12 Fun Things to do Outdoors in Vancouver on Winter Break 2021/22

December 13, 2021

6 min read

A child sledding down a snowy hill with four people watching and smiling near a red flag that says 'START HERE'.

Winter Break is a great time to get outdoors and explore nature in Vancouver. Choose from snowy activities like skiing and snowshoeing, holiday fun, hikes, and lots more. Use our picks for the best things to do outdoors in Vancouver on winter break to plan your adventures.

Enjoy Outdoor Holiday Lights

Family members of all ages will love the magic of twinkling Christmas lights. Take a stroll through your neighbourhood or head to one of the dazzling outdoor light displays around Vancouver.

Person in winter clothing standing near a large illuminated Christmas ornament decoration at night in a plaza.

Skate on an Outdoor Rink

Nothing says winter quite like skating outdoors. The Vancouver area has four outdoor skating rinks to choose from and they are all decked out for the holidays with seasonal decor and twinkling lights.

Two people ice skating outdoors at night, holding hands, with snow-covered trees in the background.

Go Skiing or Snowboarding

Winter break is a great time to go skiing or snowboarding. With six ski areas in the Vancouver area, you have lots of choices.

Snow-covered ski resort with lit slopes and trees overlooking a city and water at dusk.

Go Sledding, Tobogganing, or Snow Tubing

Sledding is a fun activity for all ages and it is the perfect winter break activity. Cross your fingers for a white Christmas to sled close to home, or head up to one of Vancouver’s ski hills. They have sledding and tubing parks with guaranteed snow. Use our guide to find a local sledding or tubing spot.

Person wearing goggles and winter clothes sitting on a snow tube waving on a snowy slope with mountains and trees in the background.

Go For a Hike

While the mountain peaks may be covered in snow, it’s still hiking season down at sea level. Work up an appetite for your holiday meal with a hike. Choose a trail from our list of nine snow-free hikes near Vancouver.

Wooden dock extending over calm lake water reflecting a dense forest of green and bare trees under a clear blue sky.

Visit the Peak of Christmas at Grouse Mountain

Grouse Mountain’s annual Peak of Christmas event is a Vancouver tradition. Let the Skyride whisk you up to a winter wonderland at the top of the mountain. You can ice skate on a frozen pond, go sledding, hang out with a real reindeer, walk through a light tunnel, and snowshoe around Blue Grouse Lake.

Person dressed as Santa Claus holding hands with a child in a red coat in front of a building labeled Santa's Workshop in a snowy forest.

Try Snowshoeing

Snowshoeing is one of the easiest winter sports you can try. If you can walk, you can snowshoe. Head to one of the North Shore mountains to rent snowshoes, then try one of our picks for the best easy snowshoe trails near Vancouver.

Three people with backpacks and winter gear walking on a snowy mountain trail overlooking a lake and snow-capped mountains.

Go Cross Country Skiing

Cross-country skiing is a great way to explore the winter landscape. You can get a full-body workout or go for a casual cruise with friends. There are four cross-country ski areas near Vancouver to choose from.

A person cross-country skiing on a snowy trail with evergreen trees and snow-covered mountains in the background.

Visit the Sea to Sky Gondola

Enjoy the best views of Howe Sound from the top of the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish. Brave the Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge or take a walk along the Spirit Trail to enjoy beautiful Christmas decorations in the snowy forest. For a unique adventure, sign up for a sunset headlamp hike.

Four people walking on a suspension bridge over a forest with snow-covered mountains in the background.

Walk or Bike the Seawall

Winter break is a great time to take a lap around the Stanley Park Seawall on foot or by bike. You’ll skip the summer crowds and get incredible views of the snow-capped North Shore Mountains. There are several bike rental shops near the park entrance.

Rock formation with a small tree on top in water near a curved pathway with people walking and biking, surrounded by cliffs and trees.

Zipline Through the Snow

Ziplining isn’t just a summer activity! Bundle up warm, then strap into a harness and fly through the snowflakes at one of three Vancouver-area zipline parks. In North Vancouver, book a zipline tour with Grouse Mountain. If you’re heading to Whistler Superfly Ziplines or Ziptrek can get you flying.

Two people ziplining over a snowy forest with snow-covered mountains in the background.

Hang Out With Hundreds of Eagles in Squamish

Did you know that Squamish is home to one of the world’s largest populations of wintering bald eagles? Each year over 1000 eagles spend December and January hanging out along the Squamish River. Pack your binoculars, then use our list of the best places to spot eagles.