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    British Columbia, Canada

    Mount Washington

    648 hectares, 82 runs near Courtenay. Vancouver Island's largest ski resort, ocean views, substantial snowfall.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    Opens
    12 Dec 2025
    Closes
    5 Apr 2026
    Days open
    114
    Annual snow
    10m
    The Overview
    MF
    Michael Fulton
    Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.

    Mount Washington's summit reaches 1,558 metres, dropping 453 vertical metres to a base at 1,105 metres across 82 runs spread over roughly 648 hectares near Courtenay, British Columbia. Terrain splits 43 per cent intermediate, 22 per cent each for advanced and expert, and 13 per cent beginner, with average annual snowfall of roughly 10.0 metres. Ten lifts, including three quad chairs and one six-person chair, serve the mountain alongside one triple chair and five surface lifts.

    Mount Washington holds the distinction of being Vancouver Island's largest ski resort, one of the first master-planned mountain resorts developed in British Columbia. Its considerable snowfall for a comparatively low-elevation coastal mountain, combined with genuine ocean views from the upper slopes, has built the resort's reputation as Vancouver Island's primary winter destination.

    Campbell River businessman Alex Linton, an avid skier, was struck by Mount Washington's height and snowpack in 1975, and together with fellow businessman Henry Norie began developing the idea into a resort. Construction commenced in 1977, and Mount Washington Alpine Resort opened in 1979 as one of British Columbia's first purpose-planned mountain resort developments.

    The resort moved into its current ownership generation with Pacific Group Resorts in 2015. Mount Washington's exact current pass affiliation is not confirmed in available resort information. Adult daily tickets run from 89 to 105 Canadian dollars, with a separate Family Friday Night ticket available at 25 Canadian dollars.

    453m
    Vertical
    82
    Runs
    1,601 acres
    Skiable
    10m
    Annual snow
    The Terrain

    82 runs across 1,601 acres skiable

    Mount Washington spreads 82 runs across 1,601 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 43%, with 11 beginner runs to find your feet and 36 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.

    Terrain split
    82
    runs
    82 runs across 4 grades
    Beginner11 runs · 13%
    Intermediate35 runs · 43%
    Advanced18 runs · 22%
    Expert18 runs · 22%
    Time it right

    When to visit Mount Washington

    The 2025-26 season at Mount Washington ran from 12 December 2025 to 5 April 2026, a roughly sixteen-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 10.0 metres. This considerable snowfall for a coastal, comparatively low-elevation mountain reflects Vancouver Island's exposure to Pacific storm systems.

    Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent, substantial snowfall to Mount Washington's varied terrain. As Vancouver Island's largest ski resort, Mount Washington draws considerable visitation from across the island, including Victoria and Nanaimo, alongside destination travellers.

    Mount Washington's Family Friday Night ticket programme continues to draw strong evening visitation from local Comox Valley families throughout the season. School holiday periods bring substantial family visitation given the resort's approachable terrain mix and considerable scale.

    Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. Since Pacific Group Resorts' 2015 acquisition, Mount Washington has continued building on more than four decades of history since its 1979 founding by Henry Norie and Alex Linton. The resort's status as Vancouver Island's largest ski area remains central to its enduring popularity.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    12 Dec 2025
    Opens
    5 Apr 2026
    Closes
    114
    Days open
    10 m
    Annual snow
    Getting there

    Getting to Mount Washington, and where to stay

    Mount Washington sits near Courtenay, British Columbia, in the Comox Valley area of Vancouver Island, with a base elevation of 1,105 metres and a summit at 1,558 metres across a 453-metre vertical drop over roughly 648 hectares. This setting places the resort mid-island, with genuine ocean views from the upper slopes.

    Courtenay and the broader Comox Valley offer extensive lodging, dining and services within a manageable drive of the resort, providing Mount Washington's primary local visitor base.

    Strathcona Parkway provides direct access to the resort from Courtenay. Winter driving conditions on this route can include snow and ice at higher elevations, though the well-travelled road is regularly maintained given the resort's status as Vancouver Island's largest ski area.

    Comox Valley Airport, roughly a 30-minute drive away, is the primary gateway for visitors flying directly to the region, with Mount Washington's considerable island-wide draw supporting visitation from Victoria, Nanaimo and communities across Vancouver Island.

    Where to stay

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    Hotels and lodges near Mount Washington, powered by Stay22.

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    Lift system

    Mount Washington runs ten lifts: three quad chairs, one six-person chair and one triple chair, serving 82 runs across roughly 648 hectares, alongside five surface lifts. This substantial network reflects the resort's status as Vancouver Island's largest ski area.

    The lift network has developed considerably since construction began in 1977 under founders Henry Norie and Alex Linton, with the resort's master-planned design supporting steady infrastructure investment since its 1979 opening.

    The quad chairs and six-person chair now distribute skiers efficiently across Mount Washington's intermediate-and-expert-weighted terrain, while the five surface lifts provide substantial capacity for the resort's beginner and learning areas.

    Since Pacific Group Resorts took ownership in 2015, continued investment has supported this ten-lift network according to the operator's own priorities. Specific recent individual lift replacement projects are not confirmed in available resort information. Mount Washington's extensive lift network remains well matched to its scale as Vancouver Island's primary ski destination.

    10lifts across 4 types
    1
    6-Person Chair
    3
    Quad Chairs
    1
    Triple Chair
    5
    Surface Lifts

    Mount Washington lift system

    Mount Washington is served by 10 lifts, listed here by type. Check which lifts are turning against the live conditions before you plan your first laps - early lifts and high-speed chairs get you to the best snow fastest.

    More Mount Washington intelligence: trail map, snow report, webcams, resort overview.