last updated: October 2023
The Canadian Rockies might be just a short road trip away and you are planning a skiing weekend. Or you live thousands of miles away and would like to squeeze some skiing days into a longer trip of winter exploration of Canada. No matter what brought you here, let me assure you that you will have a blast when you visit the ski resorts of the Canadian Rockies. The quality of the snow, the beauty of the landscape and the variety and scale of terrain guarantee perfect skiing and snowboarding days. In this blog post, you will find quick Sunshine and Lake Louise ski resort guides to help you plan your visit effortlessly.
SUNSHINE & LAKE LOUISE SKI RESORT GUIDES
SUNSHINE VILLAGE SKI RESORT: QUICK GUIDE
ALTITUDE & LOCATION
Sprawling over 3 mountains and with no community directly attached to the resort, Sunshine feels worlds away, yet it’s only a 20min drive from the town of Banff. A very high resort famous for Canada’s best snow; even at its base, the ‘Village’ (elevation 2160m / 7087ft), the snow stays light and dry. The skiable area can be accessed by gondola connecting the Village to the car park/entrance area of the ‘Base’ (elevation 1660m / 5446ft).
TERRAIN & RESORT VIBE
Catering to all types of skiers and snowboarders, the resort features modern lifts and a variety of pistes with diverse terrain to suit all levels. Naturally, there is a ski school, equipment hire and several restaurants and bars. Overall, relaxed, casual vibes suitable for those not interested in glitz or partying.
Elevation: Top: 2730m / 8954ft, Base: 1658m / 5440ft
Skiable area: 1359 ha / 3358 acres
Mountain lifts: 12
Pistes (runs): 137 marked runs -> Easy (Green): 20%, Intermediate (Blue): 55%, Advanced (Black): 25%
(For length of runs, refer to SkiResort.Info but note that unlike European resorts, all of the terrain in the area boundary is safe to ski, not just the marked pistes).
Snowparks: 4
ACCOMMODATION
Stay at Sunshine Mountain Lodge, Canada’s only ski-in, ski out hotel. Moreover, there are plenty of options for hotels or catered accommodation in the lively town of Banff.
GETTING THERE
Drive: 8km (5miles) from Banff or 135km (80miles) from Calgary International Airport. Daily bus service also available: to/from Banff & to/from Canmore or Calgary.
LAKE LOUISE SKI RESORT: QUICK GUIDE
ALTITUDE & LOCATION
Nestled in the Canadian Rockies and spread across four mountain faces, the resort benefits from its proximity to Lake Louise and adjoining village and delivers spectacular views of everything Banff National Park has to offer. Glaciers, lakes, forests and mountains can be admired on a sunny day in this very high resort.
TERRAIN & RESORT VIBE
One of the largest ski resorts in North America which prides itself on allowing visitors of all abilities skiing together from every chairlift. There is indeed a variety of pistes as well as a ridiculous number of black runs in the Back Bowl. Caters to a more international clientele compared to Sunshine, but maintains the relaxed, family friendly atmosphere.
Elevation: Top: 2637m / 8650ft, Base: 1646m / 5400ft
Skiable area: 1700 ha / 4200 acres
Mountain lifts: 10
Pistes (runs): 143 marked runs + Back bowls + West Bow ->
Easy (Green): 25%, Intermediate (Blue): 45%, Advanced (Black): 30%
(For length of runs, refer to SkiResort.Info but note that unlike European resorts, all of the terrain in the area boundary is safe to ski, not just the marked pistes).
Snowparks: 3
ACCOMMODATION
Plenty of scenic lodges near Lake Louise along with the famous Fairmont Chateau will also enable you to experience the winter beauty of Lake Louise. The town of Banff is also a good option but a bit of a longer drive.
GETTING THERE
10min drive to Lake Louise and village. 60km (36miles) to Banff or 184km (115miles) to Calgary. Daily bus service also available: to/from Lake Louise hotels, Banff, Canmore or Calgary.
USEFUL RESOURCES FOR PLANNING A SKI TRIP IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES
The websites of Sunshine Village and Lake Louise Ski Resort are the official ski resort guides and they are filled with useful information to plan your day. SkiBig3 is also worth checking out. If you usually ski in Europe, like I do, you might also like be interested in reading my thoughts on similarities and differences between the Alps and Sunshine & Lake Louise.
Last but not least, don’t forget to check out Banff National Park in winter & early spring: 7 things you need to know where I summarised the most essential information you need to plan your winter trip to Banff.
OUR EXPERIENCE FROM SUNSHINE & LAKE LOUISE SKI RESORTS
When planning our itinerary for our trip to Banff, we were determined to squeeze in as much skiing as possible. And I am so glad that we did!
I was a beginner skier at the time and, during our skiing days, I spent the mornings improving my technique with private lessons. Both ski instructors were great, and the easy runs were delightfully wide and packed with fresh snow. In the afternoons, I joined my friends on the pistes, practicing and having fun.
The advanced skiers amongst my group were also very happy with the intermediate and black runs.
Lastly, it is worth mentioning that there was a toddler amongst my fellow travellers who spent a few half and full days in the nursery in both resorts while his parents were skiing. They were quite happy with the environment and care so, all was well.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Banff National Park receives more visitors in the summer. Even though the world-renowned beauty of the Canadian wilderness is more easily appreciated in full bloom, I cannot recommend enough to also visit in winter or early spring. Trust me when I say that upon first sight of those mountains and forests covered in snow and those frozen glacial lakes, you will be wondering why winter is not Canada’s high season. And what better way to enjoy the winter wonderland with a couple of days of skiing in Sunshine Village and Lake Louise ski resort in-between exploring the incredible sights that Banff has to offer?
This is not a sponsored post & I am not affiliated with any of the hotels, restaurants or organisations mentioned.
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