It's about time to dust off your ski and snowboard gear, as several popular ski hills in Ontario and near Toronto just announced their official opening dates for the 2022/2023 season.

Thanks to colder temperatures, both Blue Mountain Resort near Collingwood and Horseshoe Resort in Barrie will be welcoming back skiiers to hit the slopes this Thursday, December 15th.

Both will be open for daytime and nighttime skiing.

❄️Opening Day Update❄️The most wonderful day of the year is almost here because we will officially be opening this Thursday, Dec 15th! We know this feels a bit like Groundhog Day, but we're so excited for a second chance to fuel the stoke. Let's get the start to the season going! pic.twitter.com/VF0PsLg4mF

— Blue Mountain Resort (@BlueMtnResort) December 13, 2022

For now, the resorts will have limited chair lifts and runs operating until later in the season when it gets colder. Other winter activities they offer such as tubing and cross country skiing are also not open just yet.

Blue Mountain will be celebrating the start to their season with free giveaways, treats, and prizes. Lift tickets are available to purchase in advance online.

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A post shared by Horseshoe Resort (@horseshoeresort)

Horseshoe Resort also has advance lift tickets for sale online, including package deals if you need to rent equipment. 

Several other ski hills near Toronto have already opened. Mount St. Louis Moonstone in Coldwater opened at the end of November, but night skiing will be available as of December 14th. Lakeridge Resort in Uxbridge also opened this past weekend on December 10th.

Don't forget that this is the last month you can take advantage of the Ontario staycation tax credit. If you're considering an overnight ski trip, you can claim 20 per cent of your accommodation expenses at eligible stays by the slopes.