Best Ski Areas of the Canadian Rockies

Best Ski Areas in the Canadian Rockies

The best ski areas of the Canadian Rockies are all around the region—we suggest you try them all!—so it is difficult to claim one is better than another. The truth is that some ski areas are best for families and some ski areas are best for hard-core enthusiasts. This handy slideshow guide fills you in on each ski area’s claim to fame, and let’s you pick the best ski areas for you and your travel companions.

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78362 KICKING HORSE Kicking Horse is called the “champagne capital” for its abundant dry snow. The ski area has four rugged powder bowls (our favourite is Fuze Bowl, which was once only accessible by helicopter). Kicking Horse has 75 powder chutes—more than any other Canadian Rockies ski area—that fill with blowing snow between snowfalls. Four lifts and the Eagle Express gondola move skiers quickly from the base to the upper ridge in eight-person cabins. It’s an exhilarating run down 1,260 m (4,133 ft.) the highest vertical rise in the area. Located near Golden, the resort is under two hours west of Banff and one hour from Lake Louise via Hwy. 1 and Yoho National Park. • Kicking Horse Resort, 1500 Kicking Horse Trail, Golden, BC, 250-439-5425, <a href="http://www.kickinghorseresort.com">kickinghorseresort.com</a> • <a href="http://www.where.ca/listings/activities-tours/ski-areas/kicking-horse-mountain-resort-71/">Map and reviews</a> (Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dczwick/4005632469/">DCZwick</a>) Best Ski Area for Powder Best Ski Areas in the Canadian Rockies https://where.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Best-Ski-Areas-KH-88x88.jpg https://where.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Best-Ski-Areas-KH.jpg https://where.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Best-Ski-Areas-KH.jpg 600 360 {"copyright":"Copyright \u00c2\u00a92007 D.C.Zwick"} https://where.ca/canadianrockies/banff/best-ski-areas-banff-jasper-rockies/slide/best-ski-areas-kh/ best-ski-areas-kh 0 0: (Photo: DCZwick)

78363 SUNSHINE VILLAGE Sunshine Village is Canada’s highest ski resort and has the Rockies’ longest ski season. Its hotel, Sunshine Mountain Lodge, is the only ski-in, ski-out accommodation in Banff National Park—it sits at 2,200 m (7,200 ft.) in the high alpine. Hotel amenities include fine dining, a spa and the area’s largest hot tub. Complimentary, family-friendly activities include snowshoeing, tobogganing, movie nights and trivia sessions. The ski area is built on three mountains with 107 runs (many above the tree line) and 12 lifts (mostly high-speed quad chairlifts). Sunshine is 8 km (5 mi.) west of Banff. • Sunshine Village, 1 Sunshine Access Rd, Banff, AB, 403-762-6500, <a href="http://www.skibanff.com">skibanff.com</a> • <a href="http://www.where.ca/listings/activities-tours/ski-areas/sunshine-village-ski-resort-79/">Map and reviews</a> (Photo: Josh Robertson) Best Ski Area for Ski-In-Ski-Out Accommodations Best Ski Areas in the Canadian Rockies https://where.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Best-Ski-Areas-SV-88x88.jpg https://where.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Best-Ski-Areas-SV.jpg https://where.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Best-Ski-Areas-SV.jpg 600 400 [] https://where.ca/canadianrockies/banff/best-ski-areas-banff-jasper-rockies/slide/best-ski-areas-sv/ best-ski-areas-sv 0 0: (Photo: Josh Robertson)

78364 LAKE LOUISE SKI AREA This famous spot is the Canadian Rockies’ largest ski area and is located just across the Trans-Canada Highway from Lake Louise Village (about a 40-minute drive west of Banff). The Lake is best known for jaw-dropping scenery that includes glaciers (like Victoria Glacier towering above iconic Lake Louise), peaks (like 3,544-metre Temple Mountain) and rugged backside terrain (like Paradise Bowl and the Whitehorn chutes). Its layout across four mountain faces and 4,200 skiable acres makes it possible to follow the sun all day long. The area has 10 lifts, plus 139 named bowls, chutes and tree-lined runs with some of the best fall-line skiing anywhere. Novice to advanced routes from every chair make the entire resort accessible to all visitors. • Lake Louise Ski Area, Lake Louise, AB, 403-522-3555, <a href="http://www.skilouise.com">skilouise.com</a> • <a href="http://www.where.ca/listings/activities-tours/ski-areas/lake-louise-ski-area-06/">Map and reviews</a> Best Ski Area for Breathtaking Views Best Ski Areas in the Canadian Rockies https://where.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Best-Ski-Areas-LL-88x88.jpg https://where.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Best-Ski-Areas-LL.jpg https://where.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Best-Ski-Areas-LL.jpg 600 400 {"copyright":"(C) 2008 Henry Georgi"} https://where.ca/canadianrockies/banff/best-ski-areas-banff-jasper-rockies/slide/best-ski-areas-ll/ best-ski-areas-ll 0 0

78365 MARMOT BASIN Lift lines at Marmot Basin are virtually non-existent. With 1,675 acres of alpine bowls, a vertical rise of 914 m (3600 ft.) and 86 runs, the expansive compound has plenty of room for everyone. To make things even roomier, Marmot has installed three new chairlifts over the past three years, bringing its total up to seven lifts. Tree-lined groomers, snowmaking and a learning area are all on the lower mountain, while the big powder bowls are at higher elevations (tip: don’t miss the sweet glades in Eagle East). Marmot is the only ski hill in Jasper National Park, and is located 20 minutes south of the town of Jasper (off Hwy. 93), 316 km (195 mi.) east of Edmonton on Hwy. 16, or 293 km (182 mi.) from Banff via Lake Louise on Hwy. 93. • Marmot Basin, Marmot Rd., Jasper, AB, 780-852-3816, <a href="http://www.skimarmot.com/">skimarmot.com</a> • <a href="http://www.where.ca/listings/activities-tours/ski-area/marmot-basin-53/">Map and reviews</a> Best Ski Area for Short Lift Lines and Crowd-Free Slopes Best Ski Areas in the Canadian Rockies https://where.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Best-Ski-Areas-MB-88x88.jpg https://where.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Best-Ski-Areas-MB.jpg https://where.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Best-Ski-Areas-MB.jpg 600 399 [] https://where.ca/canadianrockies/banff/best-ski-areas-banff-jasper-rockies/slide/best-ski-areas-mb/ best-ski-areas-mb 0 0

78366 NAKISKA MOUNTAIN RESORT Nakiska was build to host alpine skiing events at the 1988 Winter Olympics, so it’s no wonder why the mountain features some of the best cruise and carve runs in the Rockies. Fall-line trails are wide, long and groomed to perfection every night; their state-of-the-art snowmaking system improves on what Mother Nature delivers. Located between Banff and Calgary, Nakiska offers beautiful Kananaskis Valley views, 1,021 acres of skiable terrain, recently expanded Monster Glades, and a family-friendly, self-contained beginner zone. • Nakiska, 3 Mount Allan Dr, Kananaskis, AB, 403-591-7777, <a href="http://www.skinakiska.com">skinakiska.com</a> • <a href="http://www.where.ca/listings/activities-tours/ski-areas/nakiska-13/">Map and reviews</a> Best Ski Area for Cruisers Best Ski Areas in the Canadian Rockies https://where.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Best-Ski-Areas-N-88x88.jpg https://where.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Best-Ski-Areas-N.jpg https://where.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Best-Ski-Areas-N.jpg 600 400 [] https://where.ca/canadianrockies/banff/best-ski-areas-banff-jasper-rockies/slide/best-ski-areas-n/ best-ski-areas-n 0 0

78367 MOUNT NORQUAY Established in 1926, Norquay is the Canadian Rockies’ original ski area and the closest one to Banff. Locals go when they should be working; their kids learn to ski and race here. Norquay is owned by ski enthusiasts who are intent on preserving the resort’s family-friendly character. In addition to skiing and snowboarding, Norquay offers tubing, snowshoeing and a Play Zone area with sliding lanes and a merry-go-round. A variety of ski programs are designed for children as young as three. • Mount Norquay, 2 Mount Norquay Rd., Banff, AB, 403-762-4421, <a href="http://www.banffnorquay.com">banffnorquay.com</a> • <a href="http://www.where.ca/listings/activities-tours/ski-areas/mt-norquay-06/">Map and reviews</a> (Photo: Paul Zizka/Banff-Lake Louise Tourism) Best Ski Area for Families Best Ski Areas in the Canadian Rockies https://where.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Best-Ski-Areas-Norquay-88x88.jpg https://where.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Best-Ski-Areas-Norquay.jpg https://where.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Best-Ski-Areas-Norquay.jpg 600 399 {"copyright":"\u00c2\u00a9 Paul Zizka"} https://where.ca/canadianrockies/banff/best-ski-areas-banff-jasper-rockies/slide/best-ski-areas-norquay/ best-ski-areas-norquay 0 0: (Photo: Paul Zizka/Banff-Lake Louise Tourism)