Skiing is one of the best ways to enjoy the great outdoors in the winter, and with that sometimes comes wildlife spotting. Many ski areas are located in areas with rich biodiversity and incredible wildlife. If you’re lucky, you can see moose, deer, elk, bears, and many more species at ski resorts around the US and Canada.

Just remember to adhere to any resort guidelines on sightings of these animals or closures because of them. You can snap a picture, but always give wildlife a wide berth and respect their space. After all, when recreating in the mountains, you’re in their home. If you’re hoping to spot a moose or a bear, here are some of the best resorts to spot wildlife at.

1. Jackson Hole, WY

One of the major draws to visiting Jackson, Wyoming, aside from the neck-deep pow and beautiful mountain views, is the chance to see wildlife. Grand Teton National Park is known for its vast and diverse wildlife, such as grizzly bears and the many moose you can see in the park and nearby.

Weather in your inbox

Forecast Location

Sign Up

By signing up you agree to the Terms & Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe at any time.

The Elk Refuge is also an amazing spot to see huge herds of elk as they graze in the winter. If you’re lucky, you can sometimes see moose out and about while skiing at Jackson Hole, but if you do, remember to give them plenty of space!

2. Steamboat Springs, CO

Steamboat can be a great resort to spot wildlife while skiing and in the surrounding area. Moose and black bears have been known to hang out at Steamboat Resort, and it can be a very cool scenic sighting while skiing.

Those with a sharp eye can spot see mink scampering across the snow from the lift at Steamboat before they disappear into the trees or blend into their surroundings too well. Canada Jays, or “camp robber” birds, are also known to hang out around the Morningside Lift. Be careful if you pull out a snack; they might steal it right out of your hand!

3. Whistler, British Columbia

Both grizzly and black bears inhabit the Sea-to-Sky corridor where Whistler Blackcomb sits. It’s much more common to see black bears around the village and resort areas, so keep your eyes peeled for them while skiing, but don’t get too close.

Snowshoe hares are another common sight at Whistler in the winter. Their large feet help them float through deep snow like a powder ski and navigate the alpine terrain safely. In the summer, Whistler offers wildlife tours to see bears, eagles, hawks, pikas, marmots, and many more creatures that call British Columbia home.

4. Lake Louise, Alberta

Lake Louise ski area is one of the prime spots in the Canadian Rockies for wildlife viewing. Grizzly bears, black bears, lynx, moose, elk, mountain goats, deer, and more call Banff National Park home and can be seen at different times of the year at Lake Louise.

In the winter, the best time to spot animals is early in the morning, before the lifts even open. Bighorn sheep have also been known to cause traffic jams in the National Park, so get out early and plan your day to enjoy all that the area has to offer animals of all kinds.

5. Kicking Horse, British Columbia

While there’s plenty of wildlife to be seen around Kicking Horse, perhaps most notable is Boo, the grizzly bear. Boo the bear lives in a 20-acre enclosure below the mountain’s Golden Eagle Express Gondola.

Boo was orphaned at a young age and brought to the enclosure, which is also known as the Kicking Horse Grizzly Bear Refuge. Boo is currently 23 years old and living a happy life at Kicking Horse, where visitors can go see him during a guided tour in the spring and summer for just $39 CAD.

6. Big Sky, MT

Big Sky’s wildlife claim to fame is that it’s one of the few resorts in the world where you might see mountain goats while skiing. Montana Fish and Wildlife introduced 58 goats to nearby areas in 1947, 1950, and 1951.

A unique species that lives and thrives in the high alpine, it’s not uncommon to see them hanging out at 10,000+ feet. In the winter, they tend to stick to steep, south-facing slopes and windblown ridge tops but can be seen all over Lone Mountain. Occasionally, ski patrol will actually close terrain and adjust their avalanche safety protocols to work around the goats.

7. Hakuba, Japan

When it comes to skiing, Japan might best be known for its blower pow, but there’s some pretty cool wildlife to be seen in the area as well. Especially out in the backcountry, you might encounter the serow, which is kind of like an antelope, and kind of like a deer, and very cute.

It’s also possible to see Japanese hares, which change color from brown to white in the winter and can be identified by the black on the tips of their ears. If you’re visiting an Onsen for an après soak, you might be joined by some macaque, or Japanese snow monkeys, lounging by the hot water as well.