Sir Sam’s Ski Resort – Day 4 can be found here.
Today is our travel day, so no need to wake early – though we did so anyway, more out of habit than anything else. We packed up quickly, and kids once more kept themselves amused via the foosball table and arcade game in the basement.
The clean-up requirements of our rental were fairly light – garbage was to be put away in either a roadside dumpster (which was full) or in a container on the porch. We also separated recycling, which I doubt was necessary but we prefer to err on the side of caution rather than risk a bad rating. We then tidied the place and ran the dishwasher before letting the manager know that we would be leaving early. (11 am checkout is standard.)
The trip home was much the same as before, but in reverse. We slowly watched as the snow receeded giving way to green-ish fields closer to Lake Ontario, and the temperature warmed from -15 Celsius to a balmy -3.
Of coures, today was the day that Sir Sam’s opened up the Far Side – so our fulsome exploration of the mountain was not meant to be. (Though not entirely surprising that they would try to open up the remaining runs in time for the weekend.)
Perhaps we’ll have better luck next time.
And will there be a next time? I expect so. Sir Sam’s represents a good combination of accessibility and value, of action and relaxation.
But it will have to wait for a future year, as next Christmas break we will be heading to Bromont:
Source: EasternTownships.org
Located just outside of Montreal, Bromont is a significantly large hill than Sir Sam’s – boasting 11 lifts, 120 runs and more than 450 acres of skiable area.
Bromont typicallly opens in late November to early December, and this year they had four sides of the mountain open prior to Christmas. So we’re cautiously optimistic that our December ski trip won’t be hampered by bad weather as it has the previous two years.
We also found a beautiful spot to stay at SÔ Lodges – more expensive than our rental at Sir Sam’s, but still good value particularly given the amenities (hot tub, sauna, arcade, etc.) and the number of bedrooms.
So keep your eyes out for our review of SÔ Lodges and Bromont in late December 2025.
Photos courtesy of SÔ Lodges
And were there any lessons learned for next time we visit Sir Sam’s?
Well, it continues to make sense to book well in advance, particularly if you can find a place – like ours – with a good cancellation policy. I’d also suggest tempering expectations about ski conditions if you’re heading out in December or early January in Ontario or Quebec, as the weather is continuing to get warmer. And don’t count on being able to ski in / ski out from your ski in / ski out rental.
As mentioned, Sir Sam’s is a great hill for beginner to intermediate, or those looking for a smaller, less crowded experience. Also recommended for those seeking to add in extra activities, like dogsledding at Winterdance.
Farewell, Sir Sam’s. We’ll miss you. Hope to return again in 2026.
Interested in booking the Hidden Porch at Sir Sam’s for yourself? Check out the place we rented on VRBO. (Please note that we may receive a commission from bookings made via this link. We will only recommend places where we personally have stayed, and which we enjoyed.)