Mount Washington — Local services in Area C (Puntledge/Black Creek)

I took a trip to Mount Washington from Victoria last month, and it was an amazing getaway! I’d rate it 4.5 out of 5 stars—a fantastic spot for outdoor lovers, though the drive from Victoria is a bit long.

I’m based in Victoria, so getting to Mount Washington was a 3-hour drive (about 240 km). The route along Highway 19 was scenic, with views of the ocean and forests, but some parts of the road up the mountain were a bit winding and icy since it was still early spring (March). I’d recommend making sure your car has good tires and chains if you’re visiting in colder months.

Once I arrived, I was blown away by the beauty of Mount Washington. The resort is nestled in the mountains, surrounded by snow-capped peaks and lush evergreens. Since it was early April, there was still some snow on the ground, but the weather was starting to warm up, making it perfect for both winter and spring activities.

I went with a group of friends, and we decided to try snowshoeing since none of us are expert skiers. The resort offers snowshoe rentals for about $15 per day, which was reasonable. We explored the Nordic trails, and the views were breathtaking—especially from the Raven Lodge area, where you can see the Strathcona Provincial Park and even the Pacific Ocean on a clear day. The trails were well-marked, and the staff were super helpful in guiding us.

For lunch, we ate at the Ted’s Bar & Grill in the Alpine Lodge. The food was decent—I had a burger and fries for $18, which was tasty but a bit pricey. They also have a nice selection of local beers, which was a plus after a morning of snowshoeing. The lodge itself was cozy, with a big fireplace that made it a great spot to warm up.

Mount Washington isn’t just for winter sports. They have activities year-round, like hiking and mountain biking in the summer, which I’d love to try next time. I also heard they have a scenic chairlift ride that offers incredible views of the island, but it wasn’t operating during my visit since it was the shoulder season.

One thing to note: the drive back to Victoria felt a bit tiring after a full day of activities, so I’d recommend staying overnight if you can. There are lots of accommodation options, like condos and cabins, starting at around $150 per night. Also, cell service can be spotty in some areas, so it’s good to have offline maps or a GPS.

Overall, Mount Washington is a must-visit if you’re in Victoria and love the outdoors. It’s a bit of a trek to get there, but the stunning views and variety of activities make it totally worth it. I’m already planning my next trip—maybe for some...

About three weeks ago my daughter and grandson spent three days at Mount Washington. Years ago we spent every other weekend there, we had season passes which were used every two weeks for years. She wanted to show her son where she spent her weekends when she was his age. Gavin packed his own suitcase when leaving here and the ski pants brought out from Ottawa were left behind in Victoria. No rentals fitted him, no new pants anywhere near the right size could be bought. The young woman working there (I think her name was Amy?) stripped off her own, handed them over and told him to return them when he was done. There were several times during this short visit that employees went well out of their way to help and to accommodate their requests, from arranging a special lesson, explaining the new runs, setting up the accommodation. Rebecca was thrilled that everything turned out so well, Gavin learned how to do 360's and something in a box, (I rarely ventured off the green runs so my understanding is limited to bunny runs and wonderful cinnamon buns) even the weather was brilliant. Can't thank you enough, please pass on our thanks to Amy and the others Your employees certainly set a...

I love Mount Washington! I'm a skier, and I don't have a ton of experience, but there are plenty of runs I can do. The Hawk chairlift is best for beginners, and once you get comfortable on blue runs, you can go on the Eagle chairlift all the way to the top of the mountain and you'll have no trouble getting down. The staff in the main facility are friendly and very helpful. There is lots of space to get everything on before you head out on the mountain. Lots of excellent rental equipment is available. I took my first ski lesson at Mount Washington, and it brought me to the place where I was comfortable skiing, and the skills I learned have helped me to continue to grow as a skier. The mountain itself is beautiful, especially on a clear day. You can see so far, and all around the mountain! Mount Washington isn't particularly huge, but that means you can explore more of the mountain. I've also been to the mountain in September, and it's very beautiful with no snow on it as well. I highly recommend...