Check the resort for opening day
About 208 km from Nanaimo (straight line)
430 m vertical · 21 runs · 3 lifts
0.7 cm of snow forecast over the next 7 days · Forecast: Open-Meteo
From the resort’s official site, checked November 2, 2026
Vancouver Island
Ski & Snow on Vancouver Island
The ski areas within reach, with the facts each resort publishes and links to its own snow report and webcams.
- 2 places on this page
- 1 upcoming
Ski areas within reach
Mount Washington Alpine Resort
Comox Valley
Opens December 11, 2026 (tentative)
About 117 km from Nanaimo (straight line)
1,657 ft vertical · 97 runs · 9 lifts · 1,700 acres skiable
Snow reportWebcamsLift ticketsRoad conditions
From the resort’s official site, checked November 2, 2026
The resorts
Each card shows only what the resort publishes on its own site, with the date we checked. Where the resort's own pages disagree, or it has not announced a date, we leave the number out and link to the resort instead. Check its snow report and opening status before you drive.
Lift tickets and passes
Most resorts price day tickets by date, so the price depends on when you go and how early you buy. The ticket link on each card goes to the resort’s own page.
Before you go
- Check conditions
- Snow reports and road conditions change quickly. Check both the morning you drive.
- Opening dates move
- Resorts open when there is enough snow. A tentative date can change; the card says when it is tentative.
Winter driving
In British Columbia, winter tires are required on most provincial highways from October 1 to April 30. On some highways that do not cross mountain passes or high-snowfall areas, the requirement ends March 31. The routes are signed, and drivers who do not comply can be turned away and fined. Many coastal roads in the Lower Mainland and southeastern Vancouver Island do not require them; the province’s route maps show which roads do. Ski areas’ own roads can have their own rules.
Roads to the hills change quickly in winter. Check the road report linked on each card the morning you drive.
Government of British Columbia: winter tire and chain-up routes
Coming up at these resorts
All eventsFrequently asked questions
When is ski season on Vancouver Island?
It depends on the resort and the snow. Some open in November and others in December, and each card shows the opening date the resort has published, marked tentative where the resort says so. Where there is no firm date, the card links to the resort.
How far away are the resorts?
Each card gives the straight-line distance from the main city. Driving distance is longer, often much longer in the mountains, so check a map for the drive time.
Do I need winter tires?
In British Columbia, winter tires are required on most provincial highways from October 1 to April 30. On some highways that do not cross mountain passes or high-snowfall areas, the requirement ends March 31. The routes are signed, and drivers who do not comply can be turned away and fined. Many coastal roads in the Lower Mainland and southeastern Vancouver Island do not require them; the province’s route maps show which roads do. Ski areas’ own roads can have their own rules. Source: Government of British Columbia: winter tire and chain-up routes.
Where do the snowfall forecasts come from?
From Open-Meteo, for the resort’s coordinates, refreshed every few hours. It is a model forecast for the location, not the resort’s own snow report, which is linked on each card.