All Photos: Reuben Krabbe & SkiBig3
When I think of a destination for the front of a postcard, the iconic shot of Banff, Alberta, comes to mind, with its vertical, snow-covered peaks and the stunning teal lake below. Set within Canada’s oldest national park, Banff is one of the most beautiful places on the planet and it also happens to have some of the best skiing in the world.
Sitting at 4,537 feet above sea level, this real life snowglobe gets around 30 feet of annual snowfall and boasts one of the longest non-glacial resort seasons in North America, stretching seven months from early November through May. Banff doesn’t just have one ski resort, either. Known as SkiBig3 , Banff Sunshine, Lake Louise and Mount Norquay are all within 45 minutes of downtown Banff.
Thanks to this resort trio, skiers are spread out and a busy weekend in Banff means five-minute lift lines and powder stashes for days—an experience that popular U.S. ski resorts can only dream of providing. One lift ticket grants you access to all three, along with free shuttles between Banff and each resort, creating three unique experiences over a long weekend or a week-long stay.
It's a different world in the Great North
One Pass, Three Worlds
Lake Louise Ski Resort
Locals call Lake Louise “the friendly giant,” and with the resort completing Richardson's Ridge expansion, which adds 200 acres of new terrain to the existing 4,200 acres with 164 total runs and 12 lifts, it is now even more giant. Spread across four mountain faces, the resort is on it's way to becoming the second largest ski resort in Canada. This massive mix of terrain includes everything from incredible steeps and chutes to glades, groomers and wind-filled powder stashes. The additional terrain on Richardson's Ridge offers new glades, groomed slopes and even more varied terrain to the resort's offerings. This expansion also improves connections and widens key routes for better accesibility, so you can reach every part of the mountain with better ease. This season, Lake Louise is upgrading the Top of the World Chair to increase capacity and improve reliability, as well as reduce wait times in lift lines.
The front face has a great balance of wide-open groomers and technical bowl and glade skiing. There are also blue runs off every chair on the front side, which means you can venture around the mountain with your crew, and everyone in your group can enjoy their own line choice. The real magic happens when you take the Summit Chair up to 8,650 feet, where the Whitehorn back bowls and numerous other runs are all accessible. Whether you prefer picking your way down the center of the bowl or boosting off a cliff, there’s something for everyone in these permanently ungroomed zones.
Mount Norquay
Mount Norquay is what the locals call “Banff’s backyard,” and it may be the best-kept secret in the Canadian Rockies. Norquay celebrated it's 100th anniversary during the 2025-26 season, making it the oldest resort in the Canadian Rockies. The centennial marks the next chapter for Noquay as the resort has a vision to preserve and honor it's deep-rooted skiing heritage and local cultural while also looking at long-term invesments and improvements.
At 190 acres, nearly one third of the runs here deliver expert terrain and has played a defining role in Banff's ski culture, producing Olympic and World Cup athletes for generations. With that said, this resort offers incredible, concentrated skiing, just seven minutes from downtown Banff, and there’s something to be said for that kind of access. The grooming here is impeccable thanks to the resort's devotion to ski racing, making slopes pristine for high-speed cruising. It's also worth noting that Mount Norquay is the only place in the Canadian Rockies where you can rip laps under the lights on the weekends. After skiing all that expert terrain, Norquay's tubing hill offers a great way to give your legs a break but still have fun on the mountain.
Bottom Line is that people go to Norquay for the combination of authenticity and value. It’s where Banff locals ski before work while their kids learn to race, and where all families can enjoy their weekends.
Banff Sunshine Village
Sitting directly on the Continental Divide, at 8,943 feet, Sunshine Village offers the opportunity to ski in both the Alberta and British Columbia provinces in the same day. Thanks to its ideal location and high altitude, the resort gets what they refer to as “Prosecco Powder,” the snow that has made Canadian skiing legendary around the world. It also means the season runs from early November through late May, earning the distinction of the longest non-glacial resort season in Canada.
From the base, take the rainbow-colored Village Gondola up to the famous “Upper Village” which is nestled at 7,082 feet. From there, you have access to 3,358 acres with 12 lifts and 137 runs to explore. The Strawberry Express and Standish lifts take you to fantastic intermediate terrain with sweeping views and the village area has wide-open slopes that are perfect for building confidence. From there, test your skills on Goat’s Eye Mountain with a mix of steep groomers and off-piste options, including the South Side chutes.
If you’re looking for something a little more rowdy, Delirium Dive and Wild West have achieved legendary status for good reason. You need an avalanche transceiver, shovel, probe and a buddy, which should tell you what you need to know about the commitment level. After a full day skiing, head over to the Goat Club as it returns for it's second season, providing a great way to wind-down—or dial it up—with an on-mountain après experience.
Logistics
Getting to Banff is easy and the U.S. dollar typically goes far. When you fly into Calgary International Airport , it’s just a 90-minute drive on a four-lane highway with no traffic lights. As you make your way toward Banff National Park, the Rocky Mountains grow larger, making the drive an expreince in itself.
The easiest way to book your trip is through SkiBig3.com , where you can get full vacation packages and discounts for Ikon or Mountain Collective passholders. And when it comes to booking, earlier is better: Planning ahead means more options and greater savings.
Once you land in Calgary, Banff Airporter offers multiple daily shuttles to Banff, with convenient hotel drop-off for around $80–100 CAD. Once you’re in town, the free SkiBig3 shuttle system connects Banff with all three resorts, so there’s no need to rent a car.
Beyond the Resorts
Beyond resort boundaries, Banff National Park offers some of the most spectacular backcountry skiing in North America. Highly recommended for those new to backcountry skiing, Yamnuska Mountain Adventures offers avalanche skills training and guided touring, while the Alpine Club of Canada provides access to backcountry huts for multi-day adventures.
The Wapta Icefield Traverse is considered one of the great ski mountaineering routes in North America, connecting a series of huts across a massive glacier system. For heli-skiing enthusiasts, Canadian Mountain Holidays (CMH) operates several lodges within a few hours’ drive of Banff.
Always check current avalanche conditions with Avalanche Canada and travel with proper safety equipment.
Accomodations
Visitors have multiple options for setting up base camp. The village at Lake Louise has a population of 850 people and is great for those who love waking up surrounded by wildlife and wilderness. It’s serene, magical and iconic but there’s not a lot going on after hours.
The town of Banff, with a population around 8,000, is perfect for foodies, nightlife lovers and those who want to immerse themselves in an authentic Canadian community. Here, you get local flavor, charming characters and a lively après scene.
For those that cherish convience over all else, choosing a downtown Banff hotel along the SkiBig3 shuttle route is the way to go. Just walk out the front door of, say, the Kenrick Hotel for a seamless door-to-door experience.
For those interested in a little more luxury can choose between the Fairmont Banff Springs and Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise . Just a few minutes from downtown Banff, the castle known as Fairmont Banff Springs has been a dream destination since 1888, with 739 rooms, world-class dining and plenty of spa amenities. Just north, at Chateau Lake Louise, you can wake up to the world-famous view of the lake with Victoria Glacier in the background. After a long day of ripping "Prosecco Powder," head to BASIN Glacial Waters for a pampering that sets a new standard for mountain luxury. Just across the road from Banff Upper Hot Springs , another luxury hotel just reopened this summer after major renovations. The Rimrock Banff, Emblems Collection got a refresh in its design and dining for an elevated experience deep in the Canadian Rockies.
For more budget-friendly lodging and options that can accommodate larger parties, check out the town of Canmore, just 20 minutes east of Banff. But, you can still treat yourself here, as Everwild Nordic Spa provides the full wellness experience in Canmore with hot pools, cold plunges, saunas and steam rooms.
Local Bites & Brews
Banff’s food scene is absolutely bonkers. For a town of 8,000 people, the variety and quality is quite impressive and what’s more is that you can actually get a meal after 9 p.m., unlike most resort towns.
Shoku and Block Kitchen + Bar are local favorites that capture what the Banff food scene is all about: International influences with mountain hospitality. Hello Sunshine serves up excellent sushi and has private, ski-themed karaoke rooms where you can belt out après classics while taking down sake bombs.
Chaya Ramen serves up some of the best noodles outside of Japan; seriously worth the trip just for that bowl. If you find yourself at Lake Louise village, don’t miss Laggan’s Bakery, a favorite among locals and visitors, alike.
For après, The Elk and Oarsman is consistently rated one of the best sports bars in Canada. The elk nachos are a Canadian delicacy and if there’s a hockey or football game on, this is your spot. Park Distillery is for the full Canadian experience and the menu is all campfire-inspired dishes.
Banff Avenue Brewing Company was the first brewpub in town, and their pizza game is second to none. For something uniquely weird and wonderful, The Grizzly House has been serving fondue and exotic meats since the ‘70s—a bit touristy, but worth it.
High Rollers combines bowling with craft beer (50+ taps) and Tommy’s Neighborhood Pub is where the locals go for cheap drinks and a no-frills atmosphere. For dancing, don’t look past Melissa’s MisSteak (known to locals as Mel’s) or the new Dusty Boot Saloon & Dance Hall, opening in December 2025.
At night, Banff transforms into one of Canada’s liveliest mountain towns. The compact layout means you can easily hop from bar to bar and unlike most ski towns, the party keeps going late into the night. You can legally drink here at the age of 18 and yes, weed is legal in Canada. Just follow the local rules.
Insider Tips
SkiBig3 resorts typically open in early November, giving U.S. visitors the opportunity to ski as early as Thanksgiving without the crowds because Canada celebrates Thanksgiving in October. The same goes for MLK weekend, as it’s not a national holiday for our northern neighbor, which means fewer people and better deals. As other resorts are closing in April, the spring skiing in Banff is just getting started with longer days and warmer temps. With a plethora of new and returning events throughout the season, there’s never a dull time to plan your visit.
Banff is where the Canadian parks system originated and in many ways that is bigger than “just” skiing. From the moment you first catch a glimpse of the Canadian Rockies on your drive from Calgary, to stepping foot into one of Canada's most authentic mountain towns, it's easy to see what makes Banff so special. The skiing is just the cherry on top.
