Manning Park
57 hectares, 34 runs within E.C. Manning Provincial Park. Affordable family skiing, kids 6 and under free.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
11 Dec 2026
Closes
4 Apr 2027
Days open
114
Annual snow
8m
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Manning Park's summit reaches 1,789 metres, dropping 432 vertical metres to a base at 1,357 metres across 34 runs spread over roughly 57 hectares within E.C. Manning Provincial Park, British Columbia. Terrain splits 40 per cent intermediate, 30 per cent each for advanced and beginner, and no dedicated expert terrain, with average annual snowfall of roughly 8.2 metres. The resort carries Indy Pass affiliation. Three lifts, including one quad chair, serve the mountain alongside one surface lift and one t-bar.
Manning Park holds a genuinely distinctive place among British Columbia ski areas as one of three provincial government-developed resorts opened in the early 1960s under Premier W.A.C. Bennett, alongside Cypress Bowl and Mount Seymour. Its considerable affordability and family-friendly, uncrowded terrain have built Manning Park's reputation as a genuine value destination within a two-hour drive of Vancouver.
E.C. Manning Provincial Park was established in 1941 through the work of Chief Forester E.C. Manning and Minister of Lands Arthur Wellesley Gray. The completion of the Hope-Princeton Highway in 1949 made the park accessible by motor vehicle for the first time, and the original lodge, a single building known as Pinewoods, gave way to chalets built in 1950 and standard cottages added through the 1960s.
The provincial government put its three ski areas, including Manning Park's Gibson Pass ski area, up for sale by 1986. Kevin Demers acquired Manning Park Resort in April 2013, with the resort's operating permit covering all commercial buildings, the ski hill, nordic trails and equipment. Adult daily tickets run from 35 Canadian dollars on weekdays to 45 on weekends.
432m
Vertical
34
Runs
141 acres
Skiable
8m
Annual snow
Indy
Pass
The Terrain
34 runs across 141 acres skiable
Manning Park, home to the Gibson Pass ski area, is a small provincial park hill and is best approached that way, with about 57 hectares, 34 runs and a 432-metre vertical between 1,357 and 1,789 metres. The grading is simple at 40% intermediate, 30% beginner and 30% advanced, with no expert terrain. It sits high enough to hold reliable snow, around 8.2 metres in a season, but it is a short day for strong skiers. Its appeal is the relaxed, uncrowded feel, the low cost and the setting inside a large provincial park, about two hours from Vancouver.
A new quad chair installed for the 2019-20 season replaced the old Orange Chair and now serves most of the runs, while a t-bar and surface lift cover the learning areas. There is a terrain park, and a tubing lane keeps non-skiers entertained between ski sessions. Manning suits beginners, families and Vancouver day-trippers on a budget, plus intermediates who simply want to build mileage. Advanced skiers will find some pitch but little variety, so treat it as a quiet local day rather than a destination.
Terrain split
34
runs
34 runs across 4 grades
Beginner10 runs · 30%
Intermediate14 runs · 40%
Advanced10 runs · 30%
Expert0 runs · 0%
Time it right
When to visit Manning Park
The 2025-26 season at Manning Park ran from 13 December 2025 to 5 April 2026, a roughly sixteen-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 8.2 metres. Season dates can shift depending on early and late-season weather within the provincial park.
Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions to Manning Park's beginner-and-intermediate-weighted terrain. As an Indy Pass resort, Manning Park draws considerable value-focused visitation, with free lift access for children aged six and under adding to its family appeal.
Manning Park's considerable affordability continues to draw budget-conscious families and day visitors from the Lower Mainland throughout the season. School holiday periods bring substantial family visitation given the resort's approachable terrain and pricing structure.
Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. Since Kevin Demers' 2013 acquisition, Manning Park has continued building on more than six decades of history since the provincial government first developed the ski area in the early 1960s. The resort's affordability and provincial park setting remain central to its enduring family appeal.
Season 2026 - 2027
11 Dec 2026
Opens
4 Apr 2027
Closes
114
Days open
8 m
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Manning Park, and where to stay
Manning Park sits within E.C. Manning Provincial Park, British Columbia, with a base elevation of 1,357 metres and a summit at 1,789 metres across a 432-metre vertical drop over roughly 57 hectares. This setting places the resort within a large provincial park roughly two hours from Vancouver.
The resort's own lodge and cottages, developed from the original Pinewoods building through the 1950s and 1960s, provide accommodation directly within the park, with no separate town nearby.
Highway 3, the Hope-Princeton Highway, provides direct access to the resort, a route completed in 1949 that first made the park accessible by vehicle. Winter driving conditions on this mountain highway can include snow and ice, and travellers should carry appropriate equipment.
Vancouver International Airport, roughly a two-and-a-half-hour drive away, is the primary gateway for visitors flying into the region, with Manning Park's considerable distance from the airport balanced by its status as a genuinely affordable day-trip and weekend option from the Lower Mainland.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Manning Park, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
Utah Ski Resorts 2026-27: What’s New at Alta, Deer Valley, Powder Mountain and More
Utah is still building flat out. For 2026-27, Powder Mountain opens a steep new Skytrac chair into more than 1,000 acres of advanced terrain, Deer Valley adds 200 acres on Hail Peak, Sundance gets a new quad and Park City adds a gondola from its new parking structure. Snowmaking is expanding almost everywhere, Eagle Point stays closed after the Cottonwood Fire, and the 2034 Games are setting the pace. Here’s what’s new, resort by resort.
13 Oct 2026
Vermont Ski Resort Opening Dates 2026-27: Few Dates Set, Killington Waits on the Cold
Vermont's season is slow to take shape. Stratton is tentatively targeting 18 November and Sugarbush 21 November, while Pico has Friday 11 December on the calendar. Killington never sets a date and opens when the snowmaking allows, and Vail Resorts has yet to name days for Stowe, Okemo and Mount Snow. The forecasts disagree about snow, and the main El Niño worry for the Green Mountains is warmth.
9 Oct 2026
Crans-Montana 2027 World Championships President Resigns Ahead of Fraud Hearing
Less than four months out from the Crans-Montana 2027 World Championships, the man running the organising committee has stepped down. Claude-Alain Schmidhalter resigned as Swiss-Ski vice president and OC president after being indicted over a business dispute unrelated to skiing. He denies the allegations and faces court on October 27. Interim leaders are in place for the February 1-14 event.
9 Oct 2026
Kelly Canyon, Idaho, Adds Snowmaking, a Bigger Terrain Park and More Parking for 2026-27
Kelly Canyon had a rough 2025-26, and the Idaho resort has spent the summer making sure it doesn’t repeat. Snowmaking now reaches the top of Goldrush, the terrain park is doubling in size with a stereo system, lights and a snack shack, and the car park is getting bigger. Grooming is stepping up too. Target opening is December 4, conditions permitting.
9 Oct 2026
Valle Nevado Extends Season to November 8 After 108 cm in 48 Hours
Winter was meant to be winding down in Chile. Then Valle Nevado took 108 cm in 48 hours in early October, and the resort has pushed its closing date out to November 8 - its latest in 38 years of operation. That makes 143 days of skiing since opening day on June 19, with 690 cm banked for the season. Only part of the mountain is running while the storm settles, so check the mountain report before you plan a trip.
9 Oct 2026
Alps Snow Forecast: Cold Front Brings Thursday Snow to the High Alps
The Alps look a lot more like winter today, for a day or so. A cold front is moving west to east, dropping up to 35 cm on high glaciers and peaks, with snow levels falling to around 1,500-1,800 m at times. Don’t plan a trip around it: mid-elevation snow will be thin and wet, every area is closed bar a limited Sölden glacier opening tomorrow, and warmer weather returns by Monday.
8 Oct 2026
California Ski Resort Opening Dates 2026-27: Mammoth Leads, Tahoe Follows
Mammoth Mountain is first up in California, targeting Friday 13 November after a dusting of September snow. Heavenly and Northstar follow on 20 November, Palisades Tahoe on Wednesday 25 November and Sugar Bowl on 27 November, with Kirkwood on 4 December and June Mountain on 19 December. Plenty of smaller areas have no date yet. A super El Niño favours the Sierra, but a warmer storm track is the catch.
7 Oct 2026
Colorado Ski Resort Opening Dates 2026-27: A-Basin and Keystone Race to Be First
Arapahoe Basin, Keystone and Winter Park are all chasing an October start, though none has a firm date yet. The first dated openers are Breckenridge and Copper on Friday 6 November, then Vail on 13 November, with most of the rest bunched around US Thanksgiving. Hesperus did not open at all last season. A super El Niño offers hope but no guarantee, and forecasters say the southern mountains have the better odds.
5 Oct 2026
Manning Park Trail Map
Downloadable Manning Park trail map
Terrain split
34
runs
Beginner30%
Intermediate40%
Advanced30%
Expert0%
141 acres skiable57 hectares
Resort Stats
Elevation
Base1357m
Summit1789m
Annual snowfall
8m
Season
2026 - 2027
11 Dec 2026 - 4 Apr 2027
Trail coverage
34 runs
141 acres (57 ha)
About Manning Park's trail map
Explore Manning Park's full trail map with 34 runs across the mountain, colour-coded by difficulty and shown alongside the terrain split. Use it to plan a day that matches your ability, find lift-served pockets of your favourite grade, and see how the resort links together. Download the piste map (PDF) ↗
More Manning Park intelligence: snow report, lift system, webcams, resort overview.