No surprise, there's some vertiginous skiing in this area of the Canadian Rockies.
Lake Louise Ski Resort has 4200 skiable acres, and a vertical rise of 3250 feet, to a top elevation of 8560 feet. This resort also has a terrific day-lodge if you need a break from the slopes, and stunning views of Lake Louise.
Sunshine Village Ski Resort, just 15 minutes from Banff, has even more awesome views: the ski area is high up the mountain (-you take a gondola to start out), with wide open spaces above the tree line, and views toward cascades of snowy mountain peaks. Sunshine Village has a 33 acres on three mountains, vertical rise of 3515 feet; highest elevation is 8954 feet.
- Neat option at Sunshine Village: stay overnight, slopeside right on the mountain, at the Sunshine Inn. Guests have the mountain to themselves!
- For hotshot skiers/boarders: take a beacon and a partner with you into off-piste Delirium Dive.
Note that skiing at these resorts may at times be colder and icier than some of us tenderfeet are used to: for example, the day we skied Sunshine was -10C ( F), which fellow skiers considered to be a pretty fine temperature.
The third resort in the area, Norquay, is smaller, closer to Banff, and reportedly more temperate; Norquay dubs itself " Banff's best family ski resort."
At any of these ski resorts you'll see ski school classes of little kids; instruction and gear are so good these days that even the wee-est master the slopes.
And, bonus: snowhounds can get a "Tri-Area Pass" for all three ski resorts.*
Winter cool thing to do: hike the Johnston Canyon to frozen waterfalls. If you go with Discover Banff Tours, you'll get a friendly Guide and handy ice-cleats that fit over your shoes.
continue to Dog-Sledding
*Always check web sites for updates.
