BC Parks asks for public feedback on Cypress Mountain's 60-year plan before November 16
BC Parks is reviewing a 60-year development plan for Cypress Mountain that proposes new lifts, a Nordic lodge, summer bike trails and new winter facilities. Residents can submit feedback online until November 16 at 4 p.m.
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BC Parks is accepting public feedback on a proposed 60-year development plan for Cypress Mountain Resort until November 16, 2026 at 4 p.m. Anyone who skis, hikes, mountain bikes or simply uses Cypress Provincial Park can submit comments through BC Parks' online survey before that deadline.
The plan was prepared by Cypress Mountain Resort and submitted to BC Parks, which is the government body responsible for Cypress Provincial Park. BC Parks' review will decide whether to approve, change or reject what the resort is proposing. BC Parks says feedback from the public will inform that review.
What the plan proposes for the ski area
Cypress Mountain Resort's plan covers about 60 years of development inside the resort's existing boundary of about 293 hectares in Cypress Provincial Park. The resort says the plan focuses on improving what is already there rather than adding new ski terrain.
Almost every chairlift at the resort would be replaced over the life of the plan. The Eagle Express quad would become a six-seat chairlift, increasing its capacity from about 2,200 to 2,800 skiers per hour. The Lions Express would become an eight-seat chairlift, the first of that size in the Lower Mainland, carrying up to 3,200 skiers per hour. The Raven Ridge quad would be replaced with a detachable quad.
The aging Midway double chair would be replaced by a new Lower Bowen Quad. For beginner skiers, the plan replaces the Easy Rider quad with two conveyor carpets and a redesigned learning area, which the resort says would address a known shortage of beginner terrain.
The plan also proposes expanded snowmaking across the ski area. The resort acknowledges that climate scientists expect less natural snowfall at North Shore mountain elevations over time, and says more snowmaking capacity would protect the season's reliability.
A new Nordic Lodge and expanded tube park
The plan proposes replacing several existing Nordic buildings with a single new Nordic Lodge. Cypress Mountain Resort says the current structures are spread out and do not serve the cross-country ski area well.
The tube park would expand from its current capacity of 250 daily visitors to 800, served by a new lift. The plan also proposes extending night-skiing lighting across the Nordic network.
Year-round activities
The plan describes Cypress Mountain's goal as becoming a four-season destination. A lift-served mountain bike park on Black Mountain is already moving toward a summer 2027 opening, as the industry publication LiftBlog reported in September 2026.
The plan lists as candidate activities a zipline, a ropes course, via ferrata, a climbing wall, disc golf and orienteering. The resort calls these candidate activities, meaning they would require further study and approval before any work begins. A mountain coaster would be relocated, with a new lift to carry riders back up.
A concern about trail access
The Federation of Mountain Clubs of BC, an organization representing hiking and trail clubs, says it does not think the current consultation process gives enough weight to decisions that could shape Cypress Provincial Park for the next 60 years. The Federation co-signed a letter with 13 other organizations raising these concerns.
The Federation also flagged backcountry access as a specific issue. Cypress Mountain is the main starting point for hikers and skiers heading to the Howe Sound Crest Trail, the Black Mountain Plateau and Hollyburn Peak. According to the Federation, Cypress Mountain Resort acknowledged this in the plan and committed to working with trail groups to protect those access points.
Why this matters to West Vancouver residents
Cypress Mountain is in West Vancouver's North Shore Mountains. It is the ski area, hiking trailhead and backcountry gateway closest to the community. The park is used year-round: in winter for skiing, snowshoeing and tubing, and in the warmer months for hiking to Hollyburn Peak, Bowen Lookout and the Howe Sound Crest Trail. What BC Parks approves in this process will shape how the mountain is managed and developed for the next several decades.
After the November 16 deadline, BC Parks will review all public submissions alongside the resort's plan and other technical materials. BC Parks has not given a date for when its decision on the plan will be released.
The public engagement closes in four days. BC Parks says the survey takes about 10 to 15 minutes to complete. Residents who want their views included in BC Parks' review should submit feedback before the deadline.
How to submit feedback
The online survey is at feedback.engage.gov.bc.ca/27006. The deadline is November 16, 2026 at 4 p.m. The survey is free and takes about 10 to 15 minutes, according to BC Parks. The full plan document and maps are on Cypress Mountain Resort's website at cypressmountain.com/srdp.
BC Parks' engagement page at engage.gov.bc.ca holds background documents and answers to common questions about the review process. Comments submitted through BC Parks carry weight in the formal review; comments sent to the resort directly do not form part of BC Parks' record.
Questions this story answers
What is BC Parks reviewing for Cypress Mountain?
BC Parks is reviewing a Ski Resort Development Plan submitted by Cypress Mountain Resort. The plan covers about 60 years of potential development within the resort's existing boundary of about 293 hectares inside Cypress Provincial Park. It proposes replacing most of the resort's chairlifts, building a new Nordic Lodge, expanding snowmaking, and adding year-round activities. BC Parks' review will decide whether to approve, change or reject the plan.
How can residents submit feedback on the Cypress Mountain plan?
BC Parks is accepting online feedback through the provincial Engage BC platform until November 16, 2026 at 4 p.m. The survey is at feedback.engage.gov.bc.ca/27006. BC Parks says the survey takes about 10 to 15 minutes. Comments submitted through that survey go into BC Parks' formal review. After November 16, public input on this engagement round closes.
What lift changes does the Cypress Mountain plan propose?
According to Cypress Mountain Resort's plan, almost every chairlift would be replaced over the life of the plan. The Eagle Express would become a six-seat chairlift, increasing its capacity from about 2,200 to 2,800 skiers per hour. The Lions Express would become an eight-seat chairlift, the first in the Lower Mainland, carrying up to 3,200 skiers per hour. The Raven Ridge quad would be replaced with a detachable quad. The old Midway chair would be replaced by a new Lower Bowen Quad, and the Easy Rider beginner quad would be replaced by two conveyor carpets to serve learners.
What is the new Nordic Lodge proposed at Cypress Mountain?
Cypress Mountain Resort's plan proposes a new Nordic Lodge that would bring together several existing smaller buildings that serve the cross-country ski area. The plan also proposes expanding the tube park from its current capacity of 250 daily visitors to 800, with a new lift to serve the expanded area. Extended night-skiing lighting across the Nordic network is also proposed.
What summer activities does the plan propose at Cypress Mountain?
The plan proposes opening a lift-served mountain bike park on Black Mountain, with a target opening of summer 2027. The plan also lists as candidate activities a zipline, a ropes course, via ferrata, a climbing wall, disc golf and orienteering. A mountain coaster would be relocated and a new uplifter added for it. The resort says the goal is to become a year-round destination. Cypress Mountain Resort's plan calls these candidate activities, meaning they have not been approved and would require further review.
What concerns has the Federation of Mountain Clubs of BC raised about the plan?
The Federation of Mountain Clubs of BC, which represents hiking and trail clubs, says it does not think the current consultation process is adequate for a plan that could shape Cypress Provincial Park for 60 years. The Federation co-signed a letter with 13 other organizations raising these concerns. The Federation also highlighted backcountry access as an issue: Cypress Mountain is a staging point for the Howe Sound Crest Trail, the Black Mountain Plateau and the Hollyburn Peak area. According to the Federation, Cypress Mountain Resort acknowledged this in the plan and committed to working with trail users to maintain those access points.
Will Cypress Mountain expand beyond its current boundaries?
According to Cypress Mountain Resort's plan and BC Parks' engagement documents, the plan does not propose expanding the resort's Controlled Recreation Area beyond its current 293-hectare boundary inside Cypress Provincial Park. The resort says its plan focuses on improving the existing terrain rather than adding new ski terrain.
When does the Cypress Mountain winter ski season open?
Cypress Mountain Resort lists an opening date of November 28, 2026 for the 2026-2027 ski season, though the resort notes that date is subject to change based on snow conditions. The ski area is at 1,440 metres above sea level. Season passes for 2026-2027 are on sale now at the resort's website.
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
- BC Parks, Cypress Mountain Ski Resort Development Plan public engagement, September 15 to November 16, 2026engage.gov.bc.ca
- Cypress Mountain Resort, Ski Resort Development Plan, 2026cypressmountain.com
- LiftBlog, Cypress Mountain Eyes Fleet Renewal, September 16, 2026liftblog.com
- Vancouver ski resort outlines 60-year vision, September 29, 2026travel.yahoo.com
- Federation of Mountain Clubs of BC, Two New Ski Resort Development Plans, updated November 9, 2026mountainclubs.org
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