Lake Louise
Lake Louise Canada is renowned for the “wow” factor because of the amazing scenery. This backdrop adds so much to the great skiing and snowboarding experience. Lake Louise is also popular because it’s the second largest ski resort in Canada. The
Lake Louise ski terrain is variable and vast across 4,200 acres. This is no
Whistler, but it’s still huge! It’s a good indication that there’s plenty of variety to choose from when you struggle to orient yourself to the mountain, and have to peer at the trail map multiple times to figure out which mountain face you’re on.
Ski Lake LouiseThe
Lake Louise ski terrain
provides a lot of choice for all levels of skiers and snowboarders, and
subsequently Lake Louise is a popular choice with families. The front
side has many beginner and intermediate cruisers, and with plenty of
vertical, some of these runs are pretty long. There are also some
awesome areas for experts out the back. This area has chutes, gladed
runs, and roooollly steep bowls (the sort that made four of us run off
to the shop very quickly to buy a helmet). Most of the lifts are modern
and fast, and there are no problems with slope congestion.
Other Ski Resorts Near BanffLake Louise is one of three
Banff ski resorts, with its neighbours being
Norquay and
Sunshine Village. You can enjoy all three resorts on an interchangeable lift ticket. If you don’t have a car, all the resorts are accessible via complimentary shuttle buses from various Banff hotels. Lake Louise is 57 km from the
town of Banff (about 40 minutes by road), and is 180 km west of Calgary.
Lake Louise AccommodationUnfortunately there’s no on-mountain accommodation, so many visitors stay in
Banff hotels and commute to Lake Louise via car or shuttle bus each day. The advantage of staying in Banff is that there is a vibrant nightlife, lots of
shops and other activities for tourists.
The village of Lake Louise is quite different. It is very quiet and peaceful, and options for
Lake Louise hotels are more limited. There are hotels and a hostel around Lake Louise, and also the castle known as Chateau Lake Louise. If you’re not lucky enough to stay at the Chateau, it’s still worth a visit to enjoy the view of THE lake or a chic cocktail. Shuttle buses are available from the local accommodation spots to the ski area.
Lake Louise Accommodation Listings
Rug UpThe only cons with the resort seem to be the sometimes icy slopes (not much fun when riding tight tree runs) and the cold temperatures. Brrrrrrr! Anyone who has visited Lake Louise seems to comment on the chilly conditions. Rug up well at this resort, and you’ll get to enjoy the great views and diverse terrain. And don’t forget to take your camera!