 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi everyone,
We're doing a trip from Toronto to Montreal in April 2025 and in our planning, we realised we could potentially get a skiing day in.
I'm a fairly confident skiier but my wife has only done indoor skiing in the UK and would need lessons.
Has anyone been in April? What is the weather like?
Does anyone have any other recommendations for ski resorts within 2ish hrs of Montrea/Ottawa that we could also consider?
Thanks in advance.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Bromont is closer to Montreal, maybe 45 minutes? My son is at university in Montreal and says it's quite good and less expensive than Tremblant.
https://www.bromontmontagne.com/
As for conditions in April, I'd play it by ear.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Thanks for your response - I will investigate.
And yes, appreciate April is off peak for a reason! We'll keep the day free but should we not get on the slopes, we'll have alternative plans.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Depends on which part of April. 1st week? No problem. Last week? Likely be iffy. After Easter, terrain may shrink also.
There’re actually quite a few resorts in the Eastern township to choose from (Bromont being the largest).
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Thanks - we're going 15-16 April but as indicated above, we'll play by ear depending on the snow.
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Well they've had a good season this year, so far, or so I hear.
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Bromont is low elevation and doesn't get the snow as some of the other resorts in that area. Check out Mont Orford or Sutton. Or better yet, scoot across into Vermont to Jay Peak which has been one of the snow kings of North America this year.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| phil_w wrote: |
| Well they've had a good season this year, so far, or so I hear. |
They have. My son has skied Bromont, Orford and Tremblant and even in Montreal, they had more than 100 cm in the last couple of weeks. He had a great powder day at Tremblant last weekend with my brother.
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| jumpersforgoalposts wrote: |
| Thanks - we're going 15-16 April but as indicated above, we'll play by ear depending on the snow. |
15-16 April should be safe. In fact, I'm contemplating doing a road trip about Eastern Township that same week. That said, I like skiing slushes. Not everyone does
| JoeSchmoe wrote: |
| Bromont is low elevation and doesn't get the snow as some of the other resorts in that area. Check out Mont Orford or Sutton. Or better yet, scoot across into Vermont to Jay Peak which has been one of the snow kings of North America this year. |
I like Sutton. Cheap as chips in April. But... I don't know about beginner classes this late in the season. And for that matter, any resort in that regard. Better call ahead to check.
Jay is only worthwhile if there's been recent snow and you're into skiing through the forest. Not too beginner friendly, I don't think.
(I don't usually pay attention to beginner terrain so take my view on that with a grain of salt)
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Treblant is a bigger and more impressive mountain than any in the Eastern Townships (Sutton, Bromont, Mont Orford, and Owl's Head).
Sutton is very glade oriented, and as such, not a great place for a beginner. Bromont, being the closest of the 4 eastern township mountains to Montreal tends to be the most crowded. Orford and Owl's Head are my favorites of these 4, but Tremblant is a class above them.
Treblant more likely to still be good late in the season, but that is just an educated guess.
I have been to all 5 of these. My advise would be to investigate conditions and trail openings a day or two before you go. All should be published on their website, and make a last minute executive decision. Also map out travel distances using Waze or similar. The Eastern Township mountains will have the easier logistics for a quick in and out day trip, but they have so for a reason - Treblant provides a much more true mountain experience. Keep in mind that this is still east coast skiing so nothing is on the scale of out west or the Alps.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| wjrlaw wrote: |
Treblant is a bigger and more impressive mountain than any in the Eastern Townships (Sutton, Bromont, Mont Orford, and Owl's Head).
Sutton is very glade oriented, and as such, not a great place for a beginner. Bromont, being the closest of the 4 eastern township mountains to Montreal tends to be the most crowded. Orford and Owl's Head are my favorites of these 4, but Tremblant is a class above them.
Treblant more likely to still be good late in the season, but that is just an educated guess.
I have been to all 5 of these. My advise would be to investigate conditions and trail openings a day or two before you go. All should be published on their website, and make a last minute executive decision. Also map out travel distances using Waze or similar. The Eastern Township mountains will have the easier logistics for a quick in and out day trip, but they have so for a reason - Treblant provides a much more true mountain experience. Keep in mind that this is still east coast skiing so nothing is on the scale of out west or the Alps. |
The deal is they're going in mid-April which is well into bonus season. Though it's been the best snow season in years, much will depend on weather between now and then. That's why I think Jay Peak will be the best bet. They've had almost 400" of snow (1000cm), and they have a 1800ft base elevation with mostly north facing slopes vs 800ft for Tremblant which is mostly east-west.
If I recall, Mont Saint Saveur always runs into the late season. It's only about 700ft vertical, but it has a really nice town (which might be nicer on a warm mid-April day) and is beginner friendly.
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| JoeSchmoe wrote: |
That's why I think Jay Peak will be the best bet. They've had almost 400" of snow (1000cm), and they have a 1800ft base elevation with mostly north facing slopes vs 800ft for Tremblant which is mostly east-west.
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I can’t speak for Tremblant. But Jay, despite having all those impressive stat, yet it’s groomers skis poorly. It’s also another mountain that’s only worth going when the glades are open.
Tremblant may lose on altitude, but it has latitude on its side. It’s 100 mile north of Jay Peak. Most years, all the mountains in Quebec are fully open in the first half of April, which is the dates the OP will be there. So, their chance are good they’ll be able to enjoy skiing somewhere in Quebec. It’s more a matter of finding which mountain has the most appropriate terrain and instruction for the two of them.
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You know it makes sense.
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Are you sure Quebec resorts are usually fully open April 15-16? My gut feel is they're no more than a 1/3 open if they're even open at all... But I'm in Ontario, not Quebec and I'm not checking snow reports anymore by then.
I do know our mid-March break can be hit or miss for conditions (though the resorts are largely open) and I don't book Quebec until a few days before.
Edit: this site has the closing dates for Tremblant and Jay Peak going back 10 years. As I said April 15-16 is bonus season for Tremblant and the resort is usually either closed or about to closed. Jay Peak has made it to May every year listed except the COVID year.
https://www.snowpak.ca/quebec/mont-tremblant/opening-dates
https://www.snowpak.ca/vermont/jay-peak/opening-dates
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| Quote: |
As I said April 15-16 is bonus season for Tremblant and the resort is usually either closed or about to closed
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Closing date is affected by both snow AND when Easter falls on. Most resorts close after Easter weekend even when there's still lots of snow. This year's Easter is late. So if there's snow, they'll all be open.
I've gone to Quebec in April a few times, when many of our mountains in the US gradually gone into partial terrain shutdown(*). I was usually spoil for choices as to which mountain to ski in Quebec as most were still open. That said, it's possible that I only remember the years when Quebec had better snow than Vermont. It's also possible I may have conveniently forgotten the years when snow weren't't as good and I didn't bother to drive the extra hour north. 
(*)Some the terrain shrinkage were due to lack of skier/staff than actually lacking snow. The one thing I notice though is the shutting down of ski schools in late season, which is relevant to the OP's wife.
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Poster: A snowHead
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1. Mont Saint-Sauveur
2. Stowe
3. Tremblant
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