Lake Louise—heard of this place? That incredibly blue lake with a gorgeous glacial backdrop? You see it on just about every Canadian postcard. Ring a bell? Yup, it’s kind of pretty. But you know what’s even prettier than hiking along its breathtaking shoreline? Turning through champagne powder just up the road.
Lake Louise is one of Canada’s most iconic ski destinations. Nestled in the heart of the Rockies in Alberta, it’s known across the world for its terrain, mind-blowing views, and overall amazing skiing experience.
Learning about ski mountains is better over video, that’s why I made a Lake Louise video guide. You can watch it HERE.
Table of Contents
Skiable Acreage & Vertical
Lake Louise boasts 4,200 acres of skiable terrain and a 991-meter (3,250-foot) vertical drop, which makes it the third-largest ski resort in Canada. There’s plenty of room to explore, challenge yourself, and really let loose—from wide-open bowls to perfectly groomed cruisers, this place has it all.
Total Lifts
Getting around the Lake is pretty easy, thanks to the resort’s 11 lifts. There is one gondola, but it isn’t necessary to ride it to access the other parts of the mountain. However, it’s sure nice to hunker down in there when the temperatures drop. Lake Louise is currently building a new lift called the Upper Juniper Chairlift, which will provide even better access and the ability to lap the West Bowl on the front side.
Location & Accessibility
Lake Louise is located in Banff National Park, about a two-hour drive from Calgary International Airport. The drive up is epic, with towering peaks, pristine forests, and wildlife surrounding you. If you’re flying in, there are shuttle services that can take you straight from Calgary to the resort. For all of us Lower Mainland folks, driving in typically works well, so long as the weather cooperates.
Navigating the Mountain
Lake Louise is divided into four different zones: the Front Side, the Back Side, Larch, and the West Bowl. Most of the more digestible beginner terrain and tree-lined groomers can be found on the Front Side and in the Larch area. The expert and more extreme alpine terrain is located in the Back Bowls, West Bowl, and around the Paradise Chair.
Beginner Terrain
Lake Louise is a great place to learn. About 1/4 of the terrain is dedicated to confidence-building green runs. Wiwaxy is a great run for beginners (I must have lapped it 20 times on opening day), and one of our favorite runs of the whole visit was a 6 cm dusting on Blueberry on the skier’s right of the Juniper Chair. The Larch Express is also an amazing zone for beginners, and a fun loop is to ride Pika from the top of the Grizzly Gondola past the Temple Lodge and up the Larch.
Intermediate & Carving Runs
If you’re like me and enjoy a good carving session, Lake Louise has got you covered. Some of the longest sustained carving runs can be found on the Front Side. I really liked Old Ptarmigan, or try linking together Grizzly Gully, Home Run, Juniper, and Juniper Jungle. I know, it’s ridiculous that there are four different run names on the way down, but just ski freely and keep following different blues to link together a good lap.
I also really enjoyed Meadowlark & Boomerang, which give you good views of the gullies and bigger terrain in the Back Bowls before you attack them. Another great intermediate/advanced run worth checking out is the Rock Garden. It’s like a super mellow boulder field, and I found it to be quite picturesque.
Advanced/Expert Terrain
This is where Lake Louise really shines. Everywhere you look, there are awesome black and double-black runs to rip. One of the first runs we did was off the Summit Chair and into the West Bowl. We lucked out with a freshly dusted canvas and enjoyed ripping through the trees at the end. The West Bowl is super sick because no matter what line you ski, you’ll end up skiing some glades at the bottom, which will pop you right out onto the exit track leading to the base.
You could spend your whole day distracted and having fun on the Front Side, but the Back Side gets even better. The Back Side can be accessed directly from the Top of the World Gondola, but I’d recommend heading up the Summit Chair—why not go to the highest possible point?
Just remember, once you ski down the Back Side, you can’t directly access the Summit area again unless you taxi two chairs. So make sure to take advantage and ski something off the top. I’d recommend trying one of the Whitehorns, an Alphabet Gully lap, and one of the Brown Cow lines.
We were so stoked coming off the chair that we hit the first thing we saw—Ridge Run—and did not regret it. All of the lines coming off the Back Side have great fall line and pitch, and when the snow is fresh, life doesn’t get much better. I’d also recommend heading up the Paradise Chair for a lap or two. I absolutely loved Cowboy and the glades below in the morning sunshine.
Extreme Terrain
It’s not the scariest resort I’ve been to, but there’s no lack of spicy terrain at Lake Louise, especially if you know where to look. The day I skied, there was a bit of fog, so we didn’t get overly exploratory. However, we found our steep skiing fix on the ER Chutes. Pick a number from 1-7 and go for it. ER 3 was an absolute blast. I first thought the name was short for “Emergency Room,” but apparently it’s Eagle Ridge.
The Alphabet Gullies are tight and steep as well, and we felt our way down in a complete whiteout. On a clear day, I’m certain I could get myself into a little more trouble.
Tree Skiing
Not many resorts have it all, but Lake Louise does. There are awesome tree skiing zones all over the mountain (minus the Back Bowls). The East Bowl trees below Eagle Ridge were epic. I also loved all of the tree lines beneath West Bowl. We also managed to get completely lost in some tight trees to the skier’s left of Meadowlark and had fun finding our way back to the base.
Nothing makes me happier than getting some open bowl or chute turns and finishing it off with a good old-fashioned quad-crush in the foliage.
Snow Conditions & Climate
You couldn’t ask for much more in terms of terrain variation and views at a mountain. But what Lake Louise is missing is deep snowfall. It gets constant small snowfalls, but only receives a 454 cm (179-inch) gift from ULLR per season. That’s about half of Sunshine Village’s snowfall and one-third of Whistler’s. Less snow usually means more hard pack conditions and ice.
However, when it does nuke, temperatures are so cold that light, dry champagne powder and perfect groomers hang around for a while. As expected in Alberta and the Rockies, it’s chilly—really chilly. So if you’re coming for a visit, be ready with all your layers in case you have to fight some face-ripping cold. The good news is that the chilly air makes the hot toddy in the lodge taste even better.
Lift Lines
Although it’s a world-renowned skiing destination, Lake Louise’s lift lines are super manageable, even on weekends—laughable compared to Whistler. There are so many chairlifts and terrain areas that even on the busiest of days, you’ll feel like you have lots of the mountain to yourself (unless there are seasonal or avalanche closures).
Backcountry Access
I’m going to be honest, I’ve got zero clue about the backcountry access from the resort. When we visited, the persistent slab and avalanche risks were very high. I saw some sweet potential lines and areas but don’t have any reasonable intel to share. If you do decide to venture off, make sure you have the gear, are trained in rescue, and follow the bulletins closely. The snowpack in the Rockies is absolutely nothing to mess around with.
Family
Lake Louise is also extremely family-friendly. You’ll have no problem keeping everyone of all skill levels entertained. The biggest challenge will usually be keeping the kiddos warm.
Views
The views are one of the things that make Lake Louise so special. These are some of the absolute best skiing views in the world. Keep your fingers crossed for a bluebird day up there, and it will not be an experience you soon forget. Also, if you’ve never seen the actual Lake Louise, make sure to pop over there after your ski day for a walk or skate—it’s always an amazing sight.
Tickets & Passes
Lake Louise is associated with the Ikon Pass, Mountain Collective, and Ski Big 3, so you have ample options when figuring out how to secure passes depending on your current situation. Last season, I used the Ski Big 3 Pass, and it was awesome. It allows you to visit Banff Sunshine, Lake Louise, and Norquay. You get a 5-day window to use 3 days of ski passes, and you can go to any of the mountains during the days that you scan in.
My Honest Opinion
It could use more snow and could be a litttle warmer, but those are really small gripes. All in all, life is worth living at Lake Louise, and it’s a bucket lister that you have to check out. Make sure to bring lots of layers and get ready for an amazing skiing experience.
