Summers are idyllic, but winters are a skier’s paradise.

Alpine Meadows is surrounded by mountains world famous for great snow, superior skiing and awesome winter sports. Ski Canada magazine has even recognized the Kootenay region’s ski resorts with awards for ‘Best Powder’, ‘Best Trees’ and ‘Best Steeps’.

Beyond the abundant champagne powder snow found on Kootenay ski slopes is the welcoming fact that the area’s up-and-coming resorts are known for small crowds and quaint villages. The area boasts superior skiing without the hectic big resort feel.

Panorama, Kicking Horse, Kimberly and Fernie Mountain Resorts are four of the East Kootenays’ best destination ski resorts and they’re all within a close drive of Aspen Meadows. Fernie mountain resort, between Calgary and Cranbrook, offers some of the best powder skiing in the west.

Tucked into the Toby Creek Valley in the Purcell Mountains, Panorama Resort is a mountain retreat designed to handle 7,000 day skiers but typically only sees 3,000 skiers and boarders on a busy day. The resort features 4,300 vertical feet (1,320 metres) of skiing and outdoor hot tubs located at lift bases for soaking after a day on the slopes.

Many of Alberta’s famous ski resorts are just a couple of hours away from Aspen Meadows. The Columbia Valley and its surrounding ski resorts offer miles and miles of cross country ski trails. For the more adventurous, helicopters stand ready to take skiers and boarders to untouched powder snow laden mountains outside traditional resorts.