Famous for hosting men’s and women’s downhill races in recent years, Lake Louise is one of Canada’s most famous ski destinations and one of Alberta’s best ski resorts. Lake Louise is about a 40-minute drive from downtown Banff along a divided highway, and still within Banff National Park.

Spread across four mountains, this resort has a little something for everyone. Those who love to navigate long, wide blue runs will be in their element checking out the runs in the Whitehorn and Larch Mountains. Do you crave endless hits? Drop Whitehorn’s rear under the Paradise chair and pound until your knees or quads give out. If you’re looking to explore alpine bowl action, take the new Summit Quad and drop by the newly opened West Bowl.

The Lake Louise Ski Resort Gondola opened in 1959, and since then the resort has expanded to have 10 lifts, including the aforementioned gondola, six chairlifts, and three surface lifts. All of this uphill capacity services 160 named runs. Keep in mind that almost every chair has a beginner, intermediate, or advanced run off it, so virtually the entire mountain is accessible to everyone. And there’s plenty to explore, with over 4,200 acres of ski terrain ensuring you’ll have your own space to enjoy yourself, even on the busiest of days.

Lake Louise receives nearly 15 feet of natural snowfall each year and supplements it with a robust snowmaking operation.

You will definitely whet your appetite with all your exploring and luckily the resort has you covered. temple lodge, located at the base of Larch Mountain, is a spectacular wood-framed building nestled in a bucolic alpine setting. Head here to warm up after a long descent from the top of the Larch, or grab a sunny spot on the patio and enjoy one of the legendary grilled burgers at the outdoor barbecue.

If you are in the front, pull over to the Whitehorn Bistro and grab a spot by the windows for amazing views of the Bow Valley. At the base area is the impressive Lodge of the Ten Peaks, where you can sit back and watch skiers descend the front slopes.

If you or your crew members are looking for something besides skiing, consider a trip to one of the four-field parks. Each park is geared toward a specific skill level: Elbow is for beginners, Triple Bridge for beginners moving up to intermediate, Easy Street is for intermediate to advanced, and Boulevard for advanced to expert.

A fun family activity at Lake Louise Resort is tubing. Head over to Sunny Tube Park, where all ages can slip and slide down the groomed track. If you have a group, you can connect up to five tubes together and lower them all at once. The metro park is open to ages three and up.

Like any resort, crowds at Lake Louise can be a problem if a decent snow dump hits. If the forecast is for heavy snow, be sure to get up there as soon as possible to avoid the bottleneck at the base area lifts. Parking is free, and getting a spot is rarely a problem since the lots are huge.

Official site: https://www.skilouise.com/