As one of North America’s largest ski resorts with over 4,200 skiable acres, Lake Louise Ski Resort offers somewhat unique terrain with beginner, intermediate and expert runs available from every chair, allowing you & your family or group to ski and share the magnificent Canadian Rockies experience together, no matter what their skill level.
Located in the Banff National Park, the resort is surrounded by stunning Canadian wilderness & Rocky Mountain views. It offers all manner of skiing and boarding terrain options including chutes, glades and gullies, gentle slopes, cruising runs remote bowls and some of the most challenging terrain in the Rockies.
Named at the 2017 World Ski Awards as Canada’s Best Ski Resort for the fourth time over the previous five years, the resort also placed in the top three of the World’s Best Ski Resorts and World Best Freestyle Resort categories, so there is something definitely magical about skiing and boarding here!
Lake Louise Hotels, Lodging & Accommodation
The resort offers three distinct parts – the picturesque lake itself, overlooked by the huge Fairmont Château Lake Louise Hotel, offering one of the best alpine views on the planet.
Next, there is the Lake Louise Village around 4 km (2 mi) back across the Bow River, which is a small collection of spaced out hotels, condos, a petrol station and a few shops. From the Village, it’s around 3 km (1.8 mi) up to the Lake Louise Ski Area base.
Accommodation around the lake area (10 min drive or free shuttle transfer to the resort) includes the Fairmont Château Lake Louise Hotel and the Deer Lodge, while lodging options around in the village (a 5-minute drive via free shuttle transfer to the resort) includes the Lake Louise Inn and the Mountaineer Lodge.
Another option is to stay in and around Banff which is a 45-minute drive or free shuttle transfer up to to the resort.
Lake Louise Ski Area & Terrain
As there is no ski in ski out accommodation at Lake Louise, you’ll head from the car park day lodge area either up the Grizzly Express gondola or the Glacier Express chair with both offering great open and often groomed terrain to warm up on, with the gondola being the preferred choice on the chilly mornings.
Powder Days
If you are new to the sport and find yourself arriving at Lake Louise on a powder day, no need to worry, you can head up the Top of the World Express and ski and board down Saddleback (#109) and into the renowned backside bowls. It’s a long run and will give you the experience of the backside experience via the safety of a green trail.
Intermediates on a powder day can also head up the Top of the World Express and head across to Sunset Terrace (# 23) on the front side of the resort. Spectacular views abound and you can choose to head down the main track or venture off into one of the wide-open bowls as you float down through the powder.
Expert skiers should head to the top of the Summit Platter and pop over into the Back Side. This is where you will gain access to exhilarating powder chutes, face shots, and some of the most epic terrain Lake Louise has to offer. For those of you who are very confident in the steep and deep, a heart-pumping run down “E” Gully (#128) awaits.
Lake Louise Ski Resort – Mountain Statistics
| Skiable Terrain | 4200 acres (1700 hectares) |
| Vertical | 991 m (3250 ft) |
| Top Elevation | 2637 m (8650 ft) |
| Base Elevation | 1646 m (5,400 ft) |
| Average Snowfall | 454 cm (180 in/14 ft) |
| Intermediate Terrain | 45% |
| Advanced Terrain | 30% |
| Parks | 4 |
| Winter lifts Total | 10 |
| Gondolas Trams | 2 |
| Chair Lifts | 5 |
| Surface Lifts | 3 |
| Lift Capacity | 14,000 |
| Longest Run | 8 km (5 mi) |
| Mountain Restaurants | 11 |
| Snowmaking | 680 ac (275 hectares) |
| Season Opens | 9 November, 2018 |
| Season Closes | 5 May, 2019 (Estimated) |
How to get to Lake Louise Ski Resort
The Village of Lake Louise and the Lake Louise Ski Area are located in Banff National Park.
Calgary International Airport (YYC) is located two hours away from Lake Louise and one hour and 15 minutes from the town of Banff, where the majority of Lake Louise skiers stay.
There are free winter bus services running every 30 minutes from the small village to the ski area, and free daily bus services from Banff to Lake Louise and back again that takes around 45 minutes each way.
Driving distances to Lake Louise include:
Calgary to Banff 126 km (78 miles)
Calgary to Lake Louise 185 km (115 miles)
Edmonton to Banff 415 km (258 miles)
Vancouver to Banff 850 km (528 miles)
Banff to Lake Louise 59 km (37 miles)
Banff to Jasper 292 km (181 miles)
Banff to Revelstoke 283 km (175 miles)
Popular flight times to Calgary include:
- Chicago, IL 3h 25m
- Dallas, TX 3h 40m
- Denver, CO 2h 30m
- Los Angeles, CA 3 h 15m
- New York, NY 4h 45m
- Orlando, FL 5h
- Seattle, WA 1h 50m
- Montreal, QC 4h 40m
- Ottawa, ON 4h 25m
- Toronto, ON 3h 40m
- Vancouver, BC 1h 25m
- Winnipeg, MB 2h 5m
- Beijing, China 10h 30m
- London, England 9h 5m
- Manchester, England 11h 20m
- Mexico City, Mexico 5h 30m
- Sydney, Australia 17h 30m
- Tokyo, Japan 9h 10m
Lake Louise Ski Pass Options
There are a full range of ski pass options for you to choose from. Lake Louise Ski Resort is also part of the IKON family and can be skied on a regular lift pass as well as the IKON Pass, a multi-resort / multi-day pass option, available for purchase for a limited time each season.
Lake Louise early bird lift specials
We have negotiated a number of early bird lift pass specials for that you can access when you get a quote.
Which ski pass to choose – Lake Louise or IKON?
It depends on a number of factors including your skiing dates, the number of days you plan on skiing, early-bird specials, if you are you planning on skiing any other IKON Pass resorts and importantly if there are any IKON Pass blackout dates that you need to factor in.
The best way to work out which pass option is best for you – is to pick both pass types when you prepare your quote – and then simply bin the pass option that doesn’t offer you the very best deal.
Some of the IKON Pass options have blackout dates so be sure to double-check and understand the IKON Pass options and blackout dates and how they work by visiting this page we have prepared for you – IKON Pass Explained.
Lake Louise Ski Schools & Lessons
The Lake Louise Snow School are driven to share their passion for skiing and snowboarding with students young and old.
Snow School Director Kevin Eaton, is especially passionate about making sure that new skiers and snowboarders especially young skiers and snowboarders and establishing the fundamentals of skiing and snowboarding, so they can fall in love with the sport which will lead to a lifetime of physical activity and outdoor mountain enjoyment.
One advantage the school offers is there are green, blue and black runs accessible from every ski lift, so from a teaching and learning perspective, there is always the ideal terrain to work on to take your skiing and boarding to the next level!
The ski school prides itself on their professionalism and personalities and their goal is to always exceed your expectations with outstanding levels of service combined with some of the finest teaching and skiing and boarding terrain in North America.
Choose from private lessons, group lessons and multiweek programs. The multiweek programs are more aimed at locals and long stays where say each Friday, for example, you do a specialised program over a 4 to 10 weeks period.
Lake Louise Things To Do, Activities, & Tours
The trip to Lake Louise Ski Resort wouldn’t be complete without participating in some or all of the following activities: Sunny Tube Park, First Tracks Experience, Showtime Terrain Park, Free Mountain Tours, Snowshoe Tours, Sightseeing Gondola, Ski & Snowboard Clubs, Torchlight Dinner & Ski, Cross Country Skiing, Race Centre, and Backcountry Ski Tours.
Lake Louise’s Backcountry Ski Tours are lift-accessed to bring you world-class backcountry skiing and split boarding adventures out of Lake Louise.
The guided tours are performed just outside the ski area boundary and include West Bowl, Speed Run area, Hidden Bowl, Redoubt Bowl, Purple Bowl, Wolverine Ridge and the Tylenols.
Sunny Tube Park
Location: Located at the base of the mountain
Fun For the whole family.
Ph: + 1-877-522-8473
Showtime Terrain Park
Location: Easy Street just above the base area
Enjoy a variety of small, medium, and large jumps, rails and boxes along with other unique features.
Ph: +1-877-956-8473
Free Mountain Tours
Location: Lake Louise Ski Resort
Open to all ability skiers and snowboarders.
Ph: +1-877-956-8473
Scenic Snowshoe Tours
Location: Lake Louise
Tour to the top of the mountain to experience views only accessible to skiers and snowboarders.
Ph: +1-403-522-1385
Winter Wildlife Snowshoe Tour
Location: Lake Louise
Explore the peace and stillness of the winter forest!
Ph: +1-403-522-1385
Winter Night Snowshoe Tour
Location: Lake Louise
Snowshoe under the stars.
Ph: +1-403-522-1385
Full-Day All Mountain Snowshoe Tour
Location: Lake Louise
A full-day snowshoe adventure.
Ph: +1-403-522-1385
Winter Sightseeing Gondola
Location: Canadian Rockies
Description: Cruise for fourteen glorious minutes in a fully enclosed gondola to one of the Banff National Park’s greatest views
Ph: +1-877-956-8473
Cross Country Skiing
Location: Lake Louise
A wide variety of trails, incredible mountain scenery, wildlife viewing opportunities.
Ph: +1-877-956-8473
Race Centre
Location: Lake Louise
A fun race competition.:
Ph: +1(403)522-1341
Backcountry Ski Tours – Yamnuska Mountain Adventures
Location: Lake Louise
World-class backcountry skiing and split boarding adventures.
Ph: +1.866.678.4164
Lake Louise Restaurants, Bars & Nightlife
At the base area of Lake Louise, you’ll find all types of variety of food to suit your tastes and budget in the impressively built giant hand skinned logs and vaulted ceilings and River Rock fireplaces in the Lodge of Ten Peaks.
Choose from the Food Court, Kuma Yama Sushi, and the Powder Keg Lounge, or the whiskey Jack Lounge and Cafeteria or North Face Bistro.
The Whitehorn Lodge located mid about on the front side, the Temple Lodge located on the backside that is accessed via the Glacier Express or Grizzly Express Gondola.
For a unique après experience head to the Kokanee Kabin & Smokehouse BBQ that’s directly adjacent to the base of the Glacier Chair with live music and one of the best draft decks in the Rockies.
For those who are looking for more nightclubs and late-night action, you’ll find all that you need in the town Banff.
The Lodge of Ten Peaks Dining & Restaurant
Ten Peaks Food Court
Location: Main Level
Food: freshly baked pastries, triple berry buttermilk pancakes, healthy salads, house-made chicken tenders & certified 8 oz. Angus beef burgers
Ph: +1-877-956-8473
Kuma Yama Sushi
Location: Upper Level
Food: sushi restaurant, fresh sashimi, steaming ramen bowls and specialty rolls
Ph: +1-877-956-8473
Slopeside Coffee Bar
Location: Main Level
Food: Starbucks Coffee, smoothies & juices, cold beer and a variety of fresh baked goods and pizza for winter months.
Bar: Yes
Ph: +1-877-956-8473
Powder Keg Lounge
Location: Upper Level
Food: fresh baked pizza, crispy wings, nachos, healthy salads & bison chilli
Bar: Yes
Ph: +1-877-956-8473
Bier Stube
Location: Main Level
Food: bar-style beverage station, cold beer on tap plus some tasty food treats
Bar: Yes
Ph: +1-877-956-8473
Whiskey Jack Lodge
Whiskey Jack Cafeteria
Location: Main Level
Food: Lasagna, Hot dog with fries, fish tacos, chicken drumsticks, beef sandwich
Ph: +1-877-956-8473
Northface Bistro
Location: Main Level
Food: soup & salad, custom pasta, chicken wings, pork ribs
Bar: Yes
Ph: +1 403-522-1300, extension 2355
Whitehorn Lodge
Whitehorn Bistro
Location: Mid-Mountain (front side)
Food: cheese fondue, signature seafood chowder, Rocky Mountain game platter or house-made Bison burger
Bar: Yes
Ph: +1 403-522-1310
Temple Lodge
Sawyer’s Nook
Location: Upper Level
Food: European influenced menu, Cheese fondue for 2, Quiche Lorraine, Alberta Beef Bourguignon, House Made Brisket Burger & Bison Sliders
Bar: Yes
Ph: +1-877-956-8473
Temple Cafeteria
Location: Main Level
Food: hot food off the grill or quick grab & go items
Ph: +1-877-956-8473
Temple Beach BBQ
Location: Patio Area
Food: BBQ
Ph: +1-877-956-8473
Kokanee Kabin
Kokanee Kabin & Smokehouse BBQ
Location: Base Area
Food: Hot soup, chilli, BBQ
Ph: +1-877-956-8473
Lake Louise Shopping
At Lake Louise, you have the Sports Boutique, which is your source for all your skiing, snowboarding and outdoor lifestyle needs. For branded apparel, head to the Experience Lake Louise store located next to Laggan’s Bakery & Delicatessen.
Sports Alpine Ski and Sports Boutique
Location: On-mountain
Shop: cameras, batteries, sunscreen, postcards and souvenirs, Skiing, Snowboarding and general wintertime needs
Ph: + 1-877-956-8473
Lake Louise Ski Resort Trail Map
Explore the trail maps to find your ideal place to ride, catch up with friends and more…