Best Ski Trip to Banff Ski Resorts: Ski Big 3

Banff is situated at the heart of the Canadian Rockies under 2 hours from the Calgary International Airport. Calgary is your gateway to Banff. From here, you can reach the ski 3 Banff ski resorts in no time. The biggest advantage of vacationing at Banff is that you can stay at one place and ski at 3 very large resorts. Banff is 30 minutes to Sunshine Village, 50 minutes to Lake Louise and a mere 5 minutes to mount Norquay. Tourists can either opt for renting out a car to travel around this serene destination or get a Banff ski package the includes commute throughout the trip. Moreover, if you get the tri-area lift pass, the shuttle from the airport to the ski resort is complimentary.

The 3 banff ski resorts combined provide an unforgettable experience. What most people don’t know is that all the three resorts within the park operate on a shared lift which can be centrally reserved. The rental gear is also interchangeable between the resorts. Ski Big 3 even offers programs with instructors who also act as guides to provide group lessons at each one of the ski resorts. This even includes the lunches if you pick the right package. The complete package offered at Banff is extremely convenient, affordable and unlike anything, you can find in any other ski destinations in the world.

Banff Ski Resort can offer you the complete ski experience with 3 large resorts situated nearby. opt for a place to stay which is accessible to all the 3 resorts to make the best out of your trip. With 3 of the world’s best ski resorts to explore, Banff is one of the world’s greatest ski towns in the world today. Most enthusiastic skiers in the world today will not miss the chance to marvel and experience the Banff Ski Resort.

Banff National Park is Canada’s Yellow stone as it is considered a UNESCO world heritage site. One can plan a vacation in the winter as most of the jaw-dropping views are visible only in the winter. The sight of the snow-capped mountains can even be admired from the Main street in the town of Banff and the highway linking the town to Lake Louise and Sunshine Village.

Banff has plenty to offer even for those who do are not looking to ski. There are exciting non-skiing activities like hot springs, glacier hikes, waterfalls to climb mountains to visit and lakes to skate at this destination. Moreover, there are over 1.6 million acres of wilderness to explore. One can visit Banff with family and enjoy activities like tubing and night skiing as well. All three resorts have full services children’s centers which care for children by providing all the games, entertainment, and care they need. Lake Louise takes infants even as young as 18 days.

Smallest of the 3 resorts, Mt Norquay is a local gem of the Canadian Rockies situated in Alberta, Banff. One need not be deceived by the size of this Banff ski resort as the scenic beauty that comes with it makes for a picture-perfect postcard. It has an area of 77 hectares and 190 acres. The destination is situated on the mountain at an elevation of 8038 feet from the ground.

If you are looking to explore the 3 Banff resorts, Mt Norquay is the one to start with as it is great for beginners and intermediate. While there is limited terrain to explore, there is an abundance of steep bumps, grooming trails and not to forget the breath-taking views of Banff and the surrounding ice-capped mountain tops. Norquay has the largest tubing park in all of Alberta and also has night skiing. One can move about the resort in the pay by the hour lift in one of the 6 lifts in the resort. Compared to the crowds you can find in BANFF, the ski region in Mt Norquay serves as a great escape from all the humdrum. It is a family resort perfect for those of all ages to ski in. It also comes at a very affordable price.

The resort is extremely protected when the snow starts blowing and is also very close to the town of Banff. One can even see a part of Mt Norquay from the town of Banff. Mt Norquay runs its shuttle service to every major hotel in Banff within less than 15 minutes distance. It is a world heritage site and considered to be the birthplace of skiing within the Canadian Rockies. Mt Norquay the destinations to visit on the first day as it is the perfect place to warm up before heading to the bigger mountains. Surprisingly, it is also the place people visit ski on their last day as well.

Located at the heart of Banff national park, covering 4,200 acres, 1,700 hectares of skier and rider accessible terrain in Lake Louise Ski Resort. Lake Louise is one of the most iconic photographed place in North America. It easily has one of the most alluring ski scenery in the world. From the entrance less than 32% of the terrain is visible. But as you explore the resort you will find that it is, in fact, the largest of the 3 most popular Banff ski Resorts. On a busy day, there is an average of 1 skier per acre. The resort offers spectacular views along the 5 miles of Lake Louise. It is present at a vertical height of 991 meters ie, 3,250 feet. The base elevation is 5,400 feet whereas the top elevation is a whopping 8,650 feet. At this peak, Lake Louise receives an average of 180 inches of snow every year. Lake Louise can be accessed from other cities or countries through the Calgary airport which is 2 hours away from Banff. Lake Louise is about 36 miles from the town of Banff which takes about 40 minutes to cover through the free shuttle or any rental car.

Lake Louise consists of four terrain parks. This is a resort that can be enjoyed by skiers of all abilities and age groups. Both intermediates and beginners can find an abundance of long cruises and gentle slopes. Experts can explore endless glades, gullies, chutes and remote bowls at Lake Louise resort. The Showtime Terrain park is perfect for freestyle skiers and riders as it offers progressive lines for all levels. It contains jumps, boxes, rails and even airbag jump for freestylers to practice tricks. The Snow Cross offers cambered turns, berms, gap jumps and drops with flat and steep sections for skiers to practice on. The tube park offers a thrilling way for you to spend your winter solo or with your friend. It is an extremely safe park which allows children over the age of 3 to ride on the tube accompanied by an adult. There are also numerous beginner terrain parks which are extremely safe for taking your first step towards enjoying skiing in the mountains of Banff ski resort.

There are over 145 runs which can be accessed through the 9 lifts present in the park. Each lift has the capacity of lifting more than 14,000 skiers per hour. The 145 runs are split such that 25% is for beginners, 45% for intermediate, and 30% for advanced skiers.

Besides the winter activities, Lake Louise is a place which also offers incredible sightseeing, dining, and several world stage events. Lake Louise Summer Gondola offers the best grizzly bear viewing which is said to be a surreal experience. It is a major resort which is the home to the annual Women’s World Cup race and is well known all over the world today.

Located on the 2016/16 Mountain collective pass in Alberta alongside 10 other world-class tourist attractions, Sunshine Village is a resort that will take you by surprise. Sunshine Village is 80 miles west of the Calgary International Airport, and 5 miles from the trans-Canada highway which is 5 miles southwest from the town of Banff. It would take approximately 30 minutes to reach the resort from Banff. When you reach the foot of Sunshine Village, the view may be deceiving. You are only greeted by a parking lot and nothing more at the entrance. No peak is even in the vicinity. It is the long ride in the gondola until one reaches the actual resort which is a place that is sure to take your breath away. The view is one that is unimaginable until seen in person with huge peaks that are linked along the continental divide.

This BANFF SKI RESORT has 1,358 hectares and 3358 acres for all levels of skiers to explore. Since Sunshine village is most elevated in comparison to the other 2 resorts, it receives the most amount of snow of the Banff ski areas averaging at 24 feet. The terrain at Sunshine Village spreads across 3 mountains: Lookout mountain, Goats Eye and Mount Standish. Goat’s eye is a terrain that ski experts opt for as it has challenging steeps and tree glades along the run. Lookout Mountain, on the other hand, is used by beginners and intermediate at the lower elevation and by experts at the top. On the other hand, Mount Standish is mostly only used by beginners but also does have some challenging terrains that advanced skiers would enjoy exploring. As a rule, the lower terrain of the mountains is commonly considered the easier ones. The resort consists of 12 lifts including the gondola which help you explore the 120 names runs along the 3 mountains of the place. The 120 runs are broken down such that 15% are beginner-friendly 37% intermediate, 40% advanced and 7% expert levels.

A noteworthy terrain is the Delirium Dive which backcountry skills, the right gears including avalanches equipment to even enter. It is a must to have the expertise to navigate through this terrain as some of the runs end with has cliff drops. You can even hire an expert to help and guide you ski in this area. This area along with a few others in the world are the most extreme in-bounds and lift-accessed terrains the world.

Sunshine Village resort is the only one to offer ski-in / ski-out accommodation out of them all the BANFF SKI RESORT. It is called Sunshine Mountain lodge. From any hotel in the town, one can commute to the Sunshine resort either by renting a car or by taking one of the Banff shuttle buses. There are daily shuttle buses between this resort and the town and is free if you have a ski Big 5 or Sunshine Village ticket or pass.

Banff is a town the best views of snow-capped mountains you can find in the world, the biggest of the skiing resorts along with the best accommodations all within the vicinity of the town. Here are some of the best hotels within the city limits with easy access to the BANFF SKI RESORT.

The rimrock resort hotel is one of the best hotels you can find in Banff as it is located 6 minutes from the center of the town. The place is ideal as it is at a walking distance from the upper hot springs. The hotel has a restaurant located on-site with several delicacies for you to indulge in after a long day of skiing.

The resort hotel has several options when it comes to the type of room you are looking for. Most of the rooms come with a view of the mountains to keep your stay scenic throughout your vacation. Each room comes with a 32-inch LCD flat-screen cable TV as well. The resort also offers an indoor hot tub and pool.

The Fairmont Banff Springs is a resort built in 1888 and is considered a National Historic Site. What better way to make your vacation unforgettable than to stay at a place styled after a Scottish Baronial castle? This resort is in Banff National Park and has numerous luxuries to offer.

The resort has 14 shops and 11 restaurants right inside leaving you spoilt for choices. The Willow Stream Spa located in the resort offers 23 treatment areas, beauty treatments, and relaxing massages. Other on-site activities include tennis, horseback riding, golfing and bowling. The resort has a 20 meter heated outdoor pool and 32-meter lap pool. The experience of living at the Fairmont Banff Springs is equated to staying in a museum.

Merely at a distance of 1 minute from the heart of Banff and easily accessible from the big 3 Banff ski resorts, is the Moose Hotel and Suites It is a beautiful complex with luxurious and cozy rooms. The resort offers an on-site bar, a spa center and comes highly recommended.

The rooms are extremely spacious with air conditioning and a flat-screen TV creating the perfect ambiance to relax. The rooms even come with a small kitchenette and a toaster. This hotel is known for its great customer service and spotless rooms ensuring one’s stay is pleasant.

With the highlight of the vacation to Banff being the Banff ski resort, the best time to visit the town and enjoy all that it has to offer in the Winter season. There are numerous packages that you can find to experience the best of the snow-capped town from early November to the middle of May at this place.

Transportation to and from Banff Canada ski resort is extremely convenient. There are daily ski shuttles that are available throughout the ski season to and fro from Lake Louise, Mt Norquay, and Sunshine Village. The schedule for the ski shuttle is generally posted in October and is available through November to May.

There is provision for transportation from the Calgary Airport to Banff and even for in-town travel inside of Banff. With these numerous transport options, you can re-think hiring a rental car to move around in this place.