Banff, Alberta Hotel & City Guide

Ski Area General Information

Alberta
Banff Mount Norquay
Mount Norquay Ski Area
Banff's Mount Norquay, located above the Town of Banff, offers the rare experience of night skiing once a week, from January until the end of March.Day time skiing starts in early December. Located only minutes from downtown Banff, Mount Norquay offers a wide range of ski terrain. Mount Norquay has 90% snowmaking capacity and offers some of the best grooming in the Rockies.

General Information

• 20 minute drive from The Fairmont Banff Springs                  
• Shuttle service provided from the hotel                  
• Tel: (403) 762-4421
• Ski Rentals available through The Ski Stop, located at The Fairmont Banff Springs.  Reservations may be made in advance through The Ski Stop

Mountain Statistics

• Vertical: 1,650 ft. (503 m)                  
• Base elevation 5,350 ft. (1,636 m)                  
• Peak: 7,000 ft. (2,133 m)                  
• Average snowfall: 120 in. (300 cm)                  
• Snowmaking: 90% of skiable terrain                  
• Trails: 25 runs                  
• Longest run: 3,828 ft. (1,167 m)                  
• Cumulative length of runs: 10.2 miles (16.4 kms.)                  
• Terrain: Expert16% Advanced 28 % Intermediate 45% Novice 11%                  
• One high-speed quad-chair lift                  
• One quad-chair lift                  
• 2 double chair lifts                  
• One surface lift                  
• Capacity approximately 6,300 people per hour                  
• Average of 120 inches (300 cms.) of snow per year                  
• The new 24,000 sq. ft. Cascade Lodge offers breathtaking alpine views

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NAKISKA
Nakiska was the spectacular venue of the 1988 Winter Olympics. Specifically designed to host the Olympic alpine events, the result was the creation of a ski area carefully designed to match the needs of today's skier. Nakiska is equipped with one of the most expensive and sophisticated snowmaking systems in the world, ensuring the highest quality of snow coverage on the mountain from early December through mid-April

General Information

• 60 minute drive from The Fairmont Banff Springs             
• Created using the latest computer technology produced by Ecosign of Whistler, the same company also designed the long, wide fall-line runs of Blackcomb.             
• Tel: (403) 591-7777

Mountain Statistics

• Vertical: 2,460 ft. (750 m)             
• Base elevation 4,920 ft. (1,500 m)             
• Average snowfall: 72 in. (250 cms.)             
• Trails: 28 runs             
• Snowmaking: 80%             
• Terrain: Advanced: 14 % Intermediate: 70% Novice: 16%             
• Longest run: 2.3 miles (3.6 kms.)             
• 2 quad-chair lifts             
• One triple-chair lift             
• One double-chair lift             
• One surface lift

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Sunshine Village
Sunshine Village is located on the Continental Divide creating a vast bowl of deep snow with an average of 30 ft. of powder from November to May - the longest ski season in Canada. Throughout Sunshine's history, all development, including $11 million in resort improvements, has been carefully designed to harmonize with the natural beauty of the Canadian Rockies and Banff National Park. Still standing is the original log cabin of 1928, known as Old Sunshine Lodge.

General Information

• 25 minute drive from The Fairmont Banff Springs             
• Shuttle service provided from the hotel             
• Open from November 22 to Victoria Day (Memorial Day) weekend in May             
• Tel. (403) 762-6500          
• Ski Rentals available through The Ski Stop, located at The Fairmont Banff Springs.  Reservations may be made in advance through the ski stop
• Accessed via highspeed 8-man gondola from the parking lot to the ski lifts. 13 minute ride.

Mountain Statistics

• Vertical: 3,514 ft. (1,070 m)             
• Base elevation 5,440 ft. (1,658 m)             
• Peak: 8,954 ft. (2,730 m)             
• Village elevation: 8,954 ft. (2,273 m)             
• Average snowfall: 360 in. (914 cm)             
• Snowmaking: 100% natural snow             
• Trails: 89 runs             
• Terrain: Expert 10% Advanced 20% Intermediate 50% Novice 20%             
• Longest Run: 5 miles (8 kms.)             
• Cumulative length of runs: Approximately 52 miles (82 kms.)             
• 3 high-speed quad-chair lifts             
• One triple-chair lifts             
• 3 double-chair lifts             
• 2 t-bars             
• 2 double-chair lifts             
• One gondola             
• 13 million vertical transport feet per hour             
• Approximately 17,000 people per hour

Quick Facts

• New Goat's Eye boasts 1,900 vertical feet of powder and groomed runs             
• Known for its fluffy, 100% natural powder -- more than 30 ft. per year  

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Lake Louise Ski Area
Lake Louise City Guide
Lake Louise is one of Canada's largest ski areas with a 3,250 ft. vertical drop, spread over four mountain faces. Lake Louise Ski Area had record breaking snow conditions in 1998/99, prompting the World Cup Ski Organizers to choose Lake Louise as the host site for the 1999 Men's and Women's World Cup ski races.

With over 1,000 skiable acres, 100 named runs and 4 mountain faces to choose from, this alpine terrain offers the perfect variety for all abilities. Every chair lift has both an easy and a more difficult way down, allowing everyone from novice to expert to enjoy and explore the whole mountain, including the famed back bowls.

General Information

• 45 minute drive from The Fairmont Banff Springs              
• Shuttle service is provided from the hotel              
• Voted 'Most Scenic Ski Area In North America' by Snow Country magazine, 1994              
• Tel: (403) 522-3555           
• Ski Rentals available through The Ski Stop, located at The Fairmont Banff Springs.  Reservations may be made in advance through The SKi Stop

Mountain Statistics

• Vertical: 3,250 ft. (1,000 m)              
• Base elevation 5,400 ft. (1, 645 m)              
• Peak: 8,650 ft. (2,637 m)              
• Snowmaking: 20% of designated runs (over 400 acres)              
• Average snowfall: 142 in. (360 cms.)              
• Trails: 105 named runs              
• Acreage: 4,000 acres (1,620 hectares)              
• Terrain: Advanced 30 % Intermediate: 45% Novice: 25%              
• Longest Run: 5 miles (8 kms.)              
• Cumulative length of runs: Over 62 miles (100 km)              
• 3 quad-chair lifts              
• 2 triple-chair lifts              
• 3 double-chair lifts              
• One lower-mountain t-bar              
• One upper-mountain platter              
• One isolated children's tow              
• Lift Capacity: Approximately 16,400 people per hour

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