With Canada being so famously cold, and being the second biggest country in the world, there are opportunities for winter sport everywhere. We love to hit the slopes at a ski resort, lace up our skates for a hockey game, or even scale an ice climbing course – but where in Canada is the best to get some exercise in the snow?
We researched a number of factors that go into making a great winter sport destination, and ranked them with an assigned score to show you the best spots to get active. Looking for a ski getaway, or just curious to find out where your province ranks? Here’s our list of the best Canadian provinces for winter sports.
1. Quebec
It would make sense that Canada’s largest province tops our list, given the amount of space for winter sport opportunities, but it’s a blend of factors that make Quebec such a strong candidate for snow sport. First of all, it’s the home of the Montreal Canadiens, the team with the most Stanley Cup wins in history, so has become a hotspot for NHL lovers.
Meanwhile, the province is home to the most ice climbing routes of any region in Canada (261), and with more than 680,000 Google searches for skiing and snowboarding per year, it’s clearly a favourite destination for winter sport fans. In fact, Quebec is home to the second-most ski resorts of any province, with 81 to choose from.
With a total score of 7.6 out of 10 on our index, it takes a comfortable lead as the best snow sport spot in Canada.
2. Ontario
Ontario is the most populous province in Canada, so you might not expect it to be great for winter sport with the urban atmosphere of Ottawa and Toronto. However, there’s one key aspect that makes the area perfect for sport enthusiasts.
The province is home to the most ice-skating arenas in the country, with a massive 1044 available – that’s more than double second place! Incidentally, NHL fans can also watch home games of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators in the province. Meanwhile, it’s also home to 53 ski resorts, and the second most ski stores of any province (80).
Scoring 6.89 out of 10 on our index, it earns a silver medal position and remains a great choice for fans of snow sports.
3. British Columbia
If you’re looking for a ski trip, British Columbia has you spoilt for choice – its 87 ski resorts make it the province with the most options in all of Canada. Keep an eye on your wallet, however, as it’s also the most expensive destination for skiing and snowboarding. An average day ticket for the slopes will set you back $113 CAD – that’s $40 more than Ontario in second place.
Home to the Canucks and the most ski stores in the country, British Columbia sees its residents make 598,920 Google searches a year for winter sports experiences.
Ranking third with an indexed score of 6.66 out of 100, it’s a top destination…if you have the budget.
4. Alberta
If you’re a hockey fan looking to practice your skating for a future position at the Edmonton Oilers or the Calgary Flames, there are plenty of options in Alberta. With 448 skating arenas, it’s home to the second most in Canada.
Additionally, Alberta has the second most ice climbing routes of any province (232) and the third highest annual search volume for winter sports (444,480 searches per year).
Alberta earns an overall score of 5.98 and a spot as the fourth best region for winter sports in Canada.
5. Nova Scotia
There’s a sharp drop in score from our #4 pick onwards, as Nova Scotia earns only 2.68 out of 10 on our index for Canadian snow sport.
Despite a much lower ranking than Alberta, it’s still popular for ice climbing – with 167 routes. This is what contributes to the majority of its score though, as it’s home to the second-fewest ski resorts and stores, and the third fewest ice skating arenas. Ice climbers will find plenty of reasons to enjoy a trip to Nova Scotia, but fans of other sports may be better looking elsewhere.
6. Manitoba
Despite Manitoba having a surprising 0 officially recognized ice climbing routes, the province has a number of other snow sport opportunities. With 8 ski resorts, the third cheapest ski ticket in the country, and 233 ice-skating arenas – including the home of the Winnipeg Jets – there’s a range to choose from.
Its lack of ice climbing does bring its score down, unfortunately, as it scores 2.29 on our index overall.
7. New Brunswick
It’s a close race between New Brunswick and Manitoba, with our #7 spot (2.28) finishing just 0.1 points behind #6.
Despite having the third fewest Google searches for winter sports, New Brunswick offers 100 ice climbing routes and 5 ski resorts. Its ski tickets are also the fourth-cheapest of any province, making it a sleeper hit for sports fans with particular interests.
8. Saskatchewan
While Saskatchewan has 9 ski resorts to choose from (the fifth-most in Canada) and 182 ice-skating arenas on offer, it lacks any officially recognised ice climbing courses. Like Manitoba, this impacts its score considerably, giving it a final total of 1.97 – the third lowest on our top ten list. However, its ski tickets are the second cheapest in Canada, making it a good choice for bargain seekers.
9. Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador have the lowest annual Google search count for skiing and snowboarding opportunities in the country, with just 39,000 queries per year – that’s more than 17 times fewer than #1!
Despite this, it still offers 53 ice-skating arenas, 26 ski shops, and 45 ice climbing routes, meaning there are still options in the area. With a total indexed score of 1.58, though, it’s unlikely to be your first choice for a winter sport trip.
10. Northwest Territories
As the most Northern – and most remote – of Canada’s territories, it’s hardly a surprise that the Northwest Territories have fewer sports opportunities. With just one ski resort (Bristol Pit in Yellowknife), its residents aren’t exactly spoilt for choice.
It’s also home to just two ski stores, and five ice-skating arenas – a fraction of the other provinces’ numbers. On the upside, the Territories have the cheapest average day ticket in the country due to their lack of options, with a pass costing just $20 CAD for a day.
Are you a winter sport fan? Think you know your local NHL team? We offer comparisons on the best NHL betting sites across the country, wherever you watch from. Browse our picks for upcoming games today!
Methodology
To identify the best provinces for winter sports, Canada Sports Betting analyzed each Canadian province and territory across six key metrics:
Increased Weight = 2%
Standard Weight = 1%
- Number of Ski Resorts (2%) – The number of ski resorts in each location, as per Skiresort.
- Google Search Interest (2%) – The total number of Google searches in Canada from people searching for over 520 keywords related to skiing, snowboarding, and results between Jan 2024 and Jan 2025.
- E.g. “Skiing in Ontario” and “Ski resorts in Ontario”
- No. of Ice-Skating Arenas (2%) – The number of indoor and outdoor ice-skating areas in each location, as per Arena Guide.
- Ice Climbing Routes (2%) – The number of ice climbing routes in each location, as per Mountain Project.
- Ski Pass Price (1%) – The average cost of a daily ski pass during peak season, as per Skiresort.
- No. of Ski Stores (1%) – The number of ski specific stores, as per Google Maps.
We calculated a weighted average for each province across all metrics and summed these scores to produce a final indexed score out of 10, determining the overall rankings for winter sports destinations.
