5 Cozy Canadian Winter Retreats for Sale

By Josh Sherman | 6 minute read

A selection of listing photos of cozy — and luxurious — winter retreats for sale in Canada right now.

Like Canada’s housing market as a whole, the recreational property segment has been sluggish this year.

Although buyers of secondary properties may be less sensitive to higher interest rates since they already have equity built up in their primary residence and other assets, nationwide Canadian recreational-property prices have been in decline. For example, across 18 popular Canadian winter retreats, the median price of a single-family home was down 0.4% in the first three quarters of the year, according to Royal LePage.

However, the real estate company expects a flurry of sales next year to push prices higher once again. While some recreational-property buyers don’t necessarily need lower interest rates to qualify, the Bank of Canada’s recent rate-cutting regime should boost overall confidence in the economy, encouraging a more active market in the New Year.

Winter may generally be the slowest time of the year for real estate, but with a hotter market expected in the coming months and freezing temperatures hitting most of the country, why not check out some listings today? Below, we’ve rounded up five cozy Canadian winter retreats for sale.

1. Listing: 436 Muskrat St., Banff

List price: $1,490,000

Walking distance from downtown Banff, Alberta’s prime ski destination, here’s a wood-trimmed home that combines modern styling with traditional materials.

The home is larger than it may appear in the exterior listing photos. Its charming interior, which has been given a warm retro treatment, houses six full-sized bedrooms, including a primary suite with mountain views.

2. Listing: 2909 Kadenwood Dr. Whistler

List price: $9,695,000

Situated in a private community and surrounded by old-growth forest beneath the snowy peaks of Whistler, here’s a completely modern take on the mountain getaway. The bright interior is all clean lines and uninterrupted views. 

Perhaps the high point of this listing — besides being in the mountains — is the spa-like primary bathroom. Or maybe it’s the hot tub looking out onto Whistler.

3. Listing: 11 Nevis Ridge Dr., Oro-Medonte

List price: $2,599,900

You don’t have to travel far from the Greater Toronto Area for the full ski-chalet experience. This custom-built log home is barely outside the GTA’s borders, in Oro-Medonte, just an hour’s drive from the city. Once at the two-acre wooded property, it should be easy to forget you’re anywhere near North America’s fourth-largest city. The nearly 6,000-square-foot home was constructed out of hand-peeled western red cedar, giving it a cabin feel indoors and out.

Though it may look like a cabin, you aren’t limited to a wood-burning stove here. In the six-bedroom home’s chef’s kitchen, you’ll find granite counters, stainless steel appliances, and thoughtfully laid out prep space. 

The kitchen is just off the great room, which has vaulted ceilings and a hulking stone fireplace to complete the picture of a perfect winter retreat.  

4. Listing: 164 Wensley Dr., Blue Mountains

List price: $2,695,000

Some like to visit ski towns to curl up by the fire and take in the mountain views. Others want to hit the slopes. This five-bedroom home is definitely for the latter. It sits at the foot of an escarpment and is walking (skiing?) distance from the private Georgian Peaks Club alpine ski club. It also comes with its own ski-tuning workshop room to make sure your gear is sorted.

The home underwent a full reno in 2020, so it’s not short on creature comforts either. There are not one but two gas fireplaces to cozy up to, and all but one of the bedrooms has its own ensuite. As an added bonus, the listing includes all the furniture pictured.

5. Listing: 595474 4th Line, The Blue Mountains

List price: $14,850,000

Minutes from Osler Bluff Ski Club, a 99-acre estate with a sprawling 11,000-square foot all-season custom home is on the market. According to the listing, the home was designed with a connection to nature in mind, and that’s reflected in the expansive windows and skylights as well as natural-wood finishes.

The primary suite has sweeping 270-degree views of the property, which has been landscaped with one kilometre of private trails and a pair of on-site ponds.