This Tiny Ski Hill Was Named the 'Best Hidden Gem' in Canada-and It's Run Entirely by Volunteers

"Millions of people ski in Canada each year, drawn to the massive sprawl of Whistler Blackcomb, the steeps of Revelstoke, or the views from Lake Louise Ski Resort. But beyond the spotlight lies a quieter, often-overlooked side of Canada's ski culture: hundreds of small, family-owned, volunteer-run ski areas that keep turning their lifts even without the crowds or the hype."

"Mt. Maichen is small, with just nine groomed runs and two T-bar lifts, but it has an element of soul that many of Canada's bigger ski resorts lack; it's run by a team of volunteers and has a tiny ski school and spectacular views of Watson Lake, which sprawls out from the ski area's base."

"They analyzed Google ratings and review counts for 173 ski resorts across Canada, searching for those hidden gems that combine high overall ratings with relatively few reviews-places where fewer people ski, but those who do leave impressed. With just a handful of reviews, Mt. Maichen received a rating of 4.9 stars out of 5 possible."

Millions of people ski at Canada's major resorts, but hundreds of small, family-owned, volunteer-run ski areas operate quietly across the country. A January 2025 analysis by Jackpot City identified Mt. Maichen Ski Hill outside Watson Lake, Yukon, as a top quieter, well-reviewed spot. Mt. Maichen has nine groomed runs, two T-bar lifts, a tiny ski school, spectacular views of Watson Lake, and is operated by volunteers. The analysis compared Google ratings and review counts for 173 Canadian ski resorts and found Mt. Maichen earned a 4.9/5 rating from a small number of reviews. Closest airports are Watson Lake (YQH) and Whitehorse (YXY). Data are current as of November 2024.

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