The Ski Resort
Cypress Mountain is located only 21 miles from downtown Vancouver and offers 225 hectares of exhilarating slopes to explore. The ski area is split into two sub-sections: Black Mountain and Mt. Strachan. The Cyprus Creek Lodge valley station intersects these two areas. The 53 trails are made up of 32 hectares of easy runs, 85 hectares of intermediate slopes, 108 hectares of black-marked trails as well as 20 hectares of off-piste routes.
The 10 lifts carry skiers and snowboarders up the mountain, which offers breath-taking views over towards Vancouver and the open ocean beyond. Youngsters can learn to ski at one of the local ski schools and the ski area also has a special children’s lift dedicated to young learners.
The freestyle ski and snowboard competitions were held at Cypress Mountain as part of the Olympic Winter Games in 2010. As a result, the resort is a true mecca for freestyle fans. There are four freestyle terrain parks, each with various obstacles of all difficulties as well as a Katal Landing Pad Airbag, which allows you to try out new tricks. The Stomping Ground is located on Windjammer run. This family-friendly terrain park is best suited to beginners. The Katal Landing Pad Airbag is in the Patio Park, while the Skate Park is located next to the Maelle Ricker’s Run and boasts intermediate and large obstacles. The District terrain park is the largest park in the ski area and offers up some truly spectacular obstacles.
Interesting facts
- Cypress Mountain is among the 10 best rated Ski Resorts in Canada.
- It is among the 3 most family-friendly ski Resorts in Canada.
- The vertical drop from summit to base is 530 m. The average difference in altitude between base and summit of Ski Resorts in Canada is 363 m. Most runs are therefore relatively long. The highest point of the track is 1,448 m above sea level.
- Average snow depth during the season is 247 cm at summit elevation and 204 cm at base elevation. Snow coverage is usually best during March, offering an average snow depth of 295 cm at summit elevation and 177 cm at the base.
- Cypress Mountain features 36 sunny days on average per season. The average for all ski Resorts in Canada is 36 sunny days. December is the sunniest month with an average of 12 sunny days.
On Mountain Dining
And if all those jumps and rails leave you feeling hungry, Cypress Mountain offers a number of different restaurants where you can unwind and refuel. The Cypress Creek Grill serves delicious pizzas, burgers, soups, burritos and salads. Crazy Raven Bar & Grill also offers pizzas and burgers for hungry skiers and snowboarders. The latter boasts a particularly cosy atmosphere with an inviting open fire. Both of these restaurants are located in Cypress Creek Lodge.
If you’re only looking for something small, the Gold Medal Cafe is probably your safest bet – it serves delicious snacks and a variety of small dishes.
Nightskiing
Videos
Activities
Cypress Mountain is not only an ideal destination for skiing and snowboarding, it is also a great place for cross-country skiing. Around 20 kilometres of groomed cross-country tracks are waiting to be explored, including 7 kilometres of floodlit trails. You can also reconnoitre the snowy backcountry on marked trails with the help of snowshoes. And if you are looking for a little more action, look no further than the snow tubing course at Gnarly’s Tube Park and Sliding Area.
Après-Ski and Nightlife
Your best bet for après-ski is probably a trip to Vancouver’s downtown area with its numerous discos, clubs and bars. This part of the city is also a great destination if you’re in the mood for a special meal after a day on the slopes. There are a whole host of restaurants where food lovers can choose from a range of different cuisines.
Getting here
By car
The ski area is around 45 minutes by car from Vancouver. Take the Trans-Canada Highway towards Squamish/Whistler and then turn off onto Cypress Bowl Road shortly after West Vancouver. This leads directly to the ski area. Free parking is available at the valley station.
By public transportation
The closest airport is also located in Vancouver, around 40 kilometres from Cypress Mountain. You can catch a Cyprus Coach Lines bus to the ski area from multiple different points within Vancouver city limits.