North America
Cape Smokey Resort Guide
Off-season
Closed for the season · reopens Dec 6
Best months to book: February, March, January · 30-yr snow record
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Off-season
Weather data is still collected for informational purposes.
Last Snowfall
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Resort Guide
Cape Smokey is located in Ingonish, Nova Scotia, on Cape Breton Island, offering Atlantic Canada’s only gondola-accessed ski terrain. The resort features a variety of trails suitable for all skill levels, panoramic ocean and mountain views, and a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere. Key amenities include a modern gondola, equipment rentals, a ski school, and a scenic summit lodge, making it a unique destination for both skiing and year-round sightseeing. Cape Smokey stands out for its coastal setting and the opportunity to experience skiing with views of the Atlantic Ocean.
Gallery
Click to expand • 6 total photos
Terrain & lifts
Resort-reported stats for Cape Smokey
Lifts
3
Skiable area
100 ac
Longest run
2.4 km / 1.5 mi
Runs by difficulty(16 total)
Beginner
3
20% of terrain
Intermediate
9
53% of terrain
Advanced
2
13% of terrain
Expert
2
13% of terrain
Run counts estimated from resort-reported totals and terrain mix.
Lift fleet
- Gondola1
- Surface lift1
Snowmaking covers about 60% of terrain.
Resort Info
Season dates
Future dates are operator estimates and may change.
Ski passes
Indy Pass
Access tiers change by season — confirm benefits on the pass operator's site.
Top Après Ski
The Gondola – Located at the base of Cape Smokey, The Gondola is celebrated for its cozy atmosphere, panoramic views of the Atlantic, and welcoming après-ski environment featuring local craft beers and live music events.
Season vs Historic
Updated Mon, Sep 21, 09:01 PM UTC
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Season Total
This Season to Date
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vs 5-Year Avg
Off-season · 305cm full-season avg
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vs 30-Year Avg
Off-season · 294cm full-season avg
305cm
5-Yr Avg by Now
The last completed season totaled ~344.7 cm. That's 13% above the 5-year average (305 cm). Versus the 30-year baseline: 17% above the 30-year average (294 cm).
Cape Smokey Season Snowfall
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Cape Smokey Snow History
Average annual snowfall is 317cm with an average of 111 snowfall days per season. The recent decade runs 17% above this average (371cm over the last ten tracked seasons). The table below shows monthly averages across 30 seasons of archive data (modeled snowpack at mid-elevation).
| Month | Avg Snowfall | Snowfall Days | Avg Base Depth | Max Base Depth | Biggest Snowfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | 22cm | 11 days | 2cm | 9cm | 7cm |
| December | 61cm | 21 days | 15cm | 30cm | 16cm |
| January | 69cm | 24 days | 37cm | 53cm | 16cm |
| February | 65cm | 20 days | 61cm | 77cm | 17cm |
| March | 54cm | 18 days | 67cm | 81cm | 15cm |
| April | 35cm | 12 days | 50cm | 72cm | 13cm |
| May | 6cm | 3 days | 9cm | 33cm | 5cm |
Source: SnowSure archive · Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis at mid-elevation. Depth is modeled, not resort-reported.
Season at a Glance
Next season(2026-27)
Opens Dec 6, 2026
Multi-season averages will appear once SnowSure has tracked more than one full season.
Best Months to Visit
February
Peak Season
January
Peak Season
March
Good
December
Good
Note: Based on typical ski season patterns for this region.
Frequently asked questions about Cape Smokey
- Where is Cape Smokey?
- Cape Smokey is a ski resort in Canada.
- How high is Cape Smokey?
- Cape Smokey runs from a base elevation of 15 m (49 ft) to a summit of 320 m (1,050 ft), giving a vertical drop of 305 m (1,001 ft).
- How big is Cape Smokey?
- Cape Smokey has 100 acres (40 hectares) of skiable terrain, 16 marked runs and 3 lifts.
- Which ski pass covers Cape Smokey?
- Cape Smokey is on the Indy Pass. Access terms such as blackout dates and day limits vary by pass tier, so check the pass operator for the current season.
- How much snow does Cape Smokey get in a typical season?
- Cape Smokey averages 150 inches / 381 cm of snowfall in a typical season. Any individual season can run well above or below that.
