beginners delight in. 

More challenging blue runs can be found off the Eagle Express chair, which also offers spectacular alpine and ocean views. 

Terrain Park at Mount Washington

The resort has a great terrain park in addition to the beginner trails. It is an intermediate to advanced snow lover’s playground, with decks, boxes, and lines of rails and jumps.

Advanced Skiing at Mount Washington

The resort’s advanced slopes have a great mix of features including named run-glades, open faces, cut runs, and bumps. There are also naturally gladed trees that offer superb tree skiing. And with conducive weather and great snowfall, advanced riders can test their limits and try out interesting tricks.

Expert Skiing at Mount Washington

The resort has great expert skiing opportunities, especially off the Eagle Chair. Expert riders can also hop on to the Boomerang chair to access great off-piste opportunities on the Outback bowl. The Outback bowl’s terrain is rated double black and offers plenty of variety which includes tree skiing and expansive open areas.

More expert terrain can also be found on the North Bowl which has some of the most challenging out-of-bounds side country terrains. The bowl has thrilling cliffs and a deep gulley, one of the resort's biggest terrain traps.

Lifts at Mount Washington Alpine Resort

Mount Washington Ski Resort has 10 lifts that serve its 688 skiable acres. They aid in the convenient transport of riders of all abilities to different parts of the slopes. The lifts include 5 chairlifts and 5 surface lifts. 

The details of the resort’s named lifts are as follows:

  • Hawk Six Pack Express – This high-speed 6-pack chairlift covers 1,428 meters and ascends a 316-meter vertical in 5 minutes. It transports riders way up on the resort and helps them access more challenging green slopes which run all the way to the base.
  • Eagle Express – This is a high-speed quad that takes 5 minutes to climb a 396-meter vertical and cover a distance of 1,358 meters. The lifts ferry intermediate and advanced riders to superb blue and black runs further upslope.
  • Boomerang – This fixed-grip quad chairlift covers a 1,358-meter distance and a 492-meter vertical in 12 minutes. It transports daring advanced and expert riders upslope to access advanced slopes.
  • Sunrise Quad – This is a fixed-grip quad chairlift that rises a 395-meter vertical and travels a distance of 1,304 meters in 12 minutes. Along with the eagle express, it allows intermediate riders to access great blue runs upslope.
  • Whiskey Jack Chair – This is a fixed-grip triple that takes 10 minutes to climb a 220-meter vertical and travel a distance of 1,088 meters.

The rest of the five lifts are magic carpets located on beginner slopes that aid novice and beginner skiers and snowboarders gain confidence on the slopes before they proceed to the chairlifts. They include:

  • The Upper magic carpet which is 150-meters long and climbs a 30-meter vertical in 3 minutes
  • The Mid Magic Carpet – This lift is 100 meters long and carries riders up a 25-meter vertical in 2.5 minutes
  • The Lower Magic Carpet – This lift covers 150 meters and ascends a 30-meter vertical in 3 minutes
  • The Teaching Carpet is a 100-meter-long surface lift that ascends an 18-meter vertical in 2.5 minutes
  • The Tubing Carpet – This is the longest magic carpet at 200 meters and takes 4 minutes to climb a 40-meter vertical.

How To Get A Ski Pass To Mount Washington Alpine Resort

You can enjoy snow sports at Mount Washington Ski Resort through relatively inexpensive tickets. To get your tickets, visit the resort’s online store to purchase them. After buying your tickets online, you can collect your physical pass at the resort for scanning to access various services. If you buy your tickets prior to getting to the resort, you can avoid long queues by collecting your pass at the various designated points at the resort.

Ticket prices vary and knowing the most opportune time to buy your tickets may help you save money and take advantage of discounts. For example:

  • Midweek riding is often cheaper than weekend tickets
  • Prices may be more affordable if you buy your lift tickets before the season’s onset 
  • Passes tend to reach their highest price during the holidays and peak season times

The following are the kinds of tickets that you can buy at the resort:

  • Gold Pass – This pass grants unlimited access to 7-day-a-week skiing and snowboarding. It includes Nordic access as well as night skiing. You also get to access the slopes at other member resorts as well as amazing discounts on food, drinks, and buddy passes.
  • Alpine Pass – This is a 7-day-a-week skiing pass where you can hit the slopes from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM daily.
  • Midweek Pass – This is a weekday-only pass that grants you access to the slopes and lifts from Monday to Friday. It also includes the Nordic Pass and has night skiing included.
  • Student Pass – This is a 7-day-a-week pass that grants students access to the slopes and includes night and Nordic skiing. The pass only applies to full-time students who are currently enrolled at an accredited university or college. Students will be required to produce proof of enrollment to get the pass.
  • Night Pass – This pass grants unlimited skiing from Friday to Sunday where you can hit the slopes from 3:30 PM to 9:00 PM.
  • Super Senior Pass – This is a pass that enables seniors who are above 75 years old to ski for free. However, it attracts a $35 administration fee, and the pass is applied when the person presents themselves at the resort.
  • Tot Pass – This is also a fantastic pass that allows kids under the age of 6 years to ski for free at the resort. It also attracts a $35 administration fee and can only be obtained from the resort physically.
  • Nordic Pass – This is a 7-day week pass that is often bundled with the Midweek and Student passes. It grants unlimited access to the cross-country terrain as well as snowshoe trails.
  • Snowshoe Pass – This offers unlimited outdoor adventures for both skiers and non-skiers for accessing snowshoe trails.

Mount Washington Alpine Resort Snow cam  

Curious to know what the snow is like today at Mount Washington Resort?

The following is a live webcam feed of the slopes at the Mount Washington Resort. We’ve curated the best views to show you the current snow conditions from around the resort.  

Ski Resort Weather

Mount Washington has some of the highest snowfalls in North America and the world. It gets an impressive seasonal average of 10 to 11.9 meters of the incredible British Columbia snow. Being a coastal region, the snow tends to fall heavy and fresh.

The resort’s slopes generally face the eastern end and when the storms work themselves up from the Pacific, the Outback bowl gets a powder filling before the rest of the terrain. With all that great snow, the resort’s grooming staff keeps the slopes in great condition to the delight of eager thrill-seekers.

The resort’s geographical location is renowned for its mild temperatures which make for a pleasant riding and sightseeing experience. 

MOUNT WASHINGTON ALPINE RESORT SNOW REPORT

In the following live graphic, you can see the currently estimated snow depth for the Mount Washington Resort.

MOUNT WASHINGTON ALPINE RESORT WEATHER FORECAST

Knowing the projected weather conditions at and around the resort can help you plan your trip better. The following graphic shows an updated forecast for the Mount Washington Resort’s weather.

Mount Washington Alpine Resort Weather Forcast

BOOK NEARBY HOTELS

MOUNT WASHINGTON ALPINE RESORT ACCOMMODATION AND WHERE TO STAY WHEN VISITING THE SKI RESORT.

The resort has all the amenities required for holidaying resort goers. These range from childcare facilities, equipment sales, repair, and rentals, a ski/snowboard school, dining, and lodging options.

The main accommodation facilities which also offer ski-in/ski-out access are the Bear and Deer lodges. The Bear Lodge is located slope side and offers cozy 1-to-3-bedroom condos. The condos feature private bathrooms, kitchens, a small living area, and a gas fireplace.

The other great place to stay and dine is at the resort's base, where you’ll find a collection of private chalets, condos, and vacation homes.

MOUNT WASHINGTON ALPINE RESORT ACCOMMODATION AND WHERE TO STAY WHEN VISITING THE SKI RESORT.

The resort has all the amenities required for holidaying resort goers. These range from childcare facilities, equipment sales, repair, and rentals, a ski/snowboard school, dining, and lodging options.

The main accommodation facilities which also offer ski-in/ski-out access are the Bear and Deer lodges. The Bear Lodge is located slope side and offers cozy 1-to-3-bedroom condos. The condos feature private bathrooms, kitchens, a small living area, and a gas fireplace.

The other great place to stay and dine is at the resort's base, where you’ll find a collection of private chalets, condos, and vacation homes.

Getting To The Resort

How To Get to Mount Washington Alpine  Resort

The resort is situated on the mountain of the same name on the eastern end of British Columbia’s ranges of Vancouver Island. It is also:

Getting to Mount Washington Alpine Resort by Air

The closest airport to the resort is the Comox Valley Airport which lies about 39 kilometers east of the resort. The airport has connecting flights from Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton, as well as from some international destinations.

Getting to Mount Washington Alpine Resort by Ferry

If you’re coming in from Vancouver Island, you can catch a ferry from Vancouver to Nanaimo (Horseshoe Bay-Departure Bay). The ferry has 11 schedules per day and the ride takes about 1:40 minutes. There are other ferries on different routes but depending on where you’re coming from, this is the most optimal route.

Driving to Mt Washington

After arriving by ferry to Nanaimo, you take Highway 19 and drive for 134 kilometers up to Mount Washington. For a more scenic adventure, you can take the old coastal route which is longer, but worth it.

Depending on the road conditions (less traffic and dry conditions) it takes about 15 to 20 minutes to drive up the resort from Highway 19. By law, you need to fit winter tires and snow chains to your vehicle when the road conditions are bad. Along the road, flashing lights warn drivers that they need to fit the snow chains. The road up the resort is not so steep or windy, but to avoid unfortunate events, you need to drive carefully and according to guidelines.

Taking a Bus Ride to the Resort

If you don’t wish to drive yourself up to the resort, you can take a shuttle ride up to the resort. A shuttle bus operates between Mount Washington and Comox Valley, making a few stops along Cumberland and Courtenay.

Day trippers can board the Mt. Washington Ski Bus which makes daily trips with pick-up points in several locations along the route to the resort.

Ski Resort FAQ

WHERE IS MOUNT WASHINGTON ALPINE RESORT?

The resort is located in eastern British Columbia, in the Victoria Island ranges. It can be accessed from Courtenay, Nanaimo, and Victoria.

HOW MUCH SNOW IS AT MOUNT WASHINGTON ALPINE RESORT?

The resort receives an impressive high seasonal average of between 10 and 11.6 meters of the famous British Columbia Powder.

HOW BIG IS MOUNT WASHINGTON ALPINE RESORT?

The resort has 1,700 acres of dynamic skiable terrain, with different slopes designated for various skier and snowboarder ability levels.

IS THERE PARKING AT MOUNT WASHINGTON ALPINE RESORT?

Yes, there is ample free parking at the resort, near the Bear and Deer lodges

IS MOUNT WASHINGTON ALPINE RESORT BEGINNER FRIENDLY?

Yes, the resort has great beginner slopes with several runs designated as beginner-only to allow novices and less confident beginners to get used to the slopes. There is also a ski school on site that offers private, group, and family lessons. Finally, there is a ski/snowboard equipment rental facility onsite. 

DOES MOUNT WASHINGTON ALPINE RESORT NEED SNOW CHAINS?

Yes, the local administration requires that all vehicles driving up to the resort have fitting snow tires and snow chains. Along the road, flashing lights indicate the road’s condition and remind drivers to fit their chains.