Maybe you’re visiting Ottawa and want to hit the slopes. Or perhaps you live in Ottawa and are just getting into skiing. Either way, here are ten of the best ski hills near Ottawa you’ll want to visit this winter!
Post Summary
My Three Favourite Ski Hills
Long runs. Great terrain. Onsite lodging. Perfect weekend getaway.
Seven Other Great Options
Smaller hills. Easier terrain. Beginner friendly. Worth a day trip.
Calabogie Peaks
Overview
Calabogie Peaks is one of Ottawa’s most popular ski resorts, and rightfully so!
Not only is the resort just an hour west of the city, but Calabogie Peaks is home to the highest vertical drop in the province, the longest beginner run in Ontario, and great snow conditions thanks to its location in the snowy Ottawa Valley.
There are also accommodations on site, providing an excellent option for overnight stays or week-long visits, and a variety of food options and other activities you can partake in like snowmobiling, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, pond skating, nightly and campfires.
Purchase a daily lift ticket, season pass, or one of their package options (Weekday Quad Pack Lift Ticket package or Anytime Quad Pack Lift Ticket Package) and get out there!
Highlights
- Close to Ottawa (~1 hour)
- Greatest vertical drop of any ski resort in Ontario
- Longest beginner run of any ski resort in Ontario
- Onsite accommodations and food options
- Good variety of terrain for all levels of skiers
Stats
- Vertical: 238m (780’)
- Total Runs: 25
- Longest Run: Ole K&P – 2.1km (1.3 miles)
- Skiable Terrain: 32 hectares (80 acres)
- Lifts: 3
- Uphill Capacity: 6,300 people/hour
- Terrain Parks: 4
- Average Snowfall: 203 cm (80”)
- Snowmaking Coverage: 95%
- Night Skiing: No
Helpful Links
- Website
- Trail Map
- Mountain Report
- Webcams
- Lift Tickets
- Quad Pack Lift Tickets
- Season Passes
- Rentals
- Private Lessons
- Kids Programs
- Adult Lessons
- Ski Clubs
- Hotel
- Mountain Condos
I rated Calabogie Peaks as one of Ontario’s best ski resorts. To see the other four on my list, visit my post, “5 Ski Hills in Ontario You’ll Want to Visit This Winter [2023/2024].” If you live closer to North Bay, consider reading my post, “My Favourite Northern Ontario Ski Hills – [Ontario’s Hidden Gems]” to discover some great ski areas closer to you!
Mont Ste-Marie
Overview
Located just one hour north of Ottawa, Mont Ste-Marie is a great in-between resort for those familiar with Calabogie Peaks but still need more time to tackle the size, or the distance from Ottawa, of Mont Tremblant (more on it next).
Overall, Mont Ste-Marie is on the more challenging side of things, offering an impressive 1,200 feet of vertical that is home to primarily intermediate and advanced terrain. For this reason, it isn’t ideal for beginner skiers.
But, for those that like more technical terrain like steeper black diamond runs, glade skiing, or terrain parks and ski-cross tracks, then Mont Ste-Marie is the place for you – they even offer slack country skiing for the truly adventurous!
Several accommodations are on-site or nearby for overnight stays, and a great chalet at the base of the mountain serves up tasty food and hot drinks to keep you going throughout the day!
Highlights
- Greatest vertical in the region at 1,200+ feet
- Great intermediate and advanced terrain
- Home to the first ski-cross center in the region
- Home to the best steeps run in Quebec and Outaouais (Betsy)
Stats
- Vertical: 381m (1,250’)
- Total Runs: 20 (plus slackcountry)
- Longest Run: 3.5km (2.2 miles)
- Skiable Terrain: 40 hectares (100 acres)
- Lifts: 3
- Uphill Capacity: 5,900 people/hour
- Terrain Parks: 2
- Average Snowfall: 300cm (118”)
- Snowmaking Coverage: 100%
- Night Skiing: No
Helpful Links
- Website
- Trail Map
- Conditions
- Webcams
- Hours
- Lift Tickets
- Season Passes
- Rentals
- Kids Ski Lessons
- Adult Ski Lessons
- Accommodations
By the way, Mont Ste-Marie and the National Capital Region have some incredible mountain biking. If you’re looking to get on the bike this summer and live near Ottawa, then be sure to read my post, “Ottawa Mountain Biking: 5 Must-Visit Ottawa Mountain Bike Trails,” before heading out!
Mont Tremblant
Overview
Located roughly 2 hours northeast of Ottawa is the famous Mont Tremblant, arguably one of Canada’s best ski resorts.
Simply put, Mont Tremblant dwarfs every other ski resort on this list, with an impressive 2,116 feet of vertical spread across 102 runs. With that comes every type of terrain imaginable, like some of the steepest skiing in Canada on Expo or never-ending beginner runs like L’Algonquin.
The lift system is also world-class, with high-speed quads and a gondola providing quick access to the top of the runs. Once you’ve wrapped your day on the slopes up, an abundance of shops, restaurants, bars – and even a casino – is waiting for you at the bottom!
Of course, incredible skiing and amenities mean a lot of people want to visit, making Mont Tremblant particularly busy and one of Canada’s most visited ski resorts. If you can, try to avoid weekends and holidays. Otherwise, expect longer lift lines than your local ski hill.
Highlights
- Consistently ranked one of the best resorts in Canada
- Lots of vertical, tons of terrain, variety for everyone
- Full-scale village with accommodations, food, casino and nightlife
- Great introduction to true mountain skiing
Stats
- Vertical: 645m (2,116’)
- Total Runs: 102
- Longest Run: Nansen – 6km (3.7 miles)
- Skiable Terrain: 305 hectares (754 acres)
- Lifts: 14
- Uphill Capacity: 27,830 people/hour
- Terrain Parks: 3
- Average Snowfall: 429 cm (169”)
- Snowmaking Coverage: 70%
- Night Skiing: No
Helpful Links
- Website
- Trail Map
- Mountain Report
- Webcams
- Hours
- Lift Tickets
- Season Passes
- Latitude Card
- Deals & Packages
- Rentals
- Snow School & Lessons
- Lodging
- Village Information
Sommet Edelweiss
Overview
A mere 40 minutes north of Ottawa lies Sommet Edelweiss, a cozy ski hill with a great mixture of beginner and intermediate terrain.
A nice feature of Sommet Edelweiss is its layout, with all three primary lifts accessing the resort’s 20 runs from the main base and lodge area. This makes navigating the hill very easy, as all runs funnel back to the lodge. This is also great for skiing in groups or as a family, as there is little worry of losing each other if you get separated.
Sommet Edelweiss also has some of the region’s best snow conditions and grooming. This is a standout feature for locals and something most people who frequent ski hills near Ottawa mention.
Rounding out Sommet Edelweiss’ many highlights is a great terrain park, high-speed lift (relatively uncommon for a hill this size), and night skiing – all combined to deliver a fun and enjoyable time on the slopes!
Highlights
- Close to Ottawa (~40 minutes)
- Great mixture of beginner and intermediate terrain
- Awesome grooming and consistently good snow conditions
- Short(er) lines due to lots of uphill capacity
Stats
- Vertical: 200m (656’)
- Total Runs: 20
- Longest Run: Yodeler – 1.5km (0.93 miles)
- Skiable Terrain: 65 hectares (160 acres)
- Lifts: 4
- Uphill Capacity: 7,500 people/hour
- Terrain Parks: 1
- Snowmaking Coverage: 90%
- Night Skiing: Yes
Helpful Links
- Website
- Mountain Report + Trail Map
- Hours
- Lift Tickets
- Season Passes
- Tubing Tickets
- Rentals
- Snow School
- Services
Mont Cascades
Overview
Just 30 minutes from downtown Ottawa is Mont Cascades, a well-known resort for those looking to move towards slightly more challenging intermediate and advanced terrain.
A standout of Mont Cascades is its fall-line skiing, with many of the runs providing particularly good carving thanks to the steeper runs that don’t cut across the hill. So, while relatively small at 60 acres, 20 runs, and 541’ of vertical, Mont Cascades still offers higher speeds and more challenging terrain than other similarly sized resorts like Ski Vorlage or Mount Pakenham.
The terrain park is also particularly good, full of features and jumps that cover nearly half of Mont Cascades’ vertical. The park’s length allows for many hits and line choices, helping skiers progress faster than in smaller, shorter terrain parks.
Whether looking for a slightly more challenging ski hill, a well-built terrain park, or both, Mont Cascades should fulfill your needs!
Highlights
- Close to Ottawa (~30 minutes)
- Nice step up for those wanting more intermediate and advanced terrain
- Good, consistent fall lines that are great for carving
- Fun terrain park – ideal for progression
Stats
- Vertical: 165m (541’)
- Total Runs: 20
- Longest Run: Gratton – 2km (1.24 miles)
- Skiable Terrain: 24 hectares (60 acres)
- Lifts: 6
- Uphill Capacity: 7,000 people/hour
- Terrain Parks: 3
- Average Snowfall: 187 cm (74”)
- Snowmaking Coverage: 95%
- Night Skiing: Yes
Helpful Links
Ski Vorlage
Overview
Ski Vorlage is another very close resort to Ottawa, just 30 minutes from downtown. Like Mont Cascades, Ski Vorlage is a relatively small ski hill with just 60 acres, 18 runs, and 466′ of vertical.
That said, Ski Vorlage provides slightly more varied terrain, with a good mix of beginner, intermediate, and advanced terrain that is less steep than Mont Cascades. This makes Ski Vorlage more family-friendly and ideal for groups with varied levels of skiers.
Another nice feature is the layout of Ski Vorlage, with all lifts being accessed from the central base/lodge area. Just like Sommet Edelweiss, this makes navigating the hill very easy, and lets different levels of skiers meet up at the end of each run before heading off to their respective lifts for the next ride up.
Ski Vorlage is also known for its exceptionally spacious and clean facilities, making it a great option for families looking for a well-kept and enjoyable place to bring their kids.
Highlights
- Close to Ottawa (~30 minutes)
- Varied terrain with a bit of something for everyone
- Great for families or those with mixed levels of skiers
- Clean and spacious facilities with friendly and helpful staff
Stats
- Vertical: 142m (466’)
- Total Runs: 18
- Skiable Terrain: 24 hectares (60 acres)
- Lifts: 4
- Terrain Parks: 1
- Average Snowfall: 153 cm (60”)
- Snowmaking Coverage: 100%
- Night Skiing: Yes
Helpful Links
Camp Fortune
Overview
Next up on the list of ski hills very close to Ottawa is Camp Fortune, which is a mere 25 minutes from the city center. With 94 acres of terrain, 20 runs, and 590’ of vertical, Camp Fortune fits somewhere between Mont Cascades and Ski Vorlage in size.
A nice feature of Camp Fortune is its relatively separated areas, each dedicated to a skier level. While this makes navigating a bit trickier due to each lift starting at its own dedicated area, it provides an excellent sense of progression, as skiers can slowly migrate from the beginner to the intermediate and advanced areas. This also helps with safety, as you have little mixing of beginner and advanced skiers, which can sometimes cause collisions or unnecessarily close calls.
With that said, Camp Fortune is perfect for beginners, with most of the terrain around the lodge dedicated to green beginner runs. This makes supervising your kids easy and allows for a fun and enjoyable experience with the lodge and its many amenities easily accessible.
Highlights
- Close to Ottawa (~25 Minutes)
- Good variety of terrain that’s nicely separated into distinct areas
- Good terrain park for beginners and those looking to progress
- Modern and easy-to-use lift ticket system
Stats
- Vertical: 180m (590’)
- Total Runs: 20
- Skiable Terrain: 38 hectares (94 acres)
- Lifts: 8
- Terrain Parks: 1
- Average Snowfall: 152 cm (60”)
- Snowmaking Coverage: 95%
- Night Skiing: Yes
Helpful Links
- Website
- Trail Map
- Hours
- Webcam
- Conditions
- Lift Tickets
- Season Passes
- Rentals
- Beginner Lessons
- Kid Lessons
- Adult Lessons
- Services
Mount Pakenham
Overview
Mount Pakenham is also close to Ottawa, lying just 45 minutes to its west. This makes it particularly accessible for those living in Kanata, Stittsville, or other locations to the city’s west.
That said, Mount Pakenham is almost entirely beginner-focused, and there are better choices for intermediate or advanced skiers (head to any other resort on this list before Mount Pakenham).
Of course, this hyper-focus on first-time and beginner skiers makes Mount Pakenham the go-to ski hill for those just starting out. The hills are short at just 280′ of vertical, the slope is very mild, and the runs are wide, all ideal for beginner skiers.
To further support Mount Pakenham’s beginner-focused culture is a great snow school program and top-notch rentals, ensuring those visiting have access to quality equipment and knowledgeable instructors that can quickly progress their skiing ability.
Whether you are an adult skiing for the first time or a parent looking for their child to take their first step towards a life-long ski obsession, Mount Pakenham is a great option to get started.
Highlights
- Close to Ottawa (~45 minutes)
- Ideal for beginners and first-time skiers
- Not very steep, with wide runs and lots of space
- Some of the best ski rentals available
- Great snow school program
Stats
- Vertical: 85m (280’)
- Total Runs: 10
- Skiable Terrain: 22 hectares (55 acres)
- Lifts: 7
- Uphill Capacity: 4,800 people/hour
- Terrain Parks: 1
- Average Snowfall: 152 cm (60”)
- Snowmaking Coverage: 100%
- Night Skiing: Yes
Helpful Links
Ski Mont Blanc
Overview
Next door to Mont Tremblant is Mont Blanc, one of the larger resorts on this list, with 140 acres of skiable terrain, 43 runs, and 690’ of vertical.
The most noticeable feature of Mont Blanc is its number of runs and variety of terrain, with many true intermediate and advanced runs, including several double black (i.e. expert) runs that are uncommon throughout the other ski hills mentioned.
This makes Mont Blanc a great choice for those wanting to ski more advanced and technical terrain without having to experience the crowds of Mont Tremblant. It’s also a great stepping stone to Mont Tremblant for those that may be hesitant about their abilities and want to practice on some harder but shorter hills before heading to the big boys!
Highlights
- Extensive terrain options with lots of true intermediate and advanced runs
- Great grooming and very friendly staff
- Good stepping stone to Mont Tremblant and larger ski hills
- Not very crowded especially compared to nearby Mont Tremblant
Stats
- Vertical: 210m (690’)
- Total Runs: 43
- Skiable Terrain: 57 hectares (140 acres)
- Lifts: 7
- Uphill Capacity: 9,800 people/hour
- Terrain Parks: 3
- Average Snowfall: 267 cm (105”)
- Snowmaking Coverage: 85%
- Night Skiing: No
Helpful Links
Mont Rigaud
Overview
Roughly an hour and 45 minutes east of Ottawa is Mont Rigaud, a relatively small hill with 15 runs and 394’ of vertical. However, the skiable terrain is quite large at 160 acres due to ski touring around the resort’s perimeter and some extensive glade skiing.
While ski touring and glades are more geared to advanced skiers, Mont Rigaud stands out as a great beginner option thanks to its top-to-bottom beginner runs! Whereas most resorts stick their beginner runs to the side, Mont Rigaud provides several green runs across the entire 394’ of resort vertical, meaning beginners get long runs and lots of time to practice their turns.
These long beginner runs, well-maintained conditions, and a staff of qualified and supportive ski instructors make Mont Rigaud a go-to beginner ski resort, especially for those in Orleans or east of Ottawa.
And for those looking for more advanced terrain, Mont Rigaud has it too, with the aforementioned ski touring and glade skiing offering a nice challenge to those looking for it!
Highlights
- Great place for beginners, with top-to-bottom green runs
- Affordable lessons with qualified and supportive instructors
- Well-maintained runs with a nice and cozy chalet
- Alpine touring options available if you want to change things up
Stats
- Vertical: 120m (394’)
- Total Runs: 15
- Skiable Terrain: 65 hectares (160 acres)
- Lifts: 3
- Uphill Capacity: 2,250 people/hour
- Terrain Parks: 0
- Average Snowfall: 150 cm (59”)
- Snowmaking Coverage: 100%
- Night Skiing: Yes
Helpful Links
Conclusion
And there you have it! Ten of the best ski hills near Ottawa!
Have you visited any of these ski hills? If so, which do you think is the best? Or do you have another favourite ski hill near Ottawa that I didn’t mention? Let me know in the comments below!
