Cypress Mountain

An unbeatable topography and excellent snow conditions made Cypress Mountain the perfect choice for hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics freestyle skiing and snowboarding events. Conveniently located in the beautiful Cypress Provincial Park, Cypress Mountain is a mere thirty-minute drive from Vancouver city centre. With superb snow, stunning scenery and a warm welcome, this mountain resort has all the ingredients for the holiday of a lifetime.The stats here are staggering and will test the mettle of the most hardened ski junkie. 53 alpine ski runs traverse 240 hectares of unrivalled terrain that includes an eye-watering vertical rise of 610 metres on Black Mountain – the highest of its kind on the north coast. The area has nine lifts, six chair lifts and three surface lifts waiting to transport visitors to even the most inaccessible regions.Cypress Mountain is divided into two distinct areas consisting of an Alpine area and a Nordic area and both sections have excellent facilities and lessons to cater for all types of snow-enthusiasts. The resort is also home to 19 kilometres of cross-country trails, all of which have varying degrees of difficulty so whether you are a ski aficionado or a wobbly beginner, there is a trail, a ski run and a lesson to suit you.If you are a seasoned pro, why not try something different and take one of the self-guided snowshoe tours which bring you across a web of marked trails around the boundary of the Nordic area. Keep an eye out for wildlife and when you make it through in one piece, you will be rewarded with a hot drink and a sumptuous meal in the toasty Hollyburn Lodge.For a truly unforgettable experience, give night skiing a go. Speed silently down the slopes in the dead of night and inhale the crisp mountain air as the moon breaks through the clouds.Parents will be happy to know that Cypress Mountain has plenty of snow activities for children of all ages. At Snow Tube Park, sit back and enjoy the effortless thrill of whizzing down the slopes in a rubber tube. Put your skating skills to the test at the Skate Park before continuing over to Patio Park to practise your landings on the inflated Mini LP 2.0 Airbag. Great fun! No doubt all this will set little bellies rumbling so let them choose between the Cypress Creek Grill and the Crazy Raven Grill, both of which offer hearty après-ski refreshment.On top of all this, excellent on-site amenities include the Alpine Rental shop which will supply you with everything you need for your holiday. So now, all you need to do is get out your map of Cypress Mountain and choose which ski run to tackle first!