Mont Orford
99 hectares, 44 runs within Mont-Orford National Park. Three summits, family-friendly, near Montreal.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
28 Nov 2026
Closes
11 Apr 2027
Days open
134
Annual snow
3.5m
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Mont Orford's summit reaches 850 metres, dropping 589 vertical metres to a base at 261 metres across 44 runs spread over roughly 99 hectares within Mont-Orford National Park, Quebec. Terrain splits 41 per cent beginner, 28 per cent intermediate, 24 per cent advanced and 7 per cent expert, with average annual snowfall of roughly 3.5 metres. Seven lifts, including three quad chairs and one gondola, serve the mountain alongside one triple chair and two surface lifts.
Mont Orford holds a genuinely distinctive place among Quebec resorts as a ski area operating within a provincial national park, spread across three summits within the Eastern Townships. Its approachable, beginner-weighted terrain and considerable natural surroundings have built the resort's reputation as a scenic, family-oriented destination roughly an hour from Montreal.
Dr George Austin Bowen first dreamed of creating a park around Mont Orford in the 1920s, and that vision was realised on 8 April 1938, when a law was passed to create Parc national du Mont-Orford after twenty-seven area municipalities agreed to cede territory to the Quebec government. A golf course, chalet and the mountain's first mechanical lift were built in the park's early years, and the ski area opened on 5 February 1941 despite wartime shortages of supplies, workers and tools.
Management of the park transferred to the Société des établissements de plein air du Québec in 1979. Though the mountain remains officially part of a provincial park, the ski hill and base area have been run by a succession of private operators over the decades. Adult daily tickets run from 75 to 85 Canadian dollars.
589m
Vertical
44
Runs
245 acres
Skiable
3.5m
Annual snow
The Terrain
44 runs across 245 acres skiable
Mont Orford rises from 261 to 850 metres inside a national park near Magog, giving a vertical of 589 metres, one of the better figures in the Eastern Townships. Its 44 runs cover about 99 hectares, and the grading is beginner-friendly at 41%, with 28% intermediate, 24% advanced and 7% expert. A gondola, three quad chairs and a triple chair take skiers up, plus two surface lifts. The terrain is spread over several peaks, so the descents feel longer and more varied than the compact footprint would suggest on paper.
Forested surroundings define the skiing here, and the park setting means trails wind through mature woods rather than open clearings. The gondola gives a comfortable ride to the top, where views stretch across the lakes and hills of the region. Intermediate runs make up a pleasant, flowing mid-mountain, and a good beginner share means families can stay together. Glades add a bit of challenge for stronger skiers, though the expert terrain is limited. Orford suits learners, families and relaxed intermediates, and works well as a base for a long weekend alongside Magog and nearby Owl's Head and Sutton.
Terrain split
44
runs
44 runs across 4 grades
Beginner18 runs · 41%
Intermediate12 runs · 28%
Advanced11 runs · 24%
Expert3 runs · 7%
Time it right
When to visit Mont Orford
The 2025-26 season at Mont Orford ran from 27 November 2025 to 12 April 2026, a roughly nineteen-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 3.5 metres. Season dates can shift depending on early and late-season weather in the Eastern Townships.
Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions to Mont Orford's beginner-weighted terrain across three summits. Given its considerable proximity to Montreal, roughly an hour away, Mont Orford draws substantial day-trip and weekend visitation from the metropolitan area.
Mont Orford's setting within a national park continues to draw visitors seeking scenic surroundings alongside approachable skiing throughout the season. School holiday periods bring substantial family visitation given the resort's beginner-friendly terrain mix.
Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. Since park management transferred to Sépaq in 1979, Mont Orford has continued building on more than eight decades of history since its 1941 opening. The resort's national park setting and family-friendly character remain central to its enduring appeal in the Eastern Townships.
Season 2026 - 2027
28 Nov 2026
Opens
11 Apr 2027
Closes
134
Days open
3.5 m
Annual snow
The record
Historical snowfall at Mont Orford
Daily snow reports at Mont Orford go back to 2025, 2 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.
25 cm
Snowiest day
2 Dec 2025
0 cm
This winter · 2026-27
so far
421 cm
Typical winter
average of complete seasons
Winter totals
cm
Past wintersThis winter
Getting there
Getting to Mont Orford, and where to stay
Mont Orford sits within Mont-Orford National Park, Quebec, with a base elevation of 261 metres and a summit at 850 metres across a 589-metre vertical drop over roughly 99 hectares spread across three summits. This setting places the resort within the Eastern Townships, roughly an hour from Montreal.
The town of Magog, on the shores of Lake Memphremagog, offers extensive lodging and dining within a short drive of the resort, alongside the smaller municipality of Orford directly adjacent to the park.
Autoroute 10 provides direct access to the resort from Montreal. Winter driving conditions on this route can include snow and ice, though the well-travelled highway is regularly maintained given the resort's status as a popular Eastern Townships destination.
Montreal-Trudeau International Airport, roughly a 90-minute drive away, is the primary gateway for visitors flying into the region, with Mont Orford's considerable proximity to Montreal supporting substantial day-trip visitation from the metropolitan area.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Mont Orford, powered by Stay22.
Good to know
Frequently asked
When is Mont Orford's ski season?
Mont Orford's 2026 - 2027 season typically runs from November 28 through April 11. That window is roughly 134 calendar days, though daily operations depend on snow cover, weather, and lift maintenance.
Resorts in Quebec, Canada often announce firm dates closer to winter; check the live snow report before you travel if you are planning around opening weekend or spring closure.
How much skiable terrain does Mont Orford have?
Mont Orford lists about 245 acres skiable of marked terrain spread across 44 named runs (99 hectares alongside 245 acres skiable). That footprint is what most riders experience on a lift-served day. Side-country or hike-to terrain may sit outside these published numbers.
Use the trail map to see how the mountain is laid out and where the longest fall-line runs connect back to base.
What is the terrain like at Mont Orford?
Trail grading at Mont Orford breaks down roughly as 41% beginner, 28% intermediate, 24% advanced, 7% expert. The mix is balanced enough for mixed-ability groups, so learners can stay on marked green/blue (Green/Blue) terrain while stronger skiers peel off to steeper pitches.
Percentages describe the resort's published piste mix, not vertical metres. A mountain with modest "expert" stats can still feel demanding if the steep terrain is long or exposed. Read the trail map alongside these numbers when planning your route.
How many lifts does Mont Orford have?
Mont Orford operates 7 lifts across 4 lift types. The fleet includes 3 quad chairs, 2 surface lifts, 1 gondola, and 1 triple chair.
Lift mix affects how quickly you can lap your favourite zones. Gondolas and trams move big crowds to mid-mountain, while shorter chairs and surface lifts often serve learning areas or local pods. Check the live snow report on ski days for real-time open/closed status.
What is the elevation and vertical drop at Mont Orford?
Base elevation at Mont Orford is about 261 m (856 ft), with the summit around 850 m (2,789 ft), giving roughly 589 m (1,932 ft) of vertical from base to top.
Higher start heights usually mean colder, drier snow holding longer into spring, but also thinner air and faster weather changes. Pack layers if you are riding from village level to summit lifts in one day.
How much snow does Mont Orford get each season?
Mont Orford averages about 350 cm (138 inches) of natural snowfall per season. That is a long-term climate figure. Any single winter can run well above or below it depending on storm track and temperature.
For trip planning, pair this baseline with the live snow report and webcams: fresh cycles show up in overnight totals and summit cameras long before season averages tell you much about today's surface.
Where can I buy Mont Orford lift tickets and how much do they cost?
Published single-day adult pricing on SnowStash currently spans CA$5 to CA$85, depending on date band and whether you are buying peak or regular windows. Multi-day products (season passes) usually lower the per-day cost if you are staying several days. Tickets can be bought online through the resort's official checkout (linked from our lift tickets page) or at on-mountain ticket windows, subject to availability.
Buying ahead of peak holidays and weekends generally saves money and guarantees access on sold-out days. Before you commit, scan the snow report and webcams so you are paying for conditions that match your expectations.
How can I check snow and mountain conditions at Mont Orford before I go?
SnowStash pulls together 1 live mountain webcam, a downloadable piste map, and the daily snow report for Mont Orford so you can plan from home. Webcams refresh on a short interval and are the fastest way to judge visibility, wind exposure, and whether storm snow is still falling.
The snow report adds structured totals, base depth where available, and lift/trail status when the resort publishes it. Use both together: cameras show what it looks like right now, and the report summarises numbers your group can compare day to day.
Does Mont Orford have a trail map?
Yes. The downloadable PDF/image map is better for offline planning, marking meeting points, and understanding the full mountain layout at a glance.
Both versions are on the trail map page for Mont Orford. If you are navigating with kids or meeting friends across separate lifts, screenshot or print the static map and keep the live map open on your phone for operational updates.
Where is Mont Orford located?
Mont Orford sits in Quebec, Canada. That regional context matters for travel planning: airport transfers, snow tyres, and typical storm patterns all follow geography as much as resort marketing.
Browse nearby accommodation from the resort page if you are comparing village-base vs valley-base stays; where you sleep changes your first lift of the day more than most trail stats do.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
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30 Oct 2026
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30 Oct 2026
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30 Oct 2026
Keystone Resort Opens for 2026/27 With More Than Two Miles of Skiing
Keystone is next. After Arapahoe Basin claimed the first chairlift skiing of the season on Wednesday, Keystone opens on Friday 30 October at 9:00 am with more than two miles of snowmaking-built terrain on Schoolmarm and Silver Spoon, plus free donuts, coffee and a live DJ. Last year the order was reversed, when Keystone squeezed in a three-hour afternoon session to beat A-Basin by a day. Snowmaking has been running since 15 October.
29 Oct 2026
Beaver Creek Installs 16 Automated Snow Guns on Birds of Prey Ahead of Record World Cup
Beaver Creek is getting ready for the biggest Birds of Prey ever, and this time it is not leaving the snow to chance. Crews started making snow on 27 October with 16 newly installed automated guns on the lower third of the course, after last December’s warm spell forced a downhill off the schedule. Seven races across two weekends run from 3 to 13 December, the most the course has hosted since its 1997 debut, and the guns start themselves whenever the weather allows.
29 Oct 2026
Arapahoe Basin Opens First for North America’s 2026/27 Ski Season
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28 Oct 2026