Mount Washington Webcam – Vancouver Island Ski Views

The Mount Washington Webcam looks across the Nordic area of Mount Washington Alpine Resort on Vancouver Island, with Raven Lodge filling most of the frame. The lodge is a timber building with a steep metal roof and a wooden deck along its side, and tall firs crowd the left of the picture. Behind it, forest runs off toward Strathcona Provincial Park. Snow changes this view more than anything else. A fresh storm loads the fir branches and buries the path in front of the lodge, while a mild spell can strip the trees back to green within a day or two. A second tab switches to the camera at the Alpine Lodge on the downhill side of the resort, which moves between several views, among them the Eagle Chair and the Rossignol Demo Centre.

About Mount Washington

Mount Washington rises to 1,590 meters (5,216 feet) on the eastern side of Vancouver Island, above the Comox Valley and on the edge of Strathcona Provincial Park. The ski area opened in 1979 and now has 82 runs and 507 meters (1,663 feet) of vertical drop, served by five chairlifts: the Hawk 6 Pack, Eagle Quad, Boomerang Quad, Sunrise Quad and Whiskey Jack. Since 2015 the resort has been owned by a Canadian subsidiary of Pacific Group Resorts. Snowfall averages around 9 meters (29.5 feet) a year.

Raven Lodge is the base for the Nordic side of the mountain. It holds the cross-country ski rentals and lesson desk, a lounge for warming up between laps, the Raven Retail gear shop and the Nordic Centre Cafe. From here the trails head into the winter forest of Mount Washington and Strathcona Provincial Park, the oldest provincial park in British Columbia, established in 1911. The resort also keeps 22 kilometers (13.7 miles) of snowshoe trails and about 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) of fat bike trails.

The Paradise Meadows trailhead sits beside the same parking lot, so the lodge in this frame is also the starting point for hikes into the Forbidden Plateau area of the park. Anyone leaving a car overnight needs a free parking pass from Raven Lodge staff, who hand them out from 9 am to 4 pm.

Weather and Climate on Mount Washington

Winter near the lodges stays close to freezing. Over the last decade, December to February highs have averaged around 0°C (32°F), with lows of -6°C to -4°C (21°F to 25°F). November, December and January are the wettest months, and Pacific storms in that stretch typically drop more than a meter (3.3 feet) of snow a month on the mountain. With temperatures hovering near zero, some storms bring rain to the lodges instead, so the firs in the frame can swing from heavy white to dripping green. Spring holds on to winter for a long time here. April highs average only 5°C (41°F), and close to a meter of snow can still fall that month.

Summer is mild and fairly dry. July and August highs average 18°C to 20°C (64°F to 68°F), with nights around 9°C to 10°C (48°F to 50°F), and July usually sees only about 70 millimeters (2.8 inches) of rain. Little snow falls after May, and through the summer the camera shows bare ground and green firs around the lodge. Snow usually returns in October, when highs drop to about 8°C (46°F), and by November the view is normally white again.

Things to Do Near Mount Washington

In winter the alpine side runs skiing and snowboarding across its 82 runs, along with night skiing, terrain parks and a tube park. From Raven Lodge you can rent cross-country skis, book a lesson, or head out on the snowshoe and fat bike trails. The road up is the Strathcona Parkway, which leaves Highway 19 at exit 130 and climbs for about 20 kilometers (12.4 miles). Every vehicle on it must have good winter tires and carry chains, ready to fit when the chain-up light is on.

In summer the resort switches to scenic chairlift rides, the ZipTour, a mountain bike park, hiking and disc golf. The easiest walk starts at the Paradise Meadows trailhead next to Raven Lodge: a 4.2 kilometer (2.6 mile) return loop on boardwalk and gravel through subalpine meadows, which BC Parks suggests allowing about 1.5 hours for. A longer 8 kilometer (5 mile) loop links Lake Helen Mackenzie and Battleship Lake with only 70 meters (230 feet) of climbing. BC Parks lists the Mount Albert Edward route at 6.5 kilometers (4 miles) with 935 meters (3,068 feet) of elevation gain, and Kwai Lake and Circlet Lake have designated campsites for overnight trips.

Similar Webcams You Might Like

More ski and Vancouver Island cameras from British Columbia and beyond:

• Cypress Mountain Webcam
• Port Alberni Webcam
• Sun Valley Webcam

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Mount Washington located?

Mount Washington is on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, above the Comox Valley and on the eastern edge of Strathcona Provincial Park. The resort is about a 30-minute drive from the Comox Valley and about 1.5 hours from Nanaimo, and the Paradise Meadows trailhead at the Nordic area is 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) from Courtenay.

What can you see on the Mount Washington Webcam?

The main view on the Mount Washington Webcam is Raven Lodge at the Nordic ski area, with snow-covered firs in front and forest stretching toward Strathcona Provincial Park. The Alpine Lodge tab moves between views of the downhill side, including the Eagle Chair and the Rossignol Demo Centre.

What is the weather like on Mount Washington?

Winters are cold and very snowy, with highs around 0°C (32°F) and lows of -6°C to -4°C (21°F to 25°F) from December to February. Summers are mild, with July and August highs of 18°C to 20°C (64°F to 68°F).

How much snow does Mount Washington get?

Snowfall averages around 9 meters (29.5 feet) a year. December and January are usually the snowiest months, and heavy snow can still fall in March and April.

How do you drive to Mount Washington from Courtenay?

Take Highway 19 to exit 130 and follow the Strathcona Parkway for about 20 kilometers (12.4 miles). For the Nordic area and Paradise Meadows, turn onto the Nordic Lodge road for the last 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles). Winter tires and chains are required on the parkway.

Where does the Paradise Meadows trail start?

The Paradise Meadows trailhead is at the Nordic area parking lot beside Raven Lodge. The boardwalk loop is 4.2 kilometers (2.6 miles) return, and overnight hikers need a free parking pass from the lodge.

What is there to do at Mount Washington in summer?

The resort runs scenic chairlift rides, the ZipTour, a mountain bike park, disc golf and hiking. Paradise Meadows, Lake Helen Mackenzie and Battleship Lake are all reached on foot from the Raven Lodge trailhead.

Source: Mount Washington Alpine Resort