Lake Louise Ski Resort Guide (2021)
With over 4200 acres of accessible terrain, over four mountain faces, Lake Louise is a world-renowned Ski Resort located 1 hour away from Banff, Alberta.
Lake Louise plays host to the FIS Ski World Cup in November-December each year and offers world-class terrain for every ability. From the expansive Back Bowls and West Bowl for the advanced riders, to the gentle green slopes on the front-side, Lake Louise truly caters to everybody’s needs.
The resort boasts an impressive 160 runs, and while we cannot confess to having ridden all 160 of them, we did ride our fair share of them during our ski season in Lake Louise.
This guide, written by people that worked a ski season in Lake Louise, will help you figure out how to get the most from your next trip to the iconic Lake Louise Ski Resort.
Lower Flight Run (Frontside of Mountain)
Ski Run Overview
Lifts are open daily 9am-4pm (Last chair is at 4pm but you don’t have to be off the mountain at this time).
10 Ski Lifts and 3 Terrain Parks to cater for all abilities.
Beginners - stick to the frontside for green/blue runs accessible from Glacier Express Chair and Grizzly Gondola. Best runs for Beginners - Wiwaxy and Juniper
Intermediates - Head over to the Larch Chair on the backside for a mix of blue/black runs and to avoid the crowds. Best runs for Intermediates - Larch and Rock Garden
Advanced - loops of the Paradise and Summit chairs provide great access to the world-famous back bowls. Best Runs for Advanced - Wounded Knee into Kiddie’s Corner and Crow Bowl
New for the 2020/21 Season - quad-chair (Summit Chair) from Top-of-the-world giving access to an extra 480 acres of terrain in the West Bowl.
Ski Season Dates
Lake Louise Ski Resort is typically open from Early November (Though in 2021 it did open as early as October) through to Early May. The busiest time of year to visit is around Christmas and Easter.
Ski Lift Ticket Prices
Adult Single Day starts from CAD$124
Adult Season Passes starts from CAD$1365
Where to Eat at Lake Louise Ski Resort
Base Area:
Temple Lodge (On the backside of the Mountain)
Lodge of 10 peaks is the main lodge at the base of the ski hill and provides a plethora of dining options. If you’re looking for a quick coffee and a snack then head to Slopeside Coffee, but if you fancy something a little more substantial then head upstairs to Kuma Yama for what is surely the finest Sushi on offer at a Ski Resort in North America.
Banded Peak (Used to be called Kokanee Kabin) is located at the base of the ski hill, next to the Glacier chair, and is a great spot to rest your legs and experience the Lake Louise après ski scene.
On the Mountain:
Temple Lodge provides a cafe downstairs where you can grab hot and cold drinks, plus snacks like Burgers and fries. Our Tip: Try the poutine!
Sawyer’s Nook is located upstairs in Temple Lodge and features an Alpine Cheese Fondue Experience on it’s menu. It’s a great way to wind down after a long day hitting the slopes.
Whitehorn Bistro can be found halfway down the frontside of the mountain and has more of a traditional restaurant vibe (Steak; Bison Burgers; Pasta Dishes etc.), only it's served at 2042m above sea level.
Ski & Snowboard Rentals and Prices
Ski/Snowboard rentals are available from the Ski Resort directly.
Alternatively there are a number of options nearby including rentals at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Wilson Mountain Sports located in the Samson Mall, or lots of rental options in the town of Banff (Ultimate Sports is probably the best option).
A rough price breakdown of the rentals offered at Lake Louise Ski Resort is as follows:
Adult Full-Day Ski/SnowboardPackage (Mid Performance) = CAD$49 or 3-day rate per day = CAD$43
Adult Full-Day Ski/SnowboardPackage (High Performance) - CAD$69 or 3-day rate per day = CAD$57
Child Full-Day Ski/Snowboard Package = CAD$33 or 3-day rate per day = CAD$27
Ski/Snowboard Lessons: group Ski/Snowboard lessons are not available for the 2020/21 season due to COVID protocols. Private lessons starting from CAD$299 for a 2-hour adult lesson (CAD$199 for children) are still available.
If it is a mountain guide you are looking for, rather than a full lesson, the Ski Friends programme at Lake Louise Ski Resort may be able to offer assistance. Ski Friends Volunteers can be found dotted across the mountain in bright yellow, Lake Louise jackets, and will take you across the mountain for free. They will always know what lifts are busy and where the best snow can be found in any conditions.
Other Activities available at Lake Louise Ski Resort
Lake Louise Ski Resort is home to a Tube Park (Not operational in 2020/21 season) and also offers nighttime and daytime Guided Snowshoe Tours (Starting from CAD$59 if you already have a ski pass; CAD$89 without a ski pass).
Although there are a number of once-in-a-lifetime activities on offer in Lake Louise, it’s hard to overlook snowboarding in the fresh Albertan powder at Lake Louise Ski Resort.
How to get to Lake Louise Ski Resort?
From Calgary: Lake Louise Ski Resort is 2 hours away from Calgary International Airport, along the Trans-Canada Highway. Lake Louise Ski Bus offers a daily service from Calgary to Lake Louise Resort. Bus only fares start from CAD$45 return - the fare is free if you purchase your lift ticket on the bus.
From Banff: Lake Louise Ski Resort is 40 minutes West of the town of Banff, along the Trans-Canada Highway. Twice-daily free Lake Louise Ski Resort Shuttles are available from numerous pick-up locations in Banff (Typically around 8:30am and 10:45am pick-up times).
Where to stay when visiting Lake Louise Ski Resort?
Luxury Option: Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise - the iconic hotel, located on the shores of Lake Louise, is a luxurious option during your trip to Lake Louise Ski Resort. Free shuttles to and from the Lake Louise ski resort.
Mid-priced Option: Lake Louise Inn - offers Condo accommodation that can sleep up to 8 people with fully equipped kitchen and ski storage. Free shuttles to and from Lake Louise ski resort.
Cheaper Option: Banff International Hostel - dorm-room style accommodation in the heart of downtown Banff. No shuttle provided.
Lake Louise Inn during the winter (Photo courtesy of Lake Louise Inn)
COVID Protocols at Lake Louise Ski Resort
No guide would be complete in the world we currently live in without speaking of the COVID protocols that are currently in place to keep everybody safe.
Lake Louise Ski Resort currently mandates that you make an online reservation for every day you are planning to visit the resort. This can be done here. This is to ensure that the hill doesn’t get too crowded.
On top of this, usual COVID protocols are in place. Mandatory mask wearing, social distancing, COVID-health screenings etc. You can read a full breakdown of the Lake Louise Ski Resort covid protocols here.
With the promise of 4200 acres of skiable terrain, and the added prospect of skiing alongside the world-famous Canadian Rockies backdrop, it is easy to see why skiing at Lake Louise Ski Resort is consider one of the most amazing winter activities to do in Lake Louise.
