Winter Adventures In and Around Vancouver

Get outside in the winter months, even if you don’t ski!

Vancouver may be blessed with some extraordinary urban slopes, but there’s much more to do outdoors during the winter months than just ski and snowboard. Activities for people of all ages and skill levels await, making the city a true winter wonderland.

Snowshoeing

Snowshoeing is among the fastest growing winter sports, and the mountains around Vancouver offer plenty of opportunities for beginners and pros alike. Grouse Mountain’s 1,250-metre peak towers over Vancouver and features 10 kilometres (6 miles) of scenic trails, ranging from basic loops to more intense mountain circuits with plenty of elevation. Snowshoe trails are also found on Vancouver’s two other urban slopes, Cypress Mountain and Mount Seymour. There’s even a popular program that combines a guided snowshoe tour with authentic Swiss fondue. All facilities offer rentals and lessons for first-time snowshoers. And unlike skiing, there’s very little learning curve—just strap on your snowshoes, and you’ll be exploring pristine alpine terrain in no time. Only 45 minutes north of Vancouver, you'll find the starting point of the Sea to Sky Gondola. From the parking lot, take a 10-minute gondola ride up the side of a mountain where you can take in scenic views of the nature surrounding the attraction. Once you reach the top, you'll find more than 20 kilometres of snowshoeing trails to enjoy, great vantage points to snap photos and a chalet where you can enjoy a post-snowshoe snack.

Ice Skating

Just because the temperature rarely dips below freezing in Vancouver doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of places to skate away the afternoon. Right in the heart of the city’s shopping district, the Robson Square ice skating rink offers visitors free skating, and skate rentals. The outdoor rink is partially covered by a dome and drew more than 80,000 skaters last year. A more rustic alternative is offered on Grouse Mountain. Take the Skyride gondola to the top, where you’ll find a 743-square-metre skating pond situated amidst snow-covered fir and hemlock trees. In North Vancouver, The Shipyards offers outdoor ice skating in the winter on Vancouver's largest outdoor rink.

Cross-Country Skiing

Blessed with plenty of snow and jaw-dropping alpine scenery, Vancouver’s mountains are a paradise for cross-country enthusiasts. The Nordic terrain park on Cypress Mountain features 19 kilometres (12 miles) of groomed cross-country trails that wind through dense forest and boast awesome views of the city and ocean far below. Make sure to stop inside the historic 1926 Hollyburn Lodge to enjoy a hot chocolate and warm up by the fire. Cypress Mountain offers rentals of classic and skate skis and also provides lessons at its special Nordic ski school for those interested new to the sport.

Snow Camping

Can’t get enough of the white stuff? Consider spending a night in it! Several adventure-tour companies operating in Vancouver offer special overnight packages designed for aspiring snow campers. Tours begin with basic lessons in avalanche safety and winter survival. Then it’s up into the mountains for a hands-on seminar on igloo and snow-cave construction. Afterward, you spend the night inside your creation. Bring a warm sleeping bag and plenty of outerwear, or rent the necessary supplies at a local outfitter in Vancouver.

Winter Ziplining

For the real adventure junkie, consider the extreme ziplining experience atop Grouse Mountain. Strapped safely into harnesses, riders reach speeds of 80 km/hr (50 mph) along three separate tracks hung high in the forest canopy, up to 70 metres (200 feet) above ground. Expect to zip above snow-covered evergreen trees, over icy cliffs and even into the vertigo-inducing canyon between Grouse Mountain and a neighbouring peak.