ambitious new 60-year master plan debuted by Canada's Mt Seymour Resort.

Vancouver’s closest ski hill could undergo a radical transformation over the next several decades under an ambitious new 60-year master plan debuted by Mt Seymour Resorts.

The draft Ski Resort Development Plan (SRDP), which is currently open for public feedback until June 26, 2026, outlines a vision to nearly quadruple the mountain's skiable terrain, more than triple its lift capacity, and aggressively expand into summer tourism to combat a changing climate.

Expanding High-Elevation Terrain for Climate Resilience

The headline of the proposal is a massive footprint expansion within Mount Seymour Provincial Park. Mt Seymour is seeking to adjust its Controlled Recreation Area boundaries to absorb roughly 100 hectares of new terrain, largely to the north and east.

This strategic land addition aims to add family-friendly intermediate, advanced, and expert terrain at a higher elevation, making the resort vastly more resilient to warming winter trends.

Under the full winter buildout, the resort would undergo staggering upgrades:

• Lifts: Expanding from four lifts to 14, including four new quad chairs, two double chairs, and two T-bars.

• Ski Trails: Increasing from 41 to 90 designated runs.

• Skiable Footprint: Growing from 42 hectares (104 acres) to 147 hectares (390 acres).

• Snowmaking: Heavily upgraded snowmaking capabilities to secure coverage on lower slopes.

The resort’s "peak comfortable carrying capacity" would jump from 1,717 skiers per day to over 4,500, addressing the immense crowding issues the resort faces on peak weekends.

"The demand has grown, and the population in Vancouver has grown substantially in the last 25 to 30 years. This is what we think we need to do in order to maintain viability of the operation." said  Eddie Wood, Mt Seymour President and General Manager

Diversifying into an All-Season Regional Hub

Recognizing that relying solely on winter snow is no longer a viable business model, the 60-year roadmap places an unprecedented emphasis on summer infrastructure.

To draw guests when the snow melts, the resort plans to construct a beginner-oriented mountain bike zone, an aerial adventure park with ziplines, disc golf courses, a via ferrata climbing route, and a "De Pencier Skywalk" suspension bridge.

Furthermore, Mt Seymour aims to break into the overnight accommodation market for the first time, proposing a glamping area and 25 cabins to host up to 200 guests.

Overhauling the Base Area and Transport

To accommodate the surge in year-round traffic, the resort's base facilities are slated for a massive overhaul. The plan notes the current base area is "inadequate" to support guest needs.

Proposed facility upgrades include doubling the size of the Alpine Activity Centre to house expanded ski school and rental services, expanding dining options, and constructing the new De Pencier Warming Hut.

To handle the influx of vehicles without causing gridlock in the Provincial Park, the plan proposes expanding parking by 40%, increasing shuttle bus services, and floating the long-term possibility of building a baseline gondola running from the foot of the mountain straight to the ski area.

Pushback from Conservationists

Because the resort operates entirely within a provincial park prized for its old-growth forests and subalpine ecosystems, the aggressive plan is already drawing scrutiny.

Parks advocate Steve Jones voiced concerns over the proposal, calling the scale "very aggressive" and stating that expanding commercial boundaries further into the backcountry should be a "non-starter". Jones urged that the resort's plan be put on hold until BC Parks completes its own overarching management plan for the park.

Resort management countered by stating they hope to work alongside backcountry users to actually enhance trail safety, return routes, and public warming spaces.

Next Steps

The public has until 4:00 p.m. on June 26, 2026, to submit feedback via the BC Government’s online portal. An in-person community open house is scheduled for June 11 at the Parkgate Community Centre. Even if BC Parks approves the master plan in concept, every individual phase and chairlift will still face rigorous, independent environmental impact assessments and First Nations consultations before a single shovel hits the dirt.

For a visual breakdown of how these sweeping changes would alter the local landscape, check out this Mount Seymour Development Plan Overview. This broadcast outlines the core additions of the 60-year proposal, detailing the new chairlifts, overnight cabins, and the potential base-to-peak gondola system.