Cypress Mountain

City-side ski and snowboard resort

Noteworthy for: Cypress Mountain hosted the freestyle skiing and snowboarding events at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Word to the wise: Fancy a spot of night skiing? The resort is open until 10pm from Dec 15 - Mar 25.

While nearby Grouse Mountain is best-suited to young families and beginners, Cypress Mountain is for more advanced skiers and boarders. This resort in Vancouver's backyard may have nothing on Whistler, but with 53 runs, 600 rideable acres, six chair lifts and 2010 vertical feet, it's not a bad substitute.
During winter, Cypress Mountain Express buses (CAD 23 return) ferry skiers and boarders from select city locations to the resort, just 30 minutes from downtown. Equipment rental and lessons are available on-mountain, but if you're not much of a skier, there's also a tube park, snowshoeing and a healthy 'après ski' scene at the Crazy Raven Bar and Grill.

For summer hiking and wildlife viewing from June-Sept, you'll need to hitch a ride to Cypress, or catch a taxi. The Crazy Raven opens, but lifts remain closed.