Top 7 Ski Resorts in Ontario for Keeping Active this Winter

The Westin Trillium House is nestled comfortably within Blue Mountain’s pedestrian-only village, which is full of sportswear and equipment shops worthy of browsing for your latest ski-kit upgrade. The hotel is ideal for groups or those who prefer a little extra space, with large, multi-bedroom suites that include a well-equipped kitchen along with dining and living areas. Deluxe rooms are just the right size for putting your feet up in front of the cozy fire while sipping a hot buttered rum or spiced apple cider.

In between skiing or snowboarding Blue Mountain’s 42 trails and terrain parks, unwind with a refreshing dip in the heated open-air pool. Younger children might like to take a snow break at the hotel’s indoor water playground, where little ones can splash about under the fountains year-round.

When you’re ready for dinner, leave the winter boots in your room and pop down to the hotel’s Oliver & Bonacini Café Grill for a healthy meal such as a tuna and quinoa bowl. This restaurant’s wine list includes bottles from vineyards across Quebec, so you can sit in the crisp alpine air with a chilled glass of Niagara-grown Chardonnay while surveying views from the pond-facing terrace.

Want that home-away-from-home vacation feel? The Lodges at Blue Mountain feature spacious one-to-four-bedroom condos and larger five-to eight-bedroom luxury chalets that are walking distance or a short shuttle bus away from the village and slopes. Each member of your party can choose their own Blue Mountain adventure, from skiing one of the trails on the 365 acres of terrain to practising jumps at a park.

If you’re having a night off from cooking, you can walk 10 minutes from the hotel and relish a black bean veggie burger or share nachos at the popular Bullwheel Pub. Wash it all down with a Smart Alec Ale, named after one of the mountain trails at Blue Mountain and made by small-town Ontario microbrewery Creemore Springs.

To get your muscles prepped for another day of skiing, book a treatment at the Kalola Spa on Jozo Weider Boulevard in the village, a five-minute walk from the lodges. Treat your feet and legs to an Alpine mint foot massage, then bask in the warmth of the dry sauna.

Breathe in the fresh lakeside air from your walk-out balcony at the Living Water Resort & Spa, just a 12-minute drive from Blue Mountain at Collingwood Harbour. Choose from spacious rooms or suites that include a full kitchen stocked with appliances for easy cooking when you’d prefer to eat in. After a day of zooming across Collingwood’s cross-country trails, some of which start just outside the hotel, unwind by taking a long, refreshing soak in your in-suite Jacuzzi tub before settling in front of the enveloping heat of the gas fireplace.

At the resort’s Living Shore Spa, indulge in a massage where attendants use heated bamboo to roll and knead your body tissue. Men can choose the holistic facial, designed specifically to nourish male skin. For families with children under the age of 12, petite manicures or pedicures are available to pamper little ones.

Sitting in the warmth of the hotel’s Lakeside Seafood & Grill restaurant, take in the views of freshly fallen snow glistening on top of the frozen lake. Munch on menu items like Alaskan crab legs while sipping a horseradish-seasoned Lakeside Caesar.

Does your furry companion love the great outdoors in winter as much as you do? If so, ask about the pet-friendly suites at The Horseshoe Resort, just an hour’s drive from Toronto near Barrie. Horseshoe Valley has 28 downhill ski and snowboard runs for all levels, as well as over 30 kilometres of groomed cross-country ski trails to explore.

Inside your deluxe room, relax in the sunken sitting area next to the electric fireplace and plan your next adventure. You can choose from family-friendly activities such as snow tubing, fat biking and mini snowmobiling for a thrilling day out.

For some comforting downtime indoors, head over to the hotel’s Amba Health & Beauty Spa for a hot stone massage or a Magic of Plants facial to revive winter skin with the power of essential oils and botanicals. Once you’re ready for dinner, leave your toque in the closet and dine at the hotel’s Inn Steakhouse. You can enjoy dishes like Canadian prime rib served with horseradish and Yorkshire pudding followed by a tasty dessert, such as the carrot caramel cheesecake.

Craving a leisurely experience? At the Carriage Ridge Resort, on top of easy access to the downhill runs at Horseshoe Valley, you can drive 10 minutes to the Hardwood Ski and Bike recreation area. There, you can explore more than 40 kilometres of rolling trails through pine forests—ideal for cross-country skiing, with loops ranging from a family-friendly 3 kilometres to the more challenging 22-kilometre trail.

After all that playing in the snow, return to the resort and take advantage of your in-suite washer and dryer to clean up any stains on your outerwear and make sure it’s toasty for the next day. Children can play with the video game system while you prepare a home-cooked meal in the fully-equipped kitchen. If you’d rather eat out, go for a four-minute drive and chow on light bites like yam fries at the Crazy Horse Sports Bar and Grill.

For a change of pace from outdoor activities, relax in the resort’s indoor hot tub or finish up that novel on a lounger next to the heated indoor pool. You can also practice your follow shots on the billiard table in reception or head back to your room and snuggle under a blanket in front of the roaring fireplace.

Located in the Ottawa Valley, just over an hour’s drive west of Ottawa, Calabogie Peaks features 24 trails along with a mogul field, ski/board cross track, and two rail parks. New skiers and snowboarders can book a beginner’s package from the Calabogie Peaks Hotel ski school to get you happily floating down the mountain. If you feel the need to fine-tune your skills further, take one-on-one lessons with professionals.

Afterwards, share stories of the day’s activities in the outdoor hot tub, move inside to swim a few laps in the indoor pool to gently stretch your muscles, or pull up a lounger in front of your room’s floor-to-ceiling windows and watch the snow fall. Accommodation options at the hotel include quiet studio suites or condo units at the base of the mountain, separate from the hustle and bustle of the main building.

At the on-site restaurant, Canthooks, share PEI mussels with friends and have a glass of Beau’s Lug Tread – a hybrid beer, top-fermented like an ale and cold-aged like a lager – from the local family-run and employee-owned organic microbrewery in Vankleek Hill.

In the scenic Muskoka region, a three-hour drive from Toronto or four from Ottawa, the Deerhurst Resort is your gateway to the Hidden Valley Highlands ski area and its 35 acres of skiable terrain. Don’t fancy the slopes? Wind your way through 1.3 kilometres of pine-scented Canadian forest by gliding across the ice skating trail at Arrowhead Provincial Park, a 15-minute drive from Deerhurst.

Later on at the hotel, you can treat yourself to a relaxing float in the hotel pool or a French manicure at the Amba Spa. Raise a cocktail glass in a toast to a successful ski vacation after digging into a meal at the on-site Compass Grill & Bar. Share tapas, including favourites like coconut lime chicken skewers, smoked bacon lollipops and gyoza dumplings while listening to live music.

The resort offers spacious condos with full-size kitchen appliances for cooking healthy meals on the go, along with a cozy living area and a fireplace to curl up in front of as you recall the day’s skiing adventures.