Ski Experience – Hemlock Valley Ski Resort
For skiers seeking a wholesome place to take the family or friends for a quality ski vacation, or just desire some decent descents, pristine powder and a bit of downtime after a full day, we know just the place- Hemlock Valley Ski Resort! The resort is just 60 miles east of Vancouver and wholly pleasant and laidback it also offers up surprisingly good skiing at amazingly good prices. Plus, it’s a great place to get back to basics. Sometimes a vacation can be more exhausting than everyday life, that is definitely not the case at Hemlock Valley, this pristinely isolated and wonderfully relaxing resort naturally heals and energizes weary visitors.
About half of Hemlock’s mountain is designated as intermediate, with a good chunk of Black Diamond runs too. The beginner’s trails are located lower on the mountain, and every ability level is well served. The Black Diamond trails are enough to keep things interesting and invigorating for advanced skiers, without raising stress levels, and Hemlock is renowned for their great powdery snow! The terrain park is also great fun, and provides ample space for snowboarding and aerials.
The mountain has an equipment rental shop, and the staff at Hemlock is extremely down-to-earth and friendly. The ski instructors are polite and professional, and strive to keep the lessons up-tempo, full of fun and laughs. Certified ski patrol sees to everyone’s safety. And perhaps most importantly guests will find the crowds there tend to be mellow and considerate.
One of the things to enjoy about Hemlock Valley is the altitude. Being at a much lower elevation and with the ocean nearby, the temperature is just about perfect. The mild climate is just cool enough to be refreshing, but not at all biting or bitter. It’s a good idea to wear plenty of light layers and a waterproof shell.
The afterhours scene at Hemlock is pretty mellow, the laid back scene is perfect for visitors seeking a relaxing atmosphere. Guests will not find raucous parties with loud music. That’s not to say there aren’t lounges and bars in the area. Hemlock has its own bar and there are a few in and around the area. However, the scene is quiet and friendly and generally filled with locals.
Guests to Hemlock Valley are encouraged to head over to the Harrison Hot Springs during the week for a relaxing soak. Every stretched muscle, every sore spot fades away as guests sit in the mineral hot spring’s water! Hemlock Mountain is a wonderful ski vacation destination anytime, but especially when it’s all about reenergizing and spending time with loved ones. Snowboarding Zone – Hemlock Resort, British Columbia:
Riders Guide – Hemlock Resort in British Columbia offers great skiing for beginning and intermediate skiers while still offering about 20% of trails for more advanced skiers. With up to 275 inches of snow per year, Hemlock Resort gets some of the best powder in all of British Columbia. The peak elevation is almost 4,500 feet and the base elevation is almost 3,200 feet. There is a vertical drop of 1,200 feet and 35 runs in total, which means that there’s a little something at Hemlock resort for everyone. The longest run is about 1.4 miles. There are two double chair lifts and a triple chair lift as well as a beginner tow and two tube lifts. These lifts transport up to 4,000 skiers and riders per hour.
Parks and Pipes – Hemlock Resort’s terrain park has bonks, professional rails and hand cut jumps. There are beginner areas as well as more enhanced features for more advanced riders and freestyle skiers. Hemlock Resort also has a halfpipe for use as well as top-of-the-line snowboard equipment rentals.
Out of Bounds – Guests can enjoy cross country skiing over Hemlock’s 13 km of ungroomed trails. There are snowshoe trails as well as guided snowshoe tours and adventures. The resort also houses two different snow tubing parks, the Slope Side Tube Park and the Yeti Extreme Tube Park. The Harrison Hot Springs are an absolute must do while in the area, they are rich in minerals and the waters are soothing as well as naturally healing.
Hangout & Hookup – Hemlock Resort is on a mountain road so most guests enjoy après ski right at the resort. There’s a cafeteria, pub and other accommodations to enjoy, though Harrison Bay isn’t very far away and offers a little bit more variety in dining and nightlife.
The Deal – Hemlock Resort is located on a mountain road about 9 miles north of Harrison Bay. The area has such heavy and unpredictable snowfalls that the weather can change quickly so it’s necessary for travelers driving to the area to be prepared. Tire chains and cables are required. From Harrison Bay take Highway 7 north to reach the resort. Hemlock resort is two hours east of Vancouver. Travelers coming from this area should take Highway 12 to the Harrison Hot Springs exit. From there follow Highway 9 to Lougheed Highway 7. Follow that west until you reach Morris Valley Road turn north and then follow the signs to the resort.