Comparing Lower Mainland Ski Hills and Snow Conditions

Wondering what the snow conditions are like on Vancouver’s ski hills and how Grouse, Cypress, Mt. Seymour, Sasquatch and Whistler compare?

How do the Lower Mainland’s five ski hills compare overall? Which ski resort is the most expensive and which typically gets the most snow? Which Vancouver mountain has the most runs, lifts and terrain? And which resorts are locally-owned? Continue reading and you’ll find out.

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(Note: Exact details may vary. Information given is accurate to the best of our ability and understanding as of the latest updates.)

The Lower Mainland is home to five major ski hills. Within Metro Vancouver there is Grouse Mountain, Cypress and Mt. Seymour. All three are on Vancouver’s North Shore. Less than a two-hour drive up the Sea to Sky Highway is Whistler Blackcomb. A couple of hours in the other direction, in the Fraser Valley, there is Sasquatch Mountain.

All five ski hills are great for different reasons. A couple of the resorts are larger, others are more affordable, some have more challenging terrain, most but not all offer night skiing, and some are better for beginners and young families.

Most Lower Mainland ski resorts offer extra activities ranging from tubing to sledding, snowshoeing, skating and even movies. Also, depending on where you live, some are closer and more accessible than others. Between the five, there is something for everyone.

2025 Ski Conditions

The first day of the 2024/2025 season for Whistler Blackcomb was November 22. Whistler closed on April 21, while Blackcomb is expected to close around May 19.

Cypress opened for the season on November 22 and closed on April 13. Mt. Seymour opened on December 17 and closed on April 13 as well. Sasquatch Mountain opened on December 21 and closed on April 6 this year. Grouse Mountain’s season ran from November 23rd until around April 23rd.

The latest reported conditions from each resort as of late April are below.

North Shore Mountains

Grouse Mountain: As of April 17, 2025, 0 cm of fresh snow had fallen in the past week. The mountain received a total of 742 cm of snowfall throughout the season. Snow depth measured 218 cm at the base and 315 cm at the summit. (Note: This ski hill is now closed for the season.)
Mt. Seymour: On April 14, one day after the resort’s final day of operations, snow depth was 180 cm at the base and 375 cm at the top. Seasonal snowfall reached 796 cm. (Note: This ski hill is now closed for the season.)
Cypress Mountain: By April 13, which marked the end of the ski season, 35 cm of snow had accumulated over the previous week. The total snowfall for the season was 968 cm, with 350 cm still at the base. (Note: This ski hill is now closed for the season.)

Other Lower Mainland Ski Hills

Whistler Blackcomb: as of April 25, there was 0 cm of new snowfall in the previous two days. 219 cm remained at the base and 959 cm of snow had fallen so far for the season.
Sasquatch Mountain: as of April 7, one day after the resort closed for the season, there was 0 cm of snowfall in the previous two days. 273 cm remained at the base. (Note: This ski hill is now closed for the season.)

How Vancouver’s Ski Hills Compare

Below is a snapshot of how the five Lower Mainland ski hills compare in a number of categories.

Ticket Prices in 2024/2025

Below are the price ranges for the 2024/2025 season.

As you’ll see, Mount Seymour is usually the most affordable with Sasquatch and Grouse close behind. However, most prices are based on demand so these relations may change depending on the day. As one might come to expect, Whistler is by far the most expensive of them all.

Sasquatch Mountain: $69 to $99
Mt. Seymour: $39 to $94
Grouse Mountain: $89 to $99
Cypress Mountain: $92 to $119
Whistler Blackcomb: $233 to $318

Numbers of Ski Runs and Lifts

Below is a snapshot of the number of runs and lifts at each of the ski hills serving Metro Vancouver.

Whistler Blackcomb: 290 runs and 25 chairs and gondolas with over 1,600 metres of vertical drop and close to 8,200 acres of terrain.
Cypress Mountain: 61 runs and six chairs with 600 acres of terrain and 610 metres in vertical drop.
Grouse Mountain: 34 runs and six chairs with a vertical drop of 365 metres and 212 acres of terrain.
Mt. Seymour: 40 runs and three chairs with 330 metres of vertical drop and 200 acres of terrain.
Sasquatch Mountain: 36 runs and three chairs with 335 metres in vertical drop and around 200 acres of terrain.

Who Owns the Mountains?

Three out of the Lower Mainland’s five ski hills are locally-owned and managed. The two largest ones, however, are both owned by multinational corporations.

Located in a provincial park, Mount Seymour has been owned and operated by the Wood family since the mid-1980s. Sasquatch Mountain is another locally-owned ski resort. It’s run by Berezan Hospitality which is a family-owned business based in Langley.

Grouse Mountain used to be a family-owned business until a few years ago. It was purchased by GM Resorts Limited which is a partnership between a group of Canadian investors and a Chinese investment company. In 2020, however, Vancouver-based Northland Properties Corporation bought the resort, so it is once again locally owned. Controlled by the Gaglardi family, the company also owns the Sandman Hotel Group, Sutton Place Hotels, Moxie’s restaurants, Revelstoke Mountain Resort, and the Dallas Stars NHL team.

Cypress Mountain is located in a provincial park but the resort itself is owned by Boyne Resorts which is a major American ski resort company based in Michigan.

Vail Resorts is an American company based in Colorado. It owns Whistler Blackcomb.

(Note: The above information is subject to change and may be different at the current time.)

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