Located roughly 40 minutes outside of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Searchmont Ski Resort has been a long-standing favourite of avid skiers and snowboards throughout Central Ontario. With 703′ of vertical, 26 runs, and a nice variety of terrain, Searchmont offers some of the best skiing in the region and the entire province.
It’s certainly worth a visit, so here’s my ultimate guide to ensure your trip is a success!
When is Searchmont Resort Open?
For the 2022/2023 season, Searchmont Ski Resort is open Wednesday through Sunday (and closed Monday/Tuesday). The hours of operation are:
- Wednesday: 9:30am – 4:00pm
- Thursday: 9:30am – 4:00pm
- Friday: 9:30am – 9:00pm
- Saturday: 9:30am – 9:00pm
- Sunday: 9:30am – 4:00pm
Searchmont notes that its early season hours will be updated weekly. So, visit their hours of operation page to see if any changes have been made for the day/week you plan on visiting!
Outside regular operating hours, Searchmont Ski Resort is also open on MLK Day, Family Day, and throughout March Break.
Of course, all operating hours are subject to weather conditions. As such, double-check the hours of operation page before heading to ensure you don’t arrive at a closed ski hill!
How do you Get to Searchmont Resort?
Searchmont Ski Resort is located 40 minutes northeast of Sault Ste. Marie, directly off Highway 556. This makes getting to Searchmont relatively easy for anyone living in and around Sault Ste. Marie, including those on the American side of the border. Simply use the map above to find the best directions from your location!
That said, getting to Searchmont is a bit more difficult for those living outside of the Sault Ste. Marie area, with drive times stretching to nearly 4 hours from Sudbury or 8 hours from Thunder Bay. If you live closer to Sudbury and want a similar experience to Searchmont Ski Resort, consider visiting Antoine Mountain in Mattawa. If you live closer to Thunder Bay, Loch Lomond will offer the closest ski experience to Searchmont!
How Much are Searchmont’s Lift Tickets?
Searchmont Ski Resort breaks down its lift ticket pricing into two categories, Weekday (Wednesday, Thursday & Friday) and Weekend (Saturday & Sunday), with different options available based on age, night or day skiing, or beginner-only skiing.
Searchmont does a nice job summarizing their ticket pricing, so take a look at the following image to see what option works best for you.
In addition to lift tickets, you can also get a season pass to Searchmont. This is the best option if you plan on skiing more than 10 times a season. Again, they do a good job summarizing the options, which you can see below.
Overall, Searchmont’s lift tickets and season passes are great value considering the vertical and acreage of the resort. The short lift lines are also a huge plus, letting you get in more skiing than at busier and more popular resorts like Blue Mountain or Mount St. Louis Moonstone.
How Do You Purchase Lift Tickets?
All Searchmont Resort lift tickets must be purchased at the ticket window on the day you are skiing. Unfortunately, this means there is no option for online purchasing in advance.
However, season passes are available for online purchase. You can buy yours at the bottom of their season passes page!
What is Skiing at Searchmont Resort Like?
Searchmont Resort truly offers some of the best skiing in Ontario, bringing a great combination of vertical, terrain, and natural snowfall while not being as busy and overrun as other resorts of similar size and quality.
Searchmont is especially great for intermediate and advanced skiers, with 18 of Searchmont’s 26 runs rated either blue or black. All of this is accessed via one quad lift and two triple lifts that keep the lines short and make lapping the resort very easy. Everyone would rather spend more time on the hill than in the lines, so this is a massive pro to visiting Searchmont Ski Resort.
That said, Searchmont remembers its beginners, with an entire area and lift dedicated to green runs. This is great for those just learning as there is little risk of colliding with more advanced skiers or venturing onto blue or black runs that are far above your ability.
By the way – If you’re a beginner skier and live closer to Sudbury, consider visiting Adanac Ski Hill. If you’re a beginner and live closer to North Bay, then Laurentian Ski Hill is a great option!
At the base of the hills, you’ll find Searchmont’s chalet, The Kiln, their restaurant and bar, and The Outpost, their on-site retail shop. Rentals are also available at the base of the mountain, which include full rental packages, helmets, poles, and snowshoes if you’d prefer to do that (more on those next).
Searchmont also provides a variety of snow school lessons and programs, 1-on-1 private lessons for any skill level and first-timer lessons for those just starting out (more below as well).
So, whether a beginner looking to learn or an advanced skier wanting to get in as many laps as possible, skiing at Searchmont has something for everyone, providing a fun and rewarding experience regardless of your ability!
Does Searchmont Have Ski Rentals?
Yes, Searchmont Resort does have ski rentals! These include complete package options (skis, boots, poles, and a helmet) and individual options. Searchmont especially prides themselves on providing the latest brand name equipment in the industry. This stands out compared to other resorts’ older and worn-out equipment.
Here’s a breakdown of the pricing (taxes not included):
- Regular Rental Package = $52
- 10 & Under Rental Package = $42
- Helmet Only = $10
- Poles Only = $10
You can purchase your rentals at Searchmont’s ticket sales window. You can also bundle your rentals with your lift ticket purchase to save some cash, and multi-day rentals are also available!
That said, please be aware that 1) anyone under the age of 18 will require a parental/guardian signature on the rental form if they want to rent equipment, and 2) all rentals are on a first-come, first-served basis, so availability isn’t guaranteed.
Does Searchmont Offer Ski Lessons?
Yes, Searchmont Ski Resort offers ski lessons on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays between 9:30am and 2:30pm.
One-hour private lessons (4+) start at $75; you can add additional hours for $50 per hour (max 3 hours). You can also turn your private lesson into a semi-private one as long as the other skiers have the same ability. This will cost $60 per additional person up to a maximum group size of 4.
Searchmont also offers beginner-only lessons with group sizes ranging from 2 to 4 people. The lessons are 1 hour, include your beginner area lift ticket and ski rentals, and only cost $85 per person. After the lesson, beginner area lift tickets can be upgraded for full ski hill access.
All lessons must be booked 24-48 hours in advance to ensure the availability of instructors. You can do so by emailing snowschool@searchmont.com or calling 705-781-2340 Ext. 2353.
Once your lesson is booked, be sure to show up 1 hour before your start time to ensure you’re ready to hit the slopes!
Are There Accommodations at The Resort?
Yes, there are accommodations at Searchmont Resort, with slope-side villas at the base of the hill.
Unfortunately, Searchmont is currently renovating them, meaning they will be unavailable for the foreseeable future as the resort completely overhauls the interior and exterior of the building.
That said, please visit Searchmont’s Accommodations page when reading this to see if the renovations have been completed and the villas are available!
Alternatively, you can visit Sault Ste. Marie’s tourism page to see other nearby accommodations available!
Conclusion
Overall, Searchmont Ski Resort is one of the best ski hills for Central and Northern Ontario residents.
There’s lots of vertical, a great variety of terrain, dining right at the base, extensive lift ticket options, rentals for those just starting out, and ski lessons and programs tailored to all ski levels. All of this is offered at a great price point, making Searchmont Ski Resort one of the easiest recommendations for any level of skier looking to try a new resort!
Frequently Asked Questions
Searchmont is owned by Wisconsin Resorts Inc., which has been in the skiing industry since 1958.
Searchmont opens at 9:30am, Wednesday through Sunday.
Searchmont is 1,601 feet high and has a vertical drop of 703 feet.
