Content
Lake Louise has the largest and most varied terrain of the three resorts, with four mountain faces, thousands of acres of wide-open bowls and, critically, a beginner trail off every chairlift. Its centerpiece is the 1.5-mile (2.5-km) long, icy, blue-green lake fed by springs from the Victoria Glacier. Originally settled in 1884 as a Canadian Pacific Railway logging camp and later designated Canada’s first National Park and a U.N.E.S.C.O. World Heritage Side—Banff National Park—Banff is today consistently voted North America’s Most Scenic Ski Area.
Sunshine Village, the highest resort, typically offers a blanket of superb powder snow on its wild and wide-open terrain and in 1999–2000 it pipped arch-rival Lake Louise as the No. 1 resort by attracting a record 595,000 visitors. Not to be outshone, Banff Mount Norquay is the locals’ favorite, relying on its very easy reach from Banff and its very family-friendly image. It’s also the only resort in the Canadian Rockies to offer night skiing.
Banff Lake Louise, AB at a glance
On the mountain
Ski area
Lake Louise, the largest resort in the Canadian Rockies, and nearby
Sunshine and Banff Norquay have a great mix of trails for every level of skier, and Champagne powder, of course!
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Lift system
With a Tri-Area Pass, you can ski in all three areas: Lake Louise, Sunshine and Banff Norquay.
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Ski schools & guiding
Lake Louise Ski School is one of Canada’s largest and has an excellent kids program.
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Advanced
Lake Louise's Back Bowls, Sunshine's Delirium Dive and heli-skiing are just three of the exciting options for advanced skiers.
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Intermediate
The bulk of Lake Louise trails—45 percent—are Intermediate. The longest trail is 5 miles (8 km) and the most challenging trail is Boomerang on the Back Bowls. more...
Beginner
Lake Louise is an ideal beginners resort: every lift has an easy way down, so novices can ski the whole mountain. more...
Boarding & freestyle
Lake Louise's Showtime is North America's largest terrain park, but the natural natural hits, lips and drops at Mount Standish in Sunshine are also great fun. more...
Mountain restaurants
All three resorts offer mainly cafetaria-style lunch options, utilitarian rather than alluring.
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Ski Map
- open Sunshine Ski map
- open Mount Norquay Ski map
- open Lake Louise Ski map
Off the mountain
Village
Louise is a compact little town with good amenities, Sunshine Village
lies high up the mountain, and Norquay is Banff's family playground.
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Accommodation
Banff offers a good choice of accommodations including 3-star to 5-star hotels, motels, lodges, B&B and a hostel. There's a similarly good choice of hotels at Lake Louise whereas Sunshine has just one property. more...
Après-ski
The nightlife in Lake Louise is a rather quiet affair; for a real scene you have to head for Banff.
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Restaurants & bars
Lake Louise has two good dinner and entertainment options, but for real choice you have to head for Banff.
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Other information
Lake Louise has many outdoor activities, and Banff is a good place to shop for Native and Inuit arts and crafts.
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Getting there
Lake Louise is 34 miles from Banff (Sunshine 11 miles and Norquay only
6 miles), which itself is only an hour and a half drive from Calgary.
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Boxes leftside
Navigation
Quick access
Resort shortcuts
Banff facts
Ski Area
| Base | 5,400 ft 1,646 m |
| Summit | 8,650 ft 2,637 m |
| Elevation | 3,250 ft 991 m |
| Area size | 4,200 a 1,700 ha |
Trails/runs
| Number of trails | 113 |
| Advanced | 30 % |
| Intermediate | 45 % |
| Beginner | 25 % |
Lifts
| Gondolas | 1 |
| Chairs | 7 |
| Surface lifts | 4 |
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