Deep in the heart of Alberta’s wilderness, Banff in Canada, is a landscape of jagged mountains, wild forests – and infinite natural beauty. Tucked around two hours from Calgary, Banff is a slice of snowy paradise for winter outdoor and sports enthusiasts. If that wasn’t enough, there’s a lot for non-skiers as well, right from culture and history to amazing après-ski. And, of course, we’ve never seen more wildlife, whether it was a bear wandering across a forest or a moose or elk pottering around the town. What also made our trip memorable was the many ski resorts in Banff, sitting in some of the most spectacular spots in the Canadian Rockies. Not only do they range across a variety of budgets, but also skill levels, allowing us to choose where to head to depending on how we ski.
With the UNESCO-listed Banff having become Canada’s first national park way back in 1885, we were excited to explore this vast expanse of forests, ice fields, and mountains – and we weren’t disappointed. Hence, it’s not surprising that Banff happens to be one of the most amazing national parks on Earth! To that end, here’s a detailed guide about the best places to hit the slopes in the Wild Rose Country region of Canada’s Great White North.
Table of contents
Marmot Basin
6
Highest base elevation. While all other ski resorts in Banff, Canada, on this list actually sit in Banff, this one is slightly outside it – 186 mi (300 km) outside, to be precise. Welcome to Marmot Basin, tucked on Marmot Mountain in Jasper National Park, one of Canada’s most beautiful national parks. It also happens to be the only skiing resort in the national park and boasts the highest base elevation among all Canadian skiing resorts! Apart from this, Marmot Basin has lots of other bragging rights, starting with the straight-out-of-a-postcard views. With a 3,000 ft (914 m) vertical drop, skiing here was a thrilling experience, especially since there is also a wide variety and array of runs. What made our trip all the better was that it was much less crowded, thanks to its remoteness.
There was a lot for the snowboarders in our group to enjoy at Marmot Basin, too, thanks to the three terrain parks that feature a variety of jumps, table tops, and rail slides. In fact, even getting to Marmot Basin was enthralling, given that we drove along Highway 93, popularly known as the Icefields Parkway, one of the world’s most scenic drives.
“We wanted less crowds, and Marmot Basin and its remoteness was perfect.”
WOW Travel
The Terrain. Marmot Basin has 91 named runs across 56.5 mi (91 km) of skiing routes, which are divided into 30% easy, 28% intermediate, and 42% expert runs.
The Town. Currently, Marmot Basin doesn’t have on-mountain stays, but it does have three mountain day lodges: Paradise and Eagle Chalets at mid-mountain and Caribou Chalet at the base. The base town is Jasper, which is 20 minutes away and has a small, affordable town feel in the winter.
At a glance
- Known for: It boasts the highest base elevation of any ski resort in Canada.
- Opening: Mid-November
- Closing: End of April/First week of May.
- Elevation: 5,570 ft (1,698 m)
- Summit: 8,570 ft (2,612 m)
- Lifts: 7 (6 chairlifts, 1 magic carpet)
- Airport: Calgary International Airport, 270 mi (434 km)
Pros
- It boasts breathtaking views.
- The resort is uncrowded and has short lift lines.
- It offers excellent value for the money.
Cons
- It lies far from Calgary in a relatively remote location.
Where to Stay: Tekarra Lodge sits on the Icefields Parkway, just outside the town of Jasper, among the tall pines and with views of the greenery and rivers of Jasper National Park. Not only does this lodge boast lovely cabins as rooms, but it also has an excellent restaurant where we’d enjoy long breakfasts and dinners. In fact, the wood-burning fireplaces were rather welcome at the end of a long day of skiing. What we loved about our cabin was that it came with a stone fireplace as well as a balcony with gorgeous views. We could even rent binoculars and bikers to explore the region around us.
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Fortress Mountain Ski Area
5
When Fortress Mountain Ski Area unfortunately shut down in 2004, Alberta lost one of its most interesting skiing regions. Since then, there’s only been a cat skiing operation, but all that’s going to change from December 2023 onwards the resort is all set to open for hiking access as well! When it does, Fortress Mountain will have Canada’s highest ski resort base elevation at 5,905 ft (1,800 m)! It’s no wonder that it has a legendary history, having once hosted the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympic Games. If that wasn’t enough, it’s even featured in a bevy of Hollywood movies such as The Revenant, Brokeback Mountain, The Bourne Legacy, and even the last scenes in Inception.
Tucked in Kananaskis Country, just over a 60-minute drive from Calgary, Fortress Mountain not only has excellent dry Rocky Mountain powder but also an impressive 2,300 ft (700 m) vertical drop. From forested glades to open bowls, Fortress Mountain definitely has it all. We enjoyed KPOW! Cat skiing here, and lift access isn’t far off. In fact, the administration is even trying to build ski-in/ski-out accommodations here so skiers can stay over.
The Terrain. The mountain has 18.6 mi (30 km) of skiing routes divided into 23% beginner runs, 50% intermediate runs, and 27% expert ones.
The Town. Kananaskis Village, which is an 18.6 mi (30 km) drive away, is the only establishment closest to Fortress Mountain. It’s a small mountain village with a few excellent staying options and a few restaurants and bars.
At a glance
- Known for: It has excellent cat skiing and will begin lift operations soon.
- Opening: December
- Closing: Early April
- Elevation: 5,905 ft (1,800 m)
- Summit: 8,400 ft (2,500 m)
- Lifts: N/A (6 lifts – 3 chairlifts and 3 magic carpets – are expected to open soon)
- Airport: Calgary International Airport, 87 mi (10 km)
Pros
- When the lifts open, Fortress Mountain will have the highest base elevation amongst all Canadian ski resorts.
- The cat skiing here is excellent.
- The mountain has a legendary history.
Cons
- Hiking and lift access will begin this season.
Where to Stay: We stayed at the Kananaskis Mountain Lodge, Autograph Collection, as we wanted to enjoy a luxurious holiday. And what better than a Marriott property to do that? This luxurious hotel features not only five restaurants, but even an indoor heated pool and a full-service spa. In fact, we took full advantage of the pool and spa after long, cold days of cat skiing on the mountain. The rooms were equally warmly indulgent, with carpeted floors, plush beds, huge windows, luxe bathrooms, and coffeemakers. Did you know the hotel has a tour desk that can help arrange ski/snowboarding trips? Yes!
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Nakiska Ski Area
4
Best family-friendly skiing resort. Tucked in the lovely Kananaskis Valley, the family-friendly Nakiska Ski Area is a local mountain that’s a Cree (North American indigenous people) word that means “meeting place” or “to meet.” In fact, it hosted many alpine events during the 1998 Winter Olympics, and we loved racing with our friends on Nakiska’s well-groomed runs. Not only was the trail network easy to access and navigate, but we also found the beginner’s runs to be extremely well-designed, which made Nakiska a fantastic choice for newbies like us. One of the most interesting facts about this region is that it’s the official training center of ACA (Alpine Canada) and welcomes alpine teams from all over the world for early-season ski training!
Besides skiing and snowboarding, Nakiska also boasts the amazing Wanidu Tube Park, where we saw families racing to the bottom on chutes – and so did we. When it got very cold, we’d head to the cozy main day lodge at the base and warm up in front of the fire with a cup of hot chocolate.
The Terrain. With 15.5 mi (25 km) of skiing routes across 64 named runs, Nakiska has 17% beginner’s runs, 59& intermediate ones, and 24% expert runs. In fact, the resort prides itself on offering an excellent selection of green runs as well as long and wide-open blue cruisers. That, along with the 2,411 ft (735 m) vertical drop, makes skiing Nakiska one of the most enthralling experiences.
The Town. Even though there are no on-mountain stays, the base town of Kananaskis Village is just five minutes away. Despite being a small establishment, the village has many staying options, including five-star ones, as well as bars and restaurants for understated après-ski.
At a glance
- Known for: This skiing area has a local vibe and is the closest one to Calgary.
- Opening: End of November
- Closing: End of April
- Elevation: 5,003 ft (1,525 m)
- Summit: 7,410 ft (2,260 m)
- Lifts: 6 (4 chairlifts, 2 magic carpets)
- Airport: Calgary International Airport, 71.5 mi (115 km)
Pros
- Nakiska is one of the best family-friendly skiing areas.
- It’s reasonably affordable.
- It’s very easy to get to, as it’s within an hour’s drive from Calgary.
Cons
- It’s a much smaller mountain as compared to others on this list.
Where to Stay: It’s very unusual to find good hostels, or any hostels for that matter, in skiing regions. That’s why we were thrilled to stay at the legendary and famous HI Kananaskis Wilderness Hostel. Located just five minutes from the ski area, this highly-rated hostel had both dorms and private rooms. Since we were traveling with friends, the cozy, warm dorms with bunk beds and neat bathrooms suited us perfectly. We’d whip up meals and get talking to fellow hostelites in the shared kitchen and at the barbecue, which was much needed after a long and cold skiing session. They even offer free snowshoe rentals and ski storage and even have an outdoor seating area around a fire pit.
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Mt. Norquay Ski Resort
3
Only night skiing in Banff. With 190 acres of skiable terrain, the local gem of Mount Norquay Ski Resort is closest to Banff town. Originally created by some adventurous souls in 1926, Norquay boasts excellent tree-lined trails and Banff’s only night skiing! Even though half the runs are dedicated to expert and advanced skiers, there’s lots of room to spread out on the mountain. We especially loved the friendly and very relaxed vibe here. After shredding the slopes during the day, we particularly enjoyed skiing the lit-up slopes at night on the weekend and kept going until as late as 9 p.m.!
Besides skiing, Norquay is known for its terrain park, home to the Bow Valley Freestyle Team, and famously called “Banff’s Backyard.” We were awed by the snowboarders showing off their tricks and jumps here over rails of all sizes and shapes. In fact, there are even smaller versions of the terrain park for those who are new to the sport.
Furthermore, Norquay is more than just skiing and snowboarding, as it’s also home to the longest snow tubing lanes in Alberta. The kids had a grand time ripping down the slopes on the tubes. The best bit? Since it’s lit up, it’s open long after even skiing shuts.
The Terrain. With 10.1 mi (16l.4 km) of skiing routes, Mt. Norquay’s 60 runs are divided into 31% easy runs, 25% intermediate ones, and 44% expert runs. Moreover, Norquay’s tougher terrain is characterized by big mogul runs, along with sidecountry to explore.
The Town. With everything from lodging to dining just down the road, Norquay really is Banff’s backyard ski hill. Moreover, the base town of Banff is less than 15 minutes away. The buzzing mountain town is energetic, charming, and with busy restaurants, shops, stays, and après bars.
At a glance
- Known for: It’s a mountain for glade lovers and old-schoolers.
- Opening: Mid-November
- Closing: Early April
- Elevation: 5,348 ft (1,630 m)
- Summit: 6,998 ft (2,133 m)
- Lifts: 5 (1 magic carpet, 2 fixed-grip quads, 1 fixed-grip double, 1 hi-speed quad)
- Airport: Calgary International Airport, 93 mi (150 km)
Pros
- It boasts a diverse ski terrain.
- It’s an inexpensive place to ski.
- It’s an uncrowded skiing area, which was ideal for beginners like us.
Cons
- The ski area is small and there’s no on-mountain staying.
Where to Stay: We didn’t want to stay as far as Banff, so we chose The Juniper Hotel & Bistro, which lies on the road to the skiing region, much before we hit the town. Even then, the town was less than five minutes away! Coming back to the stay, our hotel boasted some of the best views of the Rocky Mountains, whether it was from the rooms, the onsite gourmet restaurant/lounge, or the alfresco seating around the fire pit. Aside from free Wi-Fi, the rooms here are extremely comfy, with fridges, tea/coffee-making facilities, cable TVs, and mountain views.
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Lake Louise Ski Resort Area
2
With 4,200 acres spread across 4 mountain faces, Lake Louise Ski Resort Area is one of North America’s largest ski areas. Not only is it one of Alberta’s best skiing resorts, but it’s also one of Canada’s most famous skiing destinations, famous for hosting downhill races. Since it receives boatloads of snow and even boasts a robust snowmaking operation, we always found fresh powder on the mountain. Aside from skiing, we loved the thrilling time we had at the four terrain parks, each of which is for snowboarders of specific skill levels. Notwithstanding that, all parks had more than 40 different features on offer, and we had a ball navigating the boxes, rails and jumps.
One of the most fun-filled activities for us here was snowtubing at Sunny Tube Park. Since we were a group of five people, we could even connect our tubes together, whizzing down the groomed runs together! The wooden Temple Lodge in a bucolic alpine setting at the base of Larch Mountain was just the place we needed for taking a break. We spent time on the sunny patio as well as warmed up by the roaring fire inside, chowing down on one of their legendary burgers.
The Terrain. With 86 mi (139 km) of skiing routes across 145 named runs, Lake Louise’s routes are divided into 25% beginner, 45% intermediate, and 30% expert. Since almost every lift chair had either beginner/intermediate/advanced runs leaving from it, almost the entire mountain was accessible to everyone, with lots of space to shred even on busy days.
The Town. Banff, which is one of Canada’s most-visited cities, is a 50-minute drive. However, the hamlet of Lake Louise serves as the base town, with spread-out stays but lots of restaurants and pubs in just two streets.
At a glance
- Known for: This incredible resort offers epic views and skiing and access to the Big Three resorts on the same lift pass.
- Opening: Early November
- Closing: Early May
- Elevation: 5,400 ft (1,646 m)
- Summit: 8,650 ft (2,637 m)
- Lifts: 8 (1 six-passenger gondola, 4 high-speed lifts, 1 fixed-grip quad, 1 triple, 2 surface lifts)
- Airport: Calgary International Airport, 124 mi (200 km)
Pros
- Lake Louise has one of the longest seasons in North America – almost 6 months!
- It boasts stunning scenery.
- The world-class terrain is designed for everyone.
Cons
- It’s expensive to ski here.
Where to Stay: There’s only one place we wanted to stay while skiing Lake Louise – the Fairmont Chateau, Lake Louise, one of the world’s hotels with the best views. This picturesque getaway sits right on the eastern edge of the pristine glacial blue Lake Louise and is just 10 minutes from the skiing region. On the other side, we could spy sweeping views of the snowcapped Rockies.
We had the time of our lives at this luxury mountain resort, staying in a luxurious room with views of the lake and the mountains in the distance from the balcony. On days when we weren’t skiing or came back early, we’d head to the heated indoor pool, followed by an indulgent service at the full-service spa. With eight onsite dining options to choose from, we were never left wanting for anything. Did you know that the hotel has a floor-to-ceiling wine library? Yes!
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Banff Sunshine Village Ski & Snowboard Resort
1
Longest skiing season. Set high in the mountains, we could enjoy panoramic views of the Canadian Rockies all around at the Banff Sunshine Village Ski & Snowboard Resort. One of the best ski resorts in Banff, its main base area sits high up in the alpine bowl at 7,200 ft (2,194 m), where we found skier facilities, accommodations, and the main lifts. On clear blue-sky days, the views far above the tree line were simply stupendous. The highest skiing region in all of Banff, Sunshine Village also gets the most snow amongst all of Banff’s resorts. That’s why we could find fresh powder all over the 3,358 acre-huge skiable area across the 3 mountains. It’s no surprise that Ski Canada Magazine awarded Sunshine Village the “Best View from the Best Off-Piste Run.”
Besides skiing, Sunshine Village’s four diverse, skill-based terrain parks are considered some of the best in all of Alberta, and we had a thrilling time exploring them according to our skill levels. Interesingtingl, ski season here ends with an event called the “Slush Cup.” Here, participants try skiing in front of a large, crazily-dressed crowd and jump over a pool of water, skimming across to the other side!
The Terrain. With 67.7 mi (109 km) of skiing routes available across 120 runs and 3 mountains, Sunshine has something for every skier. Moreover, they’re divided into 23% beginner runs, 46% intermediate runs, and 31% expert ones.
The Town. 20 minutes away from the skiing area sits the town of Banff, its base town. As mentioned earlier, it’s a buzzing mountain town with lots of options for après-ski, including bars, restaurants, hotels, and even shops.
At a glance
- Known for: It has Banff’s only ski-in/ski-out lodging and is accessible via the Big Three lift pass.
- Opening: Early November
- Closing: Mid-May
- Elevation: 5,446 ft (1,660 m)
- Summit: 8,957 ft (2,730 m)
- Lifts: 12 (2 magic carpets, 2 quads, 7 high-speed quads, 1 8-seater gondola)
- Airport: Calgary International Airport, 93 mi (150 km)
Pros
- It has one of the longest skiing seasons in North America – six months!
- It has a bevy of modern lifts, including a heated one!
- It boasts lots of natural dry snow.
Cons
- It could get crowded on weekends.
Where to Stay: We stayed at what is the only ski-in ski-out accommodation in Banff, the iconic Sunshine Mountain Lodge. Since it’s right on the mountain, we could see the slopes from just about anywhere, and the views were spectacular. We had a lot of treats in store for us here, including toboggan runs, bonfires, and even an outdoor hot tub with mesmerizing views. If that wasn’t enough, the lodge even has multiple restaurants and spa services, which we desperately needed after long skiing sessions. The best bit about the rooms is not the mod-cons but that the windows could be opened for fresh air! Finally, the lodge even schedules toboggan adventures, snowshoeing tours, and movie nights.
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Our Verdict!
While we love all of Banff’s skiing resorts, the ones below have been categorized so you can prioritize well.
- Highest base elevation: Marmot Basin
- Best family-friendly skiing resort: Nakiska Ski Area
- Only night skiing in Banff: Mt. Norquay Ski Resort
- Longest skiing season: Banff Sunshine Village Ski & Snowboard Resort
What are the three ski areas in Banff?
The three ski areas of Banff, Lake Louise, Sunshine Village, and Mount Norquay are collectively known as “The Big Three” ski areas.
Is Sunshine or Lake Louise better?
At Lake Louise, there are a lot more tree runs, and the terrain overall is more interesting, too, with back bowls and long mogul runs for expert skiers.
What is the best Banff ski resort for beginners?
Around 22% of the terrain of The Big Three is rated green, but it’s Lake Louise specifically that’s considered the best choice for families and beginners.
