Montreal, without question, is one of the most extraordinary cities in Canada. Its vibrancy, European charm, French heritage, and history all blend together for an unparalleled urban experience. Yet Montreal is also the gateway to some of the best ski areas in Quebec. After leaving Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL), skiers and riders can be on the slopes in as little as an hour. From small, independent ski areas to famous destination ski resorts, there’s something for every type of skier and rider near Montreal. Read on for some of the best ski resorts near Montreal.
Ski Resorts Near Montreal
Mont Sutton
Mont Sutton, less than two hours from Montreal in the Eastern Townships, is a charming ski resort known for its scenic beauty and varied terrain. It offers 60 trails accessed by nine chairlifts, with beginner, intermediate, and advanced runs. This is the place for skiers and riders who love tree skiing, since about half of Mont Sutton’s terrain is in the trees. It’s also a great ski resort for families, with a family zone featuring a magic carpet, a chairlift dedicated to easy trails, and a beginner terrain park. There are a number of accommodation options nearby, from camping and glamping at Huttopia to hotels in the town of Sutton. Mont Sutton is a perfect, quaint weekend ski getaway near Montreal.
Mont-Tremblant
Tremblant is one of the largest ski areas in Quebec and one of Canada’s top destination ski resorts. Located about two hours from Montreal in the heart of the Laurentian Mountains, it has more than 750 acres of skiable terrain and 102 trails for all skill levels. Once you’re winding down, end your ski day on Nansen, a top-to-bottom run that winds down the mountain for nearly 4 miles. It’s one of the few runs of this length that beginners can ski. Tremblant also has an extensive network of snowshoeing and cross-country skiing trails, making it a great destination for winter enthusiasts of all kinds.
Tremblant is perhaps best known for its picturesque European-style pedestrian village, home to tons of great restaurants, bars, and shops. This is also where you’ll find the Fairmont Tremblant, one of the top ski-in, ski-out hotels in Eastern Canada.
Mont Blanc
You’ll drive right by Mont Blanc, about 20 to 30 minutes closer to Montreal, on the way to Tremblant. That makes it a good day trip option for locals and for visitors to Montreal who want to get in a few hours on the slopes. Mont Blanc has 118 acres of skiable terrain with 43 runs for every skill level. It’s the second-highest skiable peak in the Laurentians, but it has more of a small-resort vibe, with smaller crowds than some of the other nearby ski resorts. Mont Blanc is a great resort for families and beginners looking to learn or progress, with a large snow school staffed by more than 100 certified instructors. It also offers snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and tubing.
Mont Orford
Located about an hour and a half from Montreal, Mont Orford is another good day trip option. It’s home to 44 trails and seven lifts spread across 245 skiable acres. More than half of its trails are rated easy, making it a great ski area for beginners, yet there’s a lot to love for more advanced skiers and riders, too. For those who like to get into the trees, Mont Orford has 18 marked glades, from tight and narrow trees to wider glades, making it one of the best destinations on our list for glade skiing. The resort also has one of the most developed uphill skiing circuits in the region, with uphill season passes and day tickets available for guests who want to earn their turns.
Sommet Saint-Sauveur
Sommet Saint-Sauveur is one of the closest ski areas to Montreal, located just an hour away in the Laurentians. It doesn’t get as much snow as some of Quebec’s snowier ski resorts, but it has full snowmaking coverage to make sure there’s always snow. Sommet Saint-Sauveur has 28 trails and 7 lifts spread over 142 acres of skiable terrain. It’s also known for its expansive night skiing operation, with night skiing daily through most of the winter. It’s not just anywhere that you can ski for more than 12 hours in a single day.
Owl’s Head
While Owl’s Head is a little farther than some ski resorts on this list, at about two hours from Montreal, the experience and views are worth it. Owl’s Head offers panoramic views of the surrounding Eastern Townships and Lake Memphremagog below, making it one of the most picturesque ski resorts near Montreal. It has varied terrain across 50 trails and about 165 acres, with a little something for everyone, plus alpine touring routes for those who want to earn their turns. Slopeside, the MTN Haus chalet brings a hotel, restaurant, bar, and ski shop together at the base. Not to mention how affordable it is: we named Owl’s Head one of the most affordable ski resorts in Canada. For an uncrowded, affordable ski resort near Montreal, look no further.
Bromont
It doesn’t get much better than Bromont, located just an hour from Montreal, with more than 140 trails spread over 450 skiable acres. There’s lots of terrain here for every type of skier and rider, including plenty of gentle groomers for families and beginners. One of its most unique experiences is the First Tracks ticket, which has given early risers exclusive access to select trails before the lifts open to the public on weekends. It’s like having the entire mountain to yourself. Bromont is best known for its night skiing, as one of the largest night skiing operations in North America, with more than 100 runs lit at night. If you time your trip right, you can experience Nuits Blanches (French for “sleepless nights”), held on select weekend nights, when skiing and après-ski festivities go into the early morning hours.
Jay Peak, Vermont
While Canada has dozens of excellent options for skiing, Montreal is also close to some of Vermont’s best ski resorts. Just five miles from the Canadian border is Jay Peak. Located in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, Jay Peak is known as one of the most challenging and snowiest resorts on the East Coast. It’s about an hour and a half to two hours from Montreal, making it well worth the trip for those who want a little more snow and vertical. Jay has 385 acres of terrain, including more than 100 acres of glades, 2,153 feet of vertical drop, and nearly 350 inches of average annual snowfall. Add in the indoor water park at the base and you’ve got a destination jam-packed with activities. A little farther south is Smugglers’ Notch, a great family-oriented Vermont ski area.
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