North America & its tremendous growth of ski resorts accessible by EV

By Emie-Claude Lamoureux

When the cold settles in North America, eyes look up high towards the mountain peaks. It’s that time of the year where us Northerners gain altitude and embrace the joys of winter. With a vast territory home to many world-famous alpine mountain peaks, we have found ski resorts accessible by electric vehicles (EVs) that are perfect for experiencing the thrills of winter sports. Our criteria? Great skiing slopes of course, but with the guarantee of EV charging stations nearby—in addition to charm, atmosphere and hospitality. Whether you are a seasoned professional or a beginner, you will find many places to practice your jumps, cut slopes and discover breathtaking turns!

Each ski resort listed here has also taken new measures to ensure the safety of its employees and visitors with instructions on how you can better prepare for the season. And a little smart EV habit to keep in mind before hitting the slopes: check the elevation throughout the entire route.

The Summit at Snoqualmie is a ski destination located in the state of Washington in the northwestern corner of the United States. The Summit comprises four ski resorts: Alpental, Summit West, Summit Central and Summit East. Each center has its own distinctive snow front and borders the Snoqualmie Pass.

With more than 100 designated descents and close to 2000 skiable acres to explore, this ski destination caters to all types of skiers and snowboarders. There are also 50 kilometers of groomed trails leading to the resort for EV drivers who also enjoy cross-country skiing. Today, the Snoqualmie Summit—which takes its name from the Indigenous Snoqualmie tribe that lived west of the pass—also offers tubing, night skiing and lodging directly on the slopes.

Photo credit: Chad Peltola

The Summit at Snoqualmie has the advantage of being the closest ski center to the large metropolitan of Seattle. A city renowned for its efforts in electrifying transportation, you will have plenty of opportunities to charge your EV battery on this city’s territory. Only a 45-minute drive on Interstate 90 to get to the Summit, you will also find level 2 and 3 charging stations, courtesy of Electrify America, Tesla and Webasto.

Together, the neighboring mountains of Whistler and Blackcomb form the largest ski resort in North America. The pair is connected by a world-record-holding Gondola lift—the Peak-2-Peak—and is serviced by one of the largest high-speed lift networks. In total, Whistler Blackcomb Resort offers 8,171 acres of skiing terrain and over 200 descents.

Home to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, Whistler’s ski and snowboard terrain has an incredible range of skiing and snowboarding terrain, from gentle trails and wide groomed runs to tree skiing, steep slopes, couloirs and snow parks.

Photo credit: H W

The Highway 99 from Vancouver to Whistler passes through breathtaking scenery, and has earned its nickname “Sea-to-Sky Highway”. The road to get there is a journey in itself and offers several charging locations along the way for EV drivers. There is also a level 2 charging station directly in the Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort parking lot 6, operated by the FLO network. Finally, don’t miss the Squamish Lil’Wat Cultural Centre near the ski resort which embodies the spirit of a unique partnership between two distinct nations: the Squamish and Lil’wat First Nations.

In the West of the United States, located between Nevada and Colorado, the state of Utah has many magnificent national parks and protected areas. Park City is one of the most famous places in the state for skiing and is only 32 miles southeast of downtown Salt Lake City. In 2002, Park City became a dream field for Winter Olympics athletes. Park City Mountain was the venue for four events and was the site for six of the ten medals won by the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team.

Today, skiers and snowboarders have three major ski resorts to descend: Canyons Village in Park City, Deer Valley Resort (a ski resort only) and Park City Mountain Resort. Add in other popular ski and snowboard areas in the city, such as Snowbird and Alta (another ski-only area), and you now have access to 426 trails on over 3,600 hectares of snow-covered terrain.

Photo credit: Benjamin Rascoe

The largest charging network in the Park City area is Tesla, which has completed several level 2 charging station installations. However, EV drivers can also have access to other non-networked and networked charging stations.

Canada’s first national park and the third largest in the world, Banff National Park has a rich heritage and is one of the world’s most impressive mountain destinations. Among its 6,641 square kilometers of mountainous terrain—with its spectacular valleys, peaks, glaciers, forests, grasslands and rivers—are three major ski resorts: Mt. Norquay, Sunshine Village and Lake Louise Mountain Resort.

Lake Louise is the largest ski resort that offers an incredible panoramic view that is second to none. Skiers have long been coming to this area in the heart of the Rocky Mountains where the resort is very family-oriented with a wide variety of wide and well-groomed trails for skiers and snowboarders of all levels. Being only 45 minutes from the town of Banff, you may want to consider skiing in the surrounding mountains of Banff Sunshine and Mount Norquay if you have a SkiBig3 package.

Photo credit: Kyle Frost

Today, several hotels offer level 2 charging stations to their guests, such as the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel and the Banff Best Western. The municipality has also installed public charging stations (level 2 and 3) within a 15 km radius.

Just above Telluride, perched on top of the San Juan Mountains, is Mountain Village. Although Mountain Village is often less crowded than the most famous ski resorts in Colorado, the ski area pulls its weight and attracts both experts and beginners skiers every year. The main public transportation system between Mountain Village and downtown Telluride is the 13-minute Gondola lift, which takes passengers up the mountain free of charge while they enjoy the magnificent alpine landscape.

Moreover, the Telluride ski and snowboard school is considered one of the best schools in the country, with private and group lessons, children’s programs and sympathetic instructors.

Photo credit: Thomas Kelley

Level 2 charging stations can be found directly in Mountain Village. These include those at The Mountain Lodge; The Peaks Resort & Spa; The Inn at Lost Creek and more. Also note that Colorado is located in the Rocky Mountains and part of the Great Plains with neighboring states such as Wyoming and Utah. Meaning that it’s a prime location for cross-country electric vehicle road trips in the western United States, where there are many national parks. 

Skiing and snowboarding in Ontario is all about braving the elements and maximizing every opportunity to hit the slopes, which is why skiers from across the province flock to the Collingwood area every year. Although it may not be the Swiss Alps, Blue Mountain in Canada is still a beautiful alpine ski resort.

Even if the panoramas are much less spectacular, Blue Mountain is the third most popular ski resort in Canada, after Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia and Mont Tremblant in Quebec. As a result, it has one of the most developed ski stations in the area with more than 40 runs, 16 chairlifts and 3 freestyle ski areas: Grove, Badlands and L-Park. Whether it’s your first day on Rabbit Hill or your fiftieth day catching the first tracks, Blue Mountain is your destination for an unforgettable winter experience.

Photo credit: Blue Mountain Resort

There are level 2 charging stations operated by the Tesla network at the Blue Mountain station. For EV drivers looking for an alternative charging network, a myEVroute charging station is available in Collingwood, in the Tim Hortons’ parking lot.

Winter comes to the Canaan Valley with the kind of enthusiasm you would expect from the heartland of the Appalachian Mountains. Nestled on a hill overlooking the Canaan Valley, you’ll find the Canaan Valley Resort State Park, a major ski resort and one of the largest state parks in West Virginia. The Canaan Valley Resort ski area takes full advantage of the cold temperatures and abundant snowfall with downhill skiing and snowboarding on 47 ski runs. At high altitudes, peaking at 4,200 feet, the resort also receives an average of 150 inches of snow per year!

Beginners are particularly well served with the beginners’ lifts, ski school, rental and slopes. Warm up in the Bear Paw Lodge or take it to the next level with live music and the Quenchers pub.

Photo credit: Fezbot2000

The Canaan Valley Resort has a full-service lodge, cottages, campgrounds and a level 2 charging station on site. Another level 2 charging station is located in the parking lot at Blackwater Falls State Park.

Le Massif de Charlevoix is the highest point east of the Canadian Rockies: imagine a 770-metre drop. Here, there are more than 40 trails, the longest of which is about 5 km long. In this region, you will also find cross-country skiing, snowboarding, ice climbing and much more.

Le Massif de Charlevoix’s layout doesn’t waste any time – the parking lot is right at the top of the mountain. Get out of your electric car, strap on your skis and head down to the village of Stoneham, which is only a 20-minute drive from downtown, with many residents taking their skis and heading there after finishing their day’s work.

Photo credit: Albert Laurence

The best way to get there is from Quebec City, a city that supplies several charging stations on its territory. The ride is one hour and passengers can enjoy an incredible view of the St. Lawrence River. Once there, Le Massif de Charlevoix also provides level 2 charging stations directly in their parking lot.

While not on the same high ground as most of the top ski resorts in British Columbia or Alberta, Atlantic Canada’s ski fans do have some options in terms of ski resorts that are accessible by EV. Notably, the Martock Ski Resort, which offers a mix of cross-country and alpine trails.

The Martock Ski Center is 600 feet high and its facilities include a downhill area served by a four-person chairlift, two T-bars and a beginner area served by a Magic Carpet. All downhill trails, including the snow park, are lit for night skiing and snowboarding. Snowshoeing, biathlon and skating programs are also popular.

Photo credit: Chinmay Wyawahare

Just a few minutes by electric car from Halifax, you will find several charging stations in the city. Alternatively, there are several level 2 charging stations near Martock Ski Hill. For a fast charging session, a level 3 FLO charging station is available in the parking lot of Glooscap Ventures.

Located in the Finger Lakes region, Bristol Mountain Ski Resort is the only resort with a vertical elevation of 1,200 feet between the Rocky Mountains and the Adirondacks. The resort’s panoramic views are stunning and offer a variety of slopes for skiers and snowboarders. In total, there are 138 acres of skiable terrain and its 34 runs and trails offer a variety of slopes for all skiers and snowboarders, from beginners to experts.

Ski connoisseurs also have the option to glide through fields and forests on cross-country skis at the Cumming Nature Center near Naples or at the Nordic Center at Bristol Mountain. The Cumming Nature Center has a 900-acre nature center with 24 km of groomed cross-country ski trails and 3 miles of snowshoe trails.

Photo credit: Phillip Belena

Several level 2 charging stations are provided near the Bristol Mountain ski resort. In particular, the one located in Wayland City, operated by the EVConnect network, as well as the one located in the parking lot of the Burger King in Farmington, operated by the Blink network. 

Crabbe Mountain has the highest vertical in New Brunswick and is home to some of the best terrain in Atlantic Canada. Crabbe Mountain offers over 30 km of cross-country ski trails and brand new classic style skis, boots, poles and snowshoes for rent. Most trails pass through beautiful forests and a variety of ecosystems.

In fact, a large part of the trails are on private property. For example, the Nature Trust of New Brunswick has acquired 36 hectares of land, which includes a portion of the Slippery Mitten Trails. The land was generously donated to the Foundation by Earl Brewer to ensure that it remains undeveloped and continues to provide outdoor recreation opportunities for the surrounding community and visitors throughout the seasons.

Photo credit: Alain Wong

Crabbe Mountain is located in central Hainesville, New Brunswick, halfway between Fredericton and Woodstock. The closest charging stations to the ski resort are approximately 50 km from Crabbe Mountain. Therefore, you should plan to charge your electric car before traveling. A fast charging station (level 3) is located in the Petro-Canada parking lot at Meductic. Another level 3 charging station operated by eCharge is available in Lake George.

Between Mount Mansfield State Forest and Putnam State Forest lies the historic alpine town of Stowe, Vermont, an elegant destination offering a variety of diverse activities such as cultural and artistic events. But it’s also a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts who love to watch the leaves change in the fall, climb in the summer or descend into the “ski capital of the east” in the winter.

With access to two mountains, including Vermont’s highest peak, Mount Mansfield, Stowe Mountain is a popular ski and snowboarding destination for locals. There are 116 trails on 196 acres of snow-covered terrain and several lifts and gondola services are available to take you on the slopes. The terrain at this resort covers all levels of difficulty – beginner, intermediate and expert. Lessons for all levels can be taken at Stowe Mountain Resort.

Photo credit: Will Swann

Vermont, where Stowe is located, is a state that increasingly serves a growing number of charging stations within its borders, operated by various charging networks. Notably, near the Stowe Mountain complex are the EVgo and SemaCharge networks.