Hemlock Valley Ski Area

A quaint family resort only 90 miles northwest of Vancouver, Hemlock Valley Ski Resort is a world away from Whistler Blackcomb and the other the large resorts in British Colombia. Hemlock Valley is a small, intermediate-friendly, rustic resort an easy day trip from Vancouver and a great place for a fun winter weekend in the mountains.

The four lifts at Hemlock Valley Ski Resort service thirty-four named runs over 300 skiable acres. Nestled on a hill overlooking Harrison Lake, Hemlock Valley Ski Area has a peak elevation of 4,500-feet above sea level and a vertical drop of 1,200 feet. The high elevation means that much of the terrain at Hemlock Valley Ski Resort is above the treeline.

Most of the trails at Hemlock Valley Ski Resort are labeled blue and should be perfect for the average skier. The Sasquatch triple chair services almost solely intermediate terrain; Abominable being the longest of the blue runs from the top of this lift. After a brief black-rated slope at the top of the Skyline double chair, the run beneath this lift turns into a pleasant blue cruiser, Mainline.

The black diamond runs at Hemlock Valley Ski Area are not likely to be much of a challenge to expert skiers or snowboarders; intermediates will find these quite manageable. Most of the black terrain is off the Skyline lift. Advanced skiers can head either direction off the lift. Ridgeview on skiers left takes you to several diamond runs: Pete’s Pass, Happy Hooker, Red Dog, and Shed Zone.

Beginners have a friendly learning area at the bottom of Hemlock Valley. First timers will like the Chaser run off the Strawline rope tow; novices should try Dream off the Whistlepunk lift. For a longer green cruiser, head up the Skyline lift and take Ridgeline to Undercut to Slackline to Molly Hogan for a long wind all the way from top to bottom.

There is more winter fun at Hemlock Valley Ski Area than just alpine skiing and boarding. Hemlock Valley also has a maintained network of cross-country trails and a large snowtubing area.

Most visitors to Hemlock Valley Ski Resort can make a day trip from Vancouver. It’s not right in town like Grouse Mountain, but it is still an easy car drive away. For those who choose to ski a few days at Hemlock Valley Ski Area, there is some pleasant accommodation at the Hemlock Valley village and in the nearby town of Agassiz. Many of these are rustic log cabins or traditional ski lodges, making a Hemlock Valley ski vacation a great family break.