Located less than one hour northwest of Montréal in the breathtaking Saint-Sauveur Valley, Mont Avila ski resort boasts a number of quality pistes for all levels of ability and one of the most challenging and impressive snowboard parks in Quebec. An array of snow cannons also guarantee 100 per cent snow coverage throughout the season.

Facilities at the resort of Mont Avila include a ski school and ski sports boutique/repair shop, and accommodation is limited to the Auberge Beaux Reves et Spa/Inn with its full spa facilities and superb restaurant.

The nearby magnificent 100-year-old village of Saint-Sauveur provides the bulk of the accommodation for Mont Avila, with plenty of hotels, bed-and-breakfasts and cosy country cottages on offer. Snowshoeing and ice-skating are among the non-ski activities at the resort and then Saint-Sauveur’s many bistros and bars provide the fun and casual après-ski.

Mont Avila has 11 pistes, ranging from beginner to expert rating, down a vertical of 188m. Three lift systems, featuring quadruple and double chairs, have an hourly uplift capacity for 5,000 people and supply all runs, the longest of which is one kilometre and is affectionately known as Jack Rabbit.

For alternative skiing, head north to Mont Blanc and the Mont Tremblant ski region, which include the highest vertical drops in Québec and some fantastic ski and snowboard runs. Montréal, Québec's largest city, is Canada's most romantic metropolis, an important port and financial centre, and offers the perfect side trip.

The ski season at Mont Avila ski resort runs from mid-December to mid-April and the most convenient means of getting here is to fly to Montréal and take a bus transfer or hire a car.