Owls Head
71 hectares, 50 runs near Mansonville. Slopes above Lake Memphremagog, extensive snowmaking, scenic setting.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
4 Dec 2026
Closes
11 Apr 2027
Days open
128
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.
Owl's Head's summit reaches 753 metres, dropping 545 vertical metres to a base at 208 metres across 50 runs spread over roughly 71 hectares near Mansonville, Quebec. Terrain splits 34 per cent intermediate, 26 per cent beginner, 24 per cent expert and 16 per cent advanced, with average annual snowfall of roughly 3.5 metres. Six lifts, including one double chair and four quad chairs, serve the mountain alongside one surface lift.
Owl's Head holds a genuinely distinctive place among Eastern Townships resorts for its slopes rising directly above Lake Memphremagog, a 33-mile lake that also serves as the resort's snowmaking reservoir. Its considerable views and comparatively varied terrain have built the resort's reputation as one of the more scenic, if lesser-known, destinations in the Eastern Townships.
Mansonville electrician Fred Korman developed the ski area on Mont Owl's Head as something of a side project, opening it in 1965 with three lifts, two chairlifts and one t-bar, alongside six runs designed by Olympic skier Bob Richardson. Korman ran the hill's debut season together with his wife Lillian and daughter Caroll, and what began as a modest hobby business grew steadily into a four-season destination under the family's continued development.
The resort's snowmaking system, covering 90 per cent of skiable terrain, draws on Lake Memphremagog as its primary water reservoir, with slopes rising directly above the lake's shoreline. More recently, new owners operating as Destination Owl's Head have continued developing the site's potential. Adult daily tickets run from 75 to 85 Canadian dollars.
545m
Vertical
50
Runs
175 acres
Skiable
3.5m
Annual snow
The Terrain
50 runs across 175 acres skiable
Owl's Head overlooks Lake Memphremagog near the Vermont border, dropping 545 metres from 753 down to 208 metres. Its 50 runs cover about 71 hectares, and the split is 26% beginner, 34% intermediate, 16% advanced and 24% expert, which is a strikingly high expert share for a hill this size. One double chair, four quads and a surface lift serve the mountain, so queues rarely become a major issue. It is a compact area, but the vertical is among the best in the Eastern Townships, and the lake views keep the day interesting.
The expert figure comes from steep, narrow trails and a decent set of glades, including a double-black line called Ponsoon, and the narrow steeps firm up quickly after a freeze, so conditions can change noticeably from one day to the next. Intermediate trails are groomed well and offer flowing mid-mountain skiing, while beginners have a gentler zone near the base. Snowmaking covers most of the hill, which supports reliable coverage through the cold months. Owl's Head suits adventurous intermediates, advanced skiers and families who want a quieter, more scenic alternative to the busier Laurentian hills.
Terrain split
50
runs
50 runs across 4 grades
Beginner13 runs · 26%
Intermediate17 runs · 34%
Advanced8 runs · 16%
Expert12 runs · 24%
Time it right
When to visit Owls Head
The 2025-26 season at Owl's Head ran from 5 December 2025 to 5 April 2026, a roughly seventeen-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 3.5 metres, backed by a comprehensive snowmaking system covering 90 per cent of skiable terrain. 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 Owl's Head's intermediate-weighted terrain. Given the resort's considerable snowmaking capacity, drawn from the adjacent Lake Memphremagog, conditions remain reliable even during lighter natural snowfall periods.
Owl's Head's lake views and varied terrain continue to draw visitors seeking a scenic, comparatively uncrowded Eastern Townships destination throughout the season. School holiday periods bring family visitation given the resort's approachable terrain mix.
Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. Since Destination Owl's Head's more recent acquisition, the resort has continued building on six decades of history since Fred Korman's 1965 founding. The resort's Lake Memphremagog setting and considerable snowmaking capacity remain central to its enduring, scenic appeal.
Season 2026 - 2027
4 Dec 2026
Opens
11 Apr 2027
Closes
128
Days open
3.5 m
Annual snow
The record
Historical snowfall at Owls Head
Daily snow reports at Owls Head go back to 2025, 2 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.
20 cm
Snowiest day
11 Dec 2025
0 cm
This winter · 2026-27
so far
420 cm
Typical winter
average of complete seasons
Winter totals
cm
Past wintersThis winter
Getting there
Getting to Owls Head, and where to stay
Owl's Head sits near Mansonville, Quebec, in the Eastern Townships, with a base elevation of 208 metres and a summit at 753 metres across a 545-metre vertical drop over roughly 71 hectares. This setting places the resort directly above the shores of Lake Memphremagog, close to the Vermont border.
Mansonville and the broader Eastern Townships region offer lodging and dining within a short drive of the resort, with accommodation also available near the lake's shoreline close to the mountain.
Quebec Route 243 and local roads provide access to the resort from the broader region. Winter driving conditions on these routes can include snow and ice, and the resort's comparatively rural location means travellers should allow additional time compared with more centrally located Eastern Townships destinations.
Montreal-Trudeau International Airport, roughly a two-hour drive away, is the primary gateway for visitors flying into the region, with Owl's Head's proximity to the Vermont border also drawing visitors from the northeastern United States.
Where to stay
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Hotels and lodges near Owls Head, powered by Stay22.
Good to know
Frequently asked
When is Owls Head's ski season?
Owls Head's 2026 - 2027 season typically runs from December 4 through April 11. That window is roughly 128 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 Owls Head have?
Owls Head lists about 175 acres skiable of marked terrain spread across 50 named runs (71 hectares alongside 175 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 Owls Head?
Trail grading at Owls Head breaks down roughly as 26% beginner, 34% intermediate, 16% advanced, 24% expert. The advanced and expert share is substantial, so confident skiers and riders will find plenty of steeper fall-line options once they leave the nursery slopes.
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 Owls Head have?
Owls Head operates 6 lifts across 3 lift types. The fleet includes 4 quad chairs, 1 double chair, and 1 surface lift.
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 Owls Head?
Base elevation at Owls Head is about 208 m (682 ft), with the summit around 753 m (2,470 ft), giving roughly 545 m (1,788 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 Owls Head get each season?
Owls Head 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 Owls Head lift tickets and how much do they cost?
Published single-day adult pricing on SnowStash currently spans CA$35 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 Owls Head before I go?
SnowStash pulls together 2 live mountain webcams, a downloadable piste map, and the daily snow report for Owls Head 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 Owls Head 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 Owls Head. 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 Owls Head located?
Owls Head 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.
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