At a Glance
Access to three ski areas
Average annual snowfall of 9m
Suitable for all abilities
Long ski season – Nov to May
Atmospheric après scene
Skiing in Banff
If you’re looking for somewhere that will satisfy all your skiing needs – with acres of backcountry and perfect pistes – Banff is the place for you. This fantastic town is made up of three ski areas – Lake Louise, Banff Sunshine Village and Mt Norquay – and, with a huge variety of terrain to choose from, there really is something for everyone. All the ski areas are easily accessible by shuttle from the town. As a busy ski town, Banff offers excellent dining and drinking options perfect for winding down after a day on the hill.
Banff is most convenient for the following CMH areas: Adamants, Bobbie Burns, Bugaboos & Valemount.
Powder Skiing Watch
Banff Sunshine is where you will most likely find the best and most snow due to it being at the higher elevation in comparison to the other two ski areas.
How do I get there?
Banff is only 1 hour and 40 minutes from Calgary by road. Shuttle buses, private transfers or hire cars can be easily arranged for you by our team.
Pure Powder Recommends
Moose Hotel
The Moose Hotel has an elegant mountain lodge feel with warm wooden features decorating the interior and cosy fire places. They offer deluxe rooms as well as one– and two–bedroom suites, with views of the surrounding Rocky Mountains. It is just a short walk into downtown Banff where you can experience the buzzy town atmosphere.
For Alternative Stays…
The Mount Royal
If you want to be amongst all the action in the centre of town then look no further than The Mount Royal. It has easy access to Banff’s restaurants and bars as well as the shuttles to each ski hill. The hotel has a longstanding history and still honours its heritage today, whilst bringing it up to date with all modern amenities and a mountain-chic style. The two rooftop hot tubs and the chill-out room are the perfect place to enjoy a post ski drink and snack.
Elk & Avenue
Elk & Avenue is a contemporary and minimalist hotel which is suitable for all budgets. It offers large airy rooms with all modern amenities. It is only a short walk from the centre of Banff but it also has two on-site restaurants and cafes if you’d prefer to eat in.
Pure Powder Loves
√ If you want to explore more of Banff’s National Park then seek out the ice waterfalls.
√ Head up Banff’s Gondola on a clear evening to enjoy exceptional views of Banff and dine out at Sky Bistro (booking recommended).
Things to Consider
– Banff can get very busy during peak season and so shuttles to the ski hills can be very full at times – ‘early bird catches the worm’ is how you need to act during high season.
– The ski hills are all located out of town so you will have to travel to ski (Mt Norquay is a 5 minute shuttle, Banff Sunshine a 20 minute shuttle and Lake Louise a 45 minute shuttle).