An unforgettable ski holiday in Ottawa

Ottawa sits on the border between Quebec and the province of Ontario. In this region, often referred to as the Far North, winters are cold and icy. From November to April, snow-covered slopes await you at various ski resorts around the capital. Indeed, north of Ottawa, there are numerous resorts where you can spend the day on the slopes and return in the evening.

Before you hit the slopes in Canada, there are a few things you need to know. Signage is not the same in Europe as it is in North America. So we've put together a short guide to the shapes and colours you'll see on Canadian slopes.

• A green circle: easy trails;
• A blue square: medium-difficulty trails;
• A black diamond: difficult runs;
• An orange rectangle: snowparks and funparks.

Just 26 minutes from Ottawa's skyscrapers, Camp Fortune is a ski resort on a human scale. The resort has 24 runs, 12 of which are floodlit so you can ski after dark! Thrills guaranteed! Close to the town of Chelsea, this resort is perfect for all the family. The two restaurants welcome you all day long for a hot chocolate or a good meal after a frenzied day's skiing. The Camp Fortune ski school offers individual or group ski or snowboard lessons. Lessons are available for both children and adults. In winter, the park is open from 9am to 4pm.

The Camp Fortune accrobranche, a not-to-be-missed family activity

From May to October, the ski resort is transformed into an adventure park. As a family, with friends or even on your own, come and discover the joys of zip-lining and the adrenaline rush of the circuits on offer. Children love this activity. The park also organises mountain descents and mountain bike rides. In summer, the park is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Mont-Tremblant is 1 hour 45 minutes from Ottawa. It's a huge resort that combines the magic of an amusement park with the adventure of a ski resort. Thousands of skiers come here every year to enjoy the 102 runs. Summer and winter alike, Mont-Tremblant is open and offers a complete resort. The 300-hectare ski area boasts a vertical drop of 645 metres, enough to delight fans of the slopes.

Ski resorts in Ottawa, what to do in Mont-Tremblant?

Skiing and snowboarding

The 102 slopes offer everything you need to learn, enjoy and excel. More than 500 instructors are on hand to help you on all 4 sides of the resort, so don't hesitate to take a few lessons to learn how to ski, or a refresher course to get back into the swing of things!

A picturesque pedestrian village

After your runs, take time to enjoy the magic of the village. Shops, après-ski, discos, restaurants, entertainment and gaming areas are all at your disposal.

The Mont Tremblant casino for gamblers

Relax in a warm and cosy atmosphere. Whether you're a gambling enthusiast or not, the casino also has a bar and a restaurant.

The Virtual Reality Arcade

Young and old alike will love spending some time in the virtual reality arcade. You can try out lots of different games, all at the cutting edge of technology: drive racing cars or battle your enemies. The virtual reality arcade is accessible from the age of 7.

A day with a man of the woods

During this 5-hour activity, you will visit various structures with your guide, the man of the woods. You'll discover ice fishing on a lake, and then taste what you've caught over a traditional meal. You'll go on a nature walk with a guide who will show you beaver tracks and wolf tracks here and there... Finally, you'll visit a kennel, a bison reserve and a sacred Amerindian site. A day well spent!

Other snow activities

You don't need a ski or snowboard to have fun in the snow. Mont-Tremblant resort also offers :

• Ice climbing: don your gloves and take on the icy vertical courses.

• Tube sliding: strapped together, you sit in tubes and hurtle down the slopes of Mont-Tremblant.