Banff Snowboarding & Skiing

Banff has exceptional boarding and downhill skiing with three mountains in the park. While conditions may vary, they usually gets gobs of snow, including lots of fine powder and are blessed with a long season. Mount Norquey is just on the edge of the town of Banff across the highway. It has a terrain park and all of the amenities including on mountain accommodations, combined with a vertical of over 1600ft. Sunshine Village which often opens in early November is just a minute or two further than Norquey from Banff. It boasts a whopping veritcal 3500ft vertical, has terrein parks and ski in accommodations. They also boast extreme skiing areas. Lake Louise has a vast amount of skiable terrain, a terrain park and over 3200ft of vertical. The resorts have gotten together to offer a pass which is good at all the hills, allowing you to choose your destination on any given day.

  
 

What ever you chose, not only will you find great skiing but unparalleled views, in what is one of the worlds most beautiful settings.

Lake Louise - Snowboarding, Skiing, Heli-Skiing, Dog Sledding, Ice Skating, Guided Hiking, Backcountry and Nordic Skiing, 991 metres (3250 ft.) Vertical, Day Care. Usually opens early November - Lake Louise, Canadian Rockies, Alberta

  • Cam
  • Events
  • Conditions
  • Trail Maps
  • Employment

Out-There's Banff and Lake Louise
Out-There's Alberta
Mountain Connector - Airport Shuttle (Calgary)
Lake Louise Weather
Lake Louise - Official Site
Alberta - Official Site

The ski resort is located in world renown Banff National Park. The view from the slopes is one of the most spectacular in the world. The resort has an excellent terrain park, over 100km of cross country skiing as well as backcountry and telemark skiing. You'll also find more than 5km of designated snowshoe trails. The village has a wide variety of accommodations, restaurants and retail shops and of course the mineral hotsprings are just waiting for you. .

Accommodations

Banff and Lake Louise Accommodations

Restaurants

Banff and Lake Louise Restaurants

Getting There

Calgary provides the closest International Airport. The airport has connections (often direct) to major centres throughout the world. From Calgary Lake Louise is about a 2hr drive (rental cars and bus service are available). Take Highway 1 (Trans Canada Highway) west from Calgary and continue approxiimately 60km passed Banff to the town of Lake Louise. Shuttle service is availble in town and from the town of Banff. For more information on the province have a look at:

Out-There's Banff and Lake Louise
Out-There's Alberta

Norquay (Banff National Park) - - Snowboarding, Skiing, Telemark Skiing, Terrain Park, Rentals, Ski School, Lounge, Restaurant, 503m (1650ft) Vertical, Avg. Over 90% snow making, Annual Snowfall 300 cm (10ft) - Banff, Alberta

Sunshine (Banff National Park) - Snowboarding, Skiing, Telemark Skiing, Hiking, Rentals, Ski School, Lounge, Restaurants, 1070m (3514ft) Vertical, Avg. Annual Snowfall 10m (33ft) - Banff, Alberta

  • Snow Report
  • Employment
  • Events
  • Trail Map

 

Out-There's Banff and Lake Louise
Rocky Mountain Sky Shuttle - Airport Shuttle
Banff and Lake Louise Accommodations
Banff and Lake Louise Restaurants
Banff and Lake Louis
Banff Weather

The resorts hill usually open in early November. Located in world renown Banff National Park the resort is just 8km from the town of Banff. Calgary provides the closest International Airport. The airport has connections (often direct) to major centres throughout the world. From Calgary head west on Highway 1 to the resort. Driving time is about 1.5hrs.

Canadian Avalanche Association
Avalanche Safety
 Equipment Retailers
Equipment Rentals
Guides, Outfitters, Schools and Instructors
Gear Manufacturers

For more information on the province have a look at:

Out-There's Snowboarding and Free Skiing
Out-There's Alberta
Alberta - Official Site

Resorts and Hills in the Surrounding Regions

 

Backcountry and Telemark Skiing

Banff is well known for its spectacular backcountry skiing. Here are a couple of the touring routes:

  • The route to the Ink Pots on Johnston Creek - This route starts at the Johnston Creek parking lot on the Bow Valley Parkway, 23 km from Banff and takes you through the forest to a series of spring-fed pools in open meadows. The first 2.2 km of this route are moderate but the last 3.5 km are expert.
  • The Skoki Lodge route - This is a moderate route of 12 km starting from the base of the Lake Louise ski area. You have non-stop views along this route.

Note: There are significant dangers involved with this growing sports. Exercise caution and get trained in safety techniques such as avalanche rescue, route assessment and reading snow conditions. Ensure your equipment is adequete and know how to use it. Always check with the park or the Canadian Avalanche Association about current conditions. Seriously consider hiring a local guide.

Huts

You must pack in your own gear with the exception of that provided. Many of the access routes require expert skills in either climbiing, scrambling, mountaineering and ski mountaineering. In the winter many appoaches are through avalanche areas. Some huts are only accessibel in the summer or rarely used due to difficult acess in the winter.Consult with the various authorities regarding use, fees, gear and skills requirements before doing any planning.

Bow Hut - Sleeps 30, Wood stove, sleeping pads, Colman lanterns, utensils, Rocky Mountains, north east of St. Nicholas Creek, Wapta Ice Field, Banff National Park - Alpine Club of Canada

Balfour Hut - Sleeps 18, sleeping pads, Colman stoves, lanterns and some utensils, Rocky Moutains, near the Vulture Glaciers toe - Alpine Club of Canada

Peter and Catherine Whyte (PEYTO) Hut - Sleeps 18, sleeping pads, Colman stoves, lanterns and some utensils, Rocky Moutains, below Mount Thompson Wapta Icefields, Banff National Park - Alpine Club of Canada

Scott Duncan Hut - Sleeps 12, sleeping pads, Colman stoves, lanterns and some utensils, Rocky Mountains, Below Mount Daly, Banff National Park - Alpine Club of Canada

Neil Colgan Hut - Valley of Ten Peaks, Banff National Park - almost exclusivly summer use - Sleeps 18, sleeping pads, Colman stoves, lanterns and some utensils, Rocky Mountains, Banff National Park - Alpine Club of Canada

Abbot Pass Hut - Not recommended in the winter Mt. Victoria, Yoho and Banff National Park - Sleeps 24, sleeping pads, propane light, wood stove Rocky Mountains, Yoho and Banff National Park - Alpine Club of Canada

Castle Mountain Hut - Not used in winter Castle Mountain, Banff National Park - Sleeps 6, propane light (user supplied green Colman canister), some utenisls, Rocky Mountains, Banff National Park - Alpine Club of Canada

Canadian Avalanche Association
Avalanche Safety
Equipment Retailers
Equipment Rentals
Guides, Outfitters, Schools and Instructors
Gear Manufacturers

 

Cross Country Skiing

You'll find 150 km of groomed trails in Banff. Well maintained trails that take you to spectacular winter views of the park. Some of the trails cross areas of avalanche danger so ensure you check with the park or the Canadian Avalanche Association regarding current contditions.

Chateau Lake Louise - The Chateau has dedicated snowshoe trails along with over 70km of cross country ski trails and dog sledding tours. Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Alberta

Cascade Fire Road - Is an intermediate trail that takes you 12.8 km one way along the first part of the Cascade Fire Road. up to Stoney Creek. Follow Banff avenue east under the Trans Canada where it turns into Lake Minnewanka Road. The trail access is on your left. Banff

Golf Course Trails - Novice - 12km The trial consistes of a number of branches and loops which interconnect on the largely flat section of the golf course. Follow Banff Ave to Spary Ave and park at the viewpoint for Bow Falls. Note: There is an avalanche zone at the south end of trail 7, consult with the park if you plan to ski this area. Banff

Sundance Trail - Intermediate - 20km The trail is a series of interconnected loops in heavily forested area. You'll find hilly and rolling terrain and one short section, trail 7, which is for experts only but has a bypass in the form of trail 6. In Banff follow Banff Ave. south over the Bow River and turn right on Sundance Road. Alternatively, from Banff follow the Trans Canada for 10km west and watch for Sunshine Road on your left where you'll find the trail head and parking a short distance down the road. From the trail head follow trail 1 into the Sundance network.

Pipestone Loops - Is an novice/intermediate trail that loops and branches for through flat and rolling terrain. The outer loop is about 12.8km long and you can add to your distance depending on which branches you take. From the Lake Louise overpass the trail is about three quarters of a kilometre north along the Trans Canada Highway. Take the exit on the right and you'll find parking at the trail head. A map is recommended as the trail branches often. Lake Louise

Lake Louise Shorline - Novice, Out & Back 4.8km The trail starts at the Chateau and follows the western shoreline of Lake Louise. The trail connects at its start with the more advanced Telemark Loop. Lake Louise

Telemark Loop - Intermediate - Expert - 9.3km The trail starts at Chateau Lake Louise (connecting into the Shoreline trail) and runs behind the Chateau and into hilly sections where it interconnects with the 1A Highway Trail (which you can follow back if you wish). Lake Louise

1A Highway - Novice, 7km one way The trail is layed out on the roadway and double tracked for classic and skating. The trail continues beyond the 7km mark but is not suitable for novices at this point. Lake Louise

Some of the cross country ski trails pass through avalanche chutes check with the park before setting out. Avalanche Safety

Canmore Nordic Centre - Dedicated snowshoe trails located just outside the park's main park entrance. Canmore, Alberta

Canadian Avalanche Association
Avalanche Safety
Equipment Retailers
Equipment Rentals
Guides, Outfitters, Schools and Instructors
Gear Manufacturers

Out-There's Nordic Skiing
Out-There's Alberta
Alberta - Official Site

 

Snowshoeing

Canmore Nordic Centre - Former Olympic venue but trails for all levels. Over 70km of trails, located just outside the park's main park entrance. Canmore, Alberta

Chateau Lake Louise - The Chateau has dedicated snowshoe trails along with over 70km of cross country ski trails and dog sledding tours. Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Alberta

Canadian Avalanche Association
Avalanche Safety
Equipment Retailers
Equipment Rentals
Guides, Outfitters, Schools and Instructors
Gear Manufacturers

Out-There's Snowshoeing
Out-There's Alberta
Alberta - Official Site

 

Dogsledding

 

Chateau Lake Louise - The Chateau has dedicated snowshoe trails along with over 70km of cross country ski trails and dog sledding tours. Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Alberta

Adventures Unlimited - Banff, Alberta

Out-There's Dogsledding
Out-There's Alberta
Alberta - Official Site

 

 
 

Resources

Banff

Out-There's Banff Main Page


Banff's Neighbours

 

 
All web site contents copyright © 1995-2005 by White Cat Media
 
Click here if you have arrived at this page without
the navigation bar on the left