Castle Mountain Resort

It is located near the town of Pincher Creek in the southwestern part of Alberta. It is in the Westcastle Valley, a mountainous region that is popular to birdwatchers and hikers from different parts of Canada. The region also experiences a large amount of snowfall every year so the place is also well-known to cross-country and back-country skiers. The resort itself is famous for its long steep ski runs and chutes, as well as the great powder skiing conditions on its slopes. The resort's winter facilities are open from December to April.

The resort began operations in the mid-1960s to take advantage of the mountain's skiable terrain. It quickly became the favorite of serious skiers and families mainly from the southern portion of Alberta, not only for the terrain but also for the wonderful views from nearby Gravenstafel ridge. It changed management in the 1970s and became host of the alpine events of the Canada Winter Games in 1975. It again changed hands 1995 and saw vast improvements concerning the terrain and skiing equipment. Although the resort has long been a favorite to serious skiers, it is developing the reputation of being a more family-friendly establishment with different types of skiable areas suitable for every type of skier.

The ski resort has a total skiable terrain of 6.4 square kilometers or 2.5 square miles. Its highest accessible point is 2,800 feet or 853 meters. Annual snowfall in the resort averages at 19.5 feet or about six meters. The resort has a total of 78 ski runs for skiers of all types of skill levels. Most of the trails, however, are suitable for intermediates and those with more advanced skills.

The resort is a well-known destination for serious skiers, especially those who enjoy shredding dry powder snow. Many of the resort's visitors have advanced skiing skills so guest are happy with the skiing conditions, even though it can get very windy there and that snow often falls all winter long. The resort is not as large and popular as other resorts nearby so the lines to the ski lifts are not so long. This is a good thing since some of the lifts are old and tend to be slow. However, the crowd in the resort tends to get bigger and noisier during weekends.

Although some of the visitors came with their families, most of the resort's clienteles are newly weds or singles who can stay at the resort's lodges and hostels. You should know there are larger accommodations like rental houses, motels, hotels, and bed-and-breakfast establishments in nearby communities in Aspen Grove and Pincher Creek. There are limited amenities available in the resort, like the pub and a small ski shop, but changes are probably in store for vacationers since the resort is planning to make the place more enjoyable to families and large groups.

If you are planning to include Castle Mountain Resort on the places you would go on your winter trip, make sure to brush up on your skiing skills. That way, you'll make sure that you will have the most fun on the slopes.