who wants to learn to ski
or snowboard. Lessons for
skiers and snowboarders,
groups or private, are
Sunridge’s bread and
butter. Located on the
North Saskatchewan River
in Edmonton’s northeast
corner, the former Hidden
Ridge at Strathcona Science
Provincial Park has been
pumping out new skiers and
boarders since 1980—and for
the last 15 years, distracting
them with tubing options too.
sunridgeskiarea.com
A day out at
Snow Valley
Ski Club
Find the 10 best aprèsski spots in Alberta
AMAinsider.com
Big hills,
bigger
savings
Good news,
skiers! AMA
members are
eligible for great
discounts in the
Rockies too:
AMATravel.ca/ski
SNOW VALLEY SKI CLUB
EDMONTON
VERTICAL: 130 feet
RUNS: 8
LIFT TICKET: $35
AMA REWARDS: Save
10%
on all day passes and on
regular-price merchandise
at Snow Rider Ski Shop
Edmontonians have been
skiing locally for more than
a century, and Snow Valley
Ski Club—which opened in
the 1940s—has long been
a key part of the scene. A
leader in ski and snowboard
instruction, Snow Valley
offers downhill enthusiasts
of all ages a place to learn
and improve. A true “city
hill” (just off Whitemud
Freeway on 119 St.), it’s even
reachable by local bus.
snowvalley.ca
NITEHAWK
RECREATION AREA
GRANDE PRAIRIE
SNOW VALLEY SKI CLUB
VERTICAL: 580 feet
RUNS: 10
LIFT TICKET: $22-$37
AMA REWARDS: Save 10%
on regular-price lift and
tube zone tickets; 15% on
3-week lesson programs
With a lengthy season
(November to early April),
250 acres of terrain and a
strong snow-sports school—
complete with experienced
instructors who can teach
you how to hurtle down a
luge track—Nitehawk is
a can’t-miss in Grande
Prairie. Established in 1960
by the Grande Prairie Ski
Club, the hill moved in 1972
and has since morphed into
a year-round recreational
area that offers plenty of
healthy outdoor distractions.
gonitehawk.com
RABBIT HILL SNOW
RESORT
EDMONTON
VERTICAL: 300 feet
RUNS: 11
LIFT TICKET: $30
AMA REWARDS: Save
15%
on full-day lift tickets and
ski/snowboard rentals, as
well as 3-day lessons
The biggest city hill in
Edmonton, Rabbit Hill
Snow Resort is a so-called
“breeder” ski area that’s
started plenty of skiers and
snowboarders down the
right track, including several
Canadian Demonstration
Ski Team instructors. A
tight-knit team environment
is fostered by Rabbit Hill’s
award-winning Snow
School, where thousands of
kids learn how to ski and
snowboard each year.
rabbithill.com
CASTLE MOUNTAIN
PINCHER CREEK
VERTICAL: 2,833 feet
RUNS: 104
LIFT TICKET: $69
AMA REWARDS: Save 10%
to 15% on regular-price
daily lift tickets
Probably the country’s bestkept ski secret, Castle’s
combination of challenging terrain, dry Alberta
snow and exceptional Rocky
Mountain beauty make it
a must-ski destination. A
favourite for strong intermediate skiers and up, Castle’s
in the same league as bigger hills like Lake Louise.
With basic base area accommodation and an inviting
après-ski scene, Castle feels
like a private club. On-hill
cat skiing is just icing on an
already tasty cake.
skicastle.ca
STAY
AMA Travel has the
best hotel rates around
Alberta and the Rocky
Mountains. And AMA
members get exclusive
savings on the top
selling hotels in the
Rockies. AMA