Mont Tremblant

Mont Tremblant, Canada

Rated: 4/5 (from 6 ratings)

Mont Tremblant

One of Canada's best known ski areas located in one of the world's oldest mountain ranges and within the world's densest network of night skiing, although it does not offer any itself. Over the past 20 years Tremblant has undergone massive and ongoing redevelopment thanks to huge investment by owners Intrawest, who also own Whistler in the west. Rated number one in Eastern North America by readers of Ski magazine every year for more than a decade.

Summary

The Canadian ski resort of Mont Tremblant is in the Laurentians at an altitude of 270m, with 79km of marked runs.

Mont Tremblant has direct access to 79km of downhill skiing, with 92 marked pistes, served by a total of 12 ski lifts.

The skiing is at relatively low altitude, so snow cover can be variable.

Mont Tremblant Overview

Tremblant is Eastern Canada's best known resort and has been since 1938. The first resort to open in Canada and the second in North America, it is located in the picturesque scenery of the Laurentian Mountains, an easy drive from Montreal. The resort has been developed to a world class standard by new owners in the 1990s and has subsequently won the title of 'Best Resort in the East' in North American ski magazine reader surveys, taking the title from US resorts to the south.

Since being purchased by Canadian ski and golf resort development company Intrawest in 1991 the resort has been virtually rebuilt from scratch and has benefited from a 10 year investment program totalling (almost) a breath taking 1 billion Canadian dollars (approx. 750 million US dollars). This has transformed the old 'Mont Tremblant' in to a 'Four Season Destination Resort' with a brilliantly well designed pedestrianised resort, successfully themed on traditional Quebec architectural style, including smoothly cobbled streets. Every part of the holiday experience has clearly been carefully considered and designed in to the new Tremblant so that, basically, everything you need is there, and more, and it's all a short walk from your accommodation whether in the resort or on to the lifts and up the mountain. Add to the design the unique atmosphere of this part of North America, where French Canadian Joie de vivre meets North American service and value standards, and the result is one of the world's best mountain resorts.

 Notable Ski Runs

The longest possible descent in Mont Tremblant is 6km long.

Skiing

The skiing in front of Tremblant resort is the 'South Side' of the mountain and is immediately accessible by a range of modern lifts. These are currently being upgraded each year: the Tremblant Express high speed quad was replaced by a heated 8-seater gondola. Over 60% of the new area is through glades, with strategic viewpoints, and a small old-day-style chalet has been built halfway up the mountain. The rest of Tremblant's skiing is wide ranging, on tree lined runs, for all standards of skier with trails of every level descending from the key lift top stations.

To have the sun all day you should start on the North Side in the morning (which will also be quieter) then move to the South Side for the afternoon. The longest run on the mountain is the 6km (3.75 mile) Nansen which is great for beginners. Experts will enjoy Expo (moguls), Cossack and Dynamite, Eastern Canada's steepest run with a 42 degree pitch. 75% of the new Versant Soleil face will be designed for experienced skiers, the rest will be intermediate standard. Tremblant has sectioned parts of the ski area in to 'zones' including a 'mogul zone', 'blade zone', 'slow skiing zone' and 'glade zone'.

There are a variety of pistes to suit all levels of skier ability, from Beginner to Expert.

Snowboarding

Tremblant has a new Park located at the top of the mountain in the Rigodon and Lowell Thomas runs, served by the adjacent Lowell Thomas lift. It takes up most of the length of the run, sheltered from the wind and with obstacles, jumps and a competition half-pipe. One sector will be dedicated to experts and another to beginners, to cater for all abilities.

Tremblant is very snowboarder friendly with a range of features, rental options and snowboard school schemes. These include a guaranteed-learn-to-board after one lesson program, the snowboard week package which includes cocktail, picture and video, and 'group 3' where you 'board hard with a pro for 90 minutes intensive action. A number of boarding evenings are hosted here, including the Big Air Contest in February and the Molson Ex Pro Challenge in April.

Aprés Ski

There are ten bars scattered around Tremblant as well as the La Diable Microbrewery and with the range of restaurants, cinemas and the Aquaclub, which is open until 11pm at peak periods, Tremblant certainly offers more varied night time diversions than most resorts. For those seeking the liveliest nightlife a good choice would normally be Le Petit Caribou in old Tremblant or Le Café de lépoque.