Vista Ridge

For residents of Fort McMurray that are looking for an awesome day on the slopes, Vista Ridge is your answer. Located only 15 kilometers south of the city, Vista Ridge has 1 quad chair, 2 carpet lifts and a total of 6 runs. It is a family oriented hill with a great learn to ski program and terrain for all ages and abilities. It is an expanding facility in a town that is growing constantly and is an excellent recreational option for those who reside in Fort McMurray.

What you may not know about Vista Ridge

They have a tube park! The tube park at Vista Ridge will make you feel like a kid again. It has 5 lanes of tubing possibilities down a slope that is super fun to ride. A snow cat also travels back and forth constantly picking people up at the day lodge and dropping them off at the tube park which makes it extremely easy to get to. Also new this year is a 600 foot carpet lift that returns you to the top in a leisurely fashion so you don’t have to worry about using a handle tow on the way back up. They also book events and staff parties so get some people together and head out for the day! Click here for more info on the tube park.

Vista Ridge has a new chalet which is now up and running. They have a full day lodge area, rental shop and cafeteria and new additions include the Clearwater Lounge and the Spruce Valley Conference Room. It is a beautiful lodge that hosts a great atmosphere.

Need something to do on a Friday night? Vista Ridge has night skiing under the lights. It’s a great way to spend an evening with family and friends and a great way to start your weekend!

The coolest thing about Vista Ridge is the fact that the whole hill is a terrain park. There are numerous park features on all of the 6 runs that vary from beginner to advanced. This is a great setup for families since they can ride down the same trail, the kids will hit the park features and mom/dad will make their turns, and they can ride back up the lift together! This dynamic provides the best of both worlds since families can actually ski together on the same runs rather than parting ways in the morning while the kids head off to the terrain park for the day.

Top 5 reasons to visit Vista Ridge

1. Accessibility

Being only 15 kilometers south of Fort McMurray makes Vista Ridge an easy commute for a day of skiing or snowboarding. There are also buses that run from the city to the hill on weekends which is convenient for those who may not have their own means of transportation. Click here for more information on how to get to Vista Ridge.

2. Tube Park

The tube park is a great option for the those who may not want to attempt skiing or snowboarding. That being said, even if you do ski or snowboard, the tube park is a still a ton of fun! It now has a carpet lift as well which makes getting back up the hill a simple task.

3. Ski School

Vista Ridge offers a wide variety of private and group lessons to people of all ages and abilities. The instructors are highly trained and truly love what they do. For more information on lessons at vista ridge click here.

4. Terrain Park

There is not 1 designated terrain park at Vista Ridge, the park features are located all over the hill. It adds a great dynamic to the resort since families can ski together and you’re not faced with all the clutter that comes along with only operating 1 terrain park.

5. There’s something for everyone

The unique thing about Vista Ridge is that you don’t have to be an advanced skier or snowboarder to come here. They have beginner terrain for those who are just learning and a tube park for those who may not want to try at all. All in all it is a great recreational facility that is close and convenient to Fort McMurray.

Congratulations to Shauni Avery and Sheldon Letcher who were our Go Big! Contest winners and each took home a full day lift ticket to Vista Ridge. Also a big thanks to the Sawridge Inn & Conference Centre, Fort McMurray for providing my accommodations during my visit to Vista Ridge.

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