Crazy Canadian: Skiing in the Rockies

As a native Canadian, my annual visit to the Banff area (located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Canada) is one of the highlights of winter vacation for three simple reasons:

1. The mountains are drop-dead gorgeous.

2. There are moose (Mooses? Meese?).

3. The skiing is out of this world.

Now, to ski in style in the Calgary/Banff area, there are three big resorts that I think are worth visiting, each with its own pros and cons. All of these are within driving distance of Banff (located inside the National Park), which itself is about 1.5 hours from Calgary.

(There’s a great airport shuttle that runs between the Calgary Airport and Banff, called the Banff Airporter. It costs about $50CDN per person, one-way.)

Now, about the snow. Here’s a breakdown of the slopes:

Sunshine Village:

It's high up in the mountains and usually has the best snow consistently, even when there isn’t any fresh powder. You need to take a gondola up to get to both the main lodge and the Goat’s Eye Mountain lodge. There are two mountains to ski, plenty of runs to enjoy, and even a ski-out option at the end of the day. It's best to get there early, around 8am when the gondola opens, to avoid the long lines, especially during the holidays. Plan for 30 to 45 minutes minimum travel time from Banff. Costs about $70CDN per adult for a full-day lift pass.

Lake Louise:

On a good snow day, this is hands down the best skiing in the Banff area. It has two lodges, one on the front side and one on the back side of the mountain. I would start the day on the back side, while the light is best, and move your way to the front side. There are plenty of long runs, but the popular blue and green runs can get quite icy if there is no fresh snow. Plan for minimum one hour of travel time from Banff. Costs about $70CDN per adult for a full-day lift pass.

Norquay:

This is the closest resort to Banff. It offers pay-by-the-hour rates, which can be nice if you’re looking to ski only for a morning or an afternoon. There are some great blue and black runs, but not a lot of green runs—beginners, don’t waste your money, and go somewhere else. Usually, the snow is pretty good, but like Lake Louise, it can be a bit icy at times.

Whichever mountain you choose, get ready for a great ski day, and don’t forget the sunscreen!