More information - Panorama - Canada

Describing itself as North America's 'best kept secret' Panorama is one of the largest ski areas in the Rocky Mountain region, nestling amid the breathtaking beauty of the Canadian Rockies. The Columbia Valley, often referred to as 'The Trench,' begins in central British Columbia and continues south into America marking the divide between the Rockies and the older Columbia mountains. Resorts on this western side have a slightly warmer climate than those on the east and temperatures at Panorama are generally around 10 degrees higher than Calgary and Banff. Lying on the edge of the Bugaboos, Panorama is arguably located in the largest heli-skiing area in the world and with a good powder dump, some of the best skiing in BC is to be found here. With annual snowfalls of up to 1,100cm (36ft), the area is a skiers' paradise with spectacular scenery, expansive glaciers and high quality glade skiing. Since its purchase by the Intrawest Corporation, (famously owners of Whistler and around a dozen other North American ski areas) there have been huge changes at Panorama, which originally opened in 1962. Since Intrawest took over in 1993 many of old buildings have gone and new architrecture in line with Intrawest's high standards of design have appeared in their stead. The Ski Tip Lodge is symbolic of the sweeping changes to Panorama and provides visitors with a warm, inviting welcome. It houses the Great Hall, with a choice of eateries, ski school desk, equipment rental and guest services whilst the upper 3 floors are taken up by luxurious condo units. A key feature in Panorama Mountain Village is the heated slopeside hot pool waterpark with hot tubs . To further enhance Panorama's village pedestrian plan a gondola has been installed to whisk guests between the lower and upper villages as well as providing direct access from the newly developed day skier parking area. Built by Doppelmayr, the world's leading gondola manufacturer, the 8-passenger open-air 'pulse' gondola is the first of its type in North America. In common with the intrawest model Panorama is not just a winter mountain resort though and there is plenty to attract summer visitors. The Greywolf Golf Course, which was designed by award-winning golf architect Doug Carrick, was voted Golf Digest's Best New Canadian Course that year.