Horseshoe Resort

There’s plenty of room to store skis and snowboards, and although the indoor area fills up quickly, it’s big enough for large groups. The lifts have always worked, and there’s seldom a long wait since staff are good at filling seats when it gets busy. We’ve taken our annual ski trip to Horseshoe with the neighbours for four years and have never been disappointed. The hills are kept in good shape, with runs for different abilities. Our son spends most of his time in the terrain park, which has rails, jumps and boxes at various skill levels. The staff are friendly and polite, and we plan to keep skiing at Horseshoe for years.

The restaurants nearby are convenient and decent, and the main pub has live music and a lively, jovial feel. The staff are friendly, and there are good activities. The location is lovely, and Horseshoe is worth a visit for the scenery, night skiing and snowshoeing. It’s a busy, family-friendly place, but it didn’t have much charm or privacy for us as a couple. The pool is lit like a dentist’s office and packed with kids. Bring an eight-year-old, or it feels like a public school pool. The games room is worn down too, with a foosball table barely holding together. Check-in was painfully slow because there was only one person at the desk. With check-in at 4 pm, the stay is effectively 19 hours, less the time spent waiting. The rooms are nice enough, but the walls are paper thin. You can hear the room next door, the room beyond that, and loud conversations in the hallway. We had just two hangers in the closet, and for the price I think they could provide at least three. We weren’t fussy and put our things on the floor and over our suitcases. The activities may make up for some of the drawbacks. It’s a bit like Great Wolf Lodge without the waterslides and mini golf, and it’s noisier because of the poor sound insulation. Should you go? Yes, but bring a child.

The two-level room was a fun feature, and having a gym, pool and sauna on site is handy for a longer stay. Still, the rooms are basic and rugged, and could use modernization. A full-length mirror would be nice too. The outdoor seating in front of the slopes was a highlight. The winter patio feels cozy after being outside, and the poutine was great, just $10 for a large serving. For skiing and snowboarding, the hill is small, with limited, very short runs. You’re down in about 10 seconds and back on the chairlift. It suits beginners better than intermediate or advanced riders, and the lifts and infrastructure feel dated. I’d drive the extra 15 minutes to Mount St. Louis Moonstone for longer runs and a noticeably better setup. You can see more investment has gone into that resort. Horseshoe Valley Resort is an okay choice if you’re a beginner or coming from the GTA and don’t want a long drive. More experienced skiers and boarders may get tired of spending so much time on the chairlift.

Had a great day snowboarding with my kids! Sam at the tech shop was fast, kind and knowledgeable, and really went above and beyond to make the day meaningful. The instructors were helpful and keen to see people do well. Staff made safety a priority, and there was always someone around to answer a beginner’s questions. We had a great time and would highly recommend it.