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Lake Louise Ski Holidays

At a glance

  • Legendary ski resort
  • Designated beginner zones
  • Massive ski area

Great for

  • Groups
  • Scenery
  • Luxury

Ski Holidays in Lake Louise

Voted “Best Ski Resort in Canada” (in the World Ski Awards), this is one of the most beautiful places you’ll ever ski. With a unique ski area that lets all abilities ski from every lift, a 360° panorama of Banff National Park and iconic hotels like the lakeside Fairmont Chateau, Lake Louise is truly world class.

  • Flight Time
  • 9 hours
  • From London
  • Nearest Airports
  • Calgary, Montreal
  • Vancouver
  • Time zone
  • GMT - 3.5 to -8 hours
  • Language
  • English, French
  • Currency
  • Canadian Dollar
  • Ski Season
  • Dec - April

Lake Louise Stats

Top Altitude
2,637m
Bottom Altitude
1,646m
Resort Altitude
1,646m
Total Piste
4200 acres / 100km
Longest Run
8km
Slope Orientation
N S E W
Vertical Drop
991m
Skiable Vertical
991m
Night Skiing
No
Glacier Skiing
Yes

Lying at 1646 metres altitude in the Alberta region of the Canadian Rockies, Lake Louise has been photographed to within an inch of its existence, and still manages to delight the eyes. Literally turquoise in summer and overlooked by the glistening Victoria glacier (named after our great former monarch, no less), even the shakiest of photographers will come away with prize shots after a trip here. In the winter, the lake freezes over for the season, and the ice-skating opportunities abound under the watch of the iconic Fairmont Chateau (cue more stunning snaps).

As for the skiing, there’s plenty more to be impressed with. With the highest lifts and ski slopes at 2637m, the Lake Louise area is reliably snow sure, and frequently blanketed in feather-light, dry Canadian Rockies powder. It’s one of three ski areas and linked by an efficient shuttle to nearby Mount Norquay and Sunshine Village. On a SkiBig3 pass, you can ski the lot, and all told cover a colossal 8000 acres of Banff National Park terrain (which is, we might add, a UNESCO world heritage site).

In and of itself, the Lake Louise ski area has plenty to offer and it’s one of the most convenient, set out so that all abilities can ski from each lift, meaning groups of mixed abilities won’t have to split up for the day. It must be doing something right, given this is the only Canadian resort to host the FIS Ski World Cup circuit, and ski stars like Lindsey Vonn.

Calgary International Airport is only a couple of hours drive away (115 miles) – you can get the Banff Airporter transfer to Banff where a bus will take you to the resort itself. 5 minutes among lively Banff’s bars and restaurants and you’ll want to head back. Luckily, it’s easily accessible via the ski bus (included in the Tri Area pass).

Winter Sports Ratings

Beginners

Intermediate

Advanced

Snowboarding

Lake Louise Transfer Times

Calgary120mins

The nearest airport to Lake Louise is Calgary at 190 km or about 2 hours by car

What's the ski area like in Lake Louise?

The ski area is one of the biggest in the continent, covering 4200 acres and including 145 runs over 4 mountain faces, but up your ticket to the SkiBig3 pass and you’ll have a whopping 8000 acres to sink your teeth into.

The Minute Maid Adventure Park and Sunny beginner’s area provide the perfect introduction to the snow, with 3 magic carpets to keep things simple. Wiwaxy is run specifically for beginners, where you can practice in peace and quiet. Thanks to the way the ski area’s been designed, you’ll find at least one green from all the chair lifts as well as the gondola, so you can catch the lift with friends and family and meet them at the bottom if you prefer to chicken out of the trickier terrain.

For a quick introduction to Louise, head up the World chair, from which it’s possible to reach nearly every part of the mountain on skis. Work your way up to the most challenging intermediate trail, Boomerang, on the Back Bowls.

The back bowls meanwhile are also perfect for experts, offering a variety of chutes and white-knuckle gradients. Be sure to ski the World Cup run while you’re here.

Boarders, meanwhile, won’t be disappointed by the massive Showtime park, the biggest in the Canadian Rockies, with lines of varying difficulty and a bag jump.

Which other ski resorts are near to Lake Louise?

The nearest ski resorts to Lake Louise include Banff, Sunshine Village.

Ski Area Facts

LocationAlberta, Canada
Established1890
Downhill4200 acres / 100km
Lift Pass$477.12 (Adult 6 day)

Beginner Slopes

35runs25%

Intermediate Skiing

63runs45%

Advance & Expert Terrain

41runs30%

Snowboarding Trails

4200 acres / 100km100%

Lake Louise Restaurants

Where to eat in Lake Louise and on the mountain

Lake Louise Après Ski

Bars Late Night Clubs and Cafes in Lake Louise

Lake Louise Activites for Non-skiers

Clothing Food & Souvenir Shops

Shopping opportunities in Lake Louise itself are decidedly limited with a dozen or so outlets spread between a small mall in the village and shops in Chateau Lake Louise. A couple of galleries are certainly each worth a visit - the Art of Man Gallery and Northern Art Impressions. The main ski shop sells a wide range of gear including Spyder, Salomon Boots, Boards, and Bindings and Nitro Snowboards. As with other matters requiring anything besides great skiing, the bigger choice is in Banff.

In common with other ski towns, Banff has great shopping, with more than 200 speciality stores to choose from. For local artwork and crafts, Canada House retails Inuit, Native, wildlife, landscape art and jewellery. Additionally The Gallery at the Springs sells mountain art by Canadian artists, with an emphasis on works by artists living and working in the Bow Valley. The Quest is another place to purchase Canadian crafts and art in a variety of media whilst The Banff Indian Trading Post provides an outlet for the Stoney Indians of Morley to sell their handicrafts as it has for over a century. Today, the selection has been expanded to include true native artworks from tribes across Canada. The Sedna Art Gallery features Inuit sculptures and Native paintings

Lake Louise Package Ski Holidays

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Best Time to Visit Lake Louise

Considering Lake Louise is coated in about 30ft of the white stuff annually, you’ve got a good chance of freshies anytime in the season here. Nonetheless, February to April is considered the peak of the season. With slopes facing in all directions, there are no months to avoid in Louise – and there’s always the option of bussing to nearby Norquay or Sunshine depending on conditions. As a rule, March tends to see the most snowfall. This is the time the weather warms up (average temperatures of 1°C) and the days get longer (12 daylight hours compared to January’s 8), making this an ideal time to ski here. That being said, there’s nothing more magical than a quiet Christmas or New Year in the idyllic Lake Louise setting – just be sure to bundle up against the chill.

What's Lake Louise like at Christmas?

Jingling sleigh rides, scenic skating and gala dinners are just a few of the festive treats usually on offer during Christmas in Lake Louise.

What's Lake Louise like in the New Year?

If toasting in the new year in a grand ballroom sounds like the ticket, New Year in Lake Louise is just for you, with Banff bars just down the road to ramp up the celebrations.

What's Lake Louise like in Half-Term?

An extra leg on the trip for a Half-term in Lake Louise is well worth it for photos that will make family and friends green with envy. Meanwhile, the Chateau Fairmont’s activities could keep the kids busy even without touching a ski.

What's Lake Louise like at Easter?

Easter egg decoration, tales from the Easter bunny and leisurely brunches in the Fairmont ballroom are just some of the surprises usually in store at Easter in Lake Louise.

Lake Louise Snow Conditions

Snow Report, History & Forecast

View our detailed Lake Louise snow report to see skiing confitions now. Our Lake Louise snow history shows you what snow depths have been in recent years month-by-month. If you're visiting soon, use the Lake Louise snow forecast to see predicted snowfall over the coming days.

  • Light snow Today
  • Light snow Sunday
  • Moderate or heavy snow showers Monday
  • Light snow Tuesday
  • Cloudy skies Wednesday
  • Current snow depth at top
    136 cm
  • Alternate Text
  • Current snow depth at base
    51 cm

Ski Accommodation in Lake Louise

We have 2607 ski holidays in Lake Louise. Search all Lake Louise ski deals or pick your preferred accommodation type below:

With a whopping 7 ice rinks, the enchanting forests of the Banff National Park and at the heart of it all, the monumental Fairmont Chateau, Lake Louise is a winter paradise for families. You don't have to know the Frozen soundtrack inside out to appreciate the soaring architecture of the lakeside Fairmont Chateau, nor the thousands of child-friendly features within. Specifics change with the seasons, but events usually include appearances from Santa and the Easter bunny over school holidays, with services like childcare and restaurant deals (in the past including kids under 5 eating free!) looking set to continue. Last time we checked, other offerings included after dark expeditions, 2 snow tubing parks, a climbing wall and a cinema - ensuring even the sulkiest teens will thank you for bringing them.

Over in the ski area, child-friendly skiing is plentiful with the Minute Maid adventure park, a progressive beginner's area, tonnes of wide open and pretty forested greens. The unique piste system here is arranged so that families can split between different graded runs at the top of a lift and still meet at the bottom. Friendly ski instructors will collect and drop kids off in day-care from their lessons, while the Terrain park under the Grizzly Express was the venue for the 2014 Snowboard Cross World Cup; a big draw for teenage freestyle fans.

Great for groups, the clever layout of the Lake Louise ski area allows groups of varying abilities to ski together; with beginner, intermediate and advanced runs from every chair. And the terrain parks here are equally all-encompassing, with progressive lines at several different sites. The Showtime Terrain Park, in particular, is one of the largest in Western Canada.

In recent years, groups of 15 or more have benefitted from reduced lift passes and rentals at Louise, and the resort has hosted torchlit dinner and ski sessions that are a great way to wrap up a trip with drinks, dancing and a freshly groomed firelit run.

Lake Louise
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5
out of 5
We had our honeymoon here – this is the perfect resort if you want some alone time, lovely but quiet with the most scenic skiing in the Banff area. + more
Gary Davis, Kendle
5 out of 5
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Ski Extras

How much is a ski pass in Lake Louise

Maximum and minimum adult Lake Louise lift pass prices ranged from C$562 to C$624 for 6 days access to the Lake Louise ski lift system at the start of the 2025 winter season. Our lift passes are part of a packaged Lake Louise holiday with accommodation, so prices vary depending on chalet or hotel suppliers. Confirm price for the lift ticket before booking your holiday.

Lift Tickets Child Adult Senior
1 Day Price C$20 - C$39 C$52 - C$104 C$40 - C$79
6 Day Price C$213 - C$240 C$562 - C$624 C$432 - C$474
Age Range 6 - 12 18 - 64 65+

Getting to Lake Louise

Most of our ski holidays to Lake Louise packaged with flights include airport transfers. We can also arrange private transfers to Lake Louise from nearby airports

How long does it take to fly to Lake Louise from the UK?

Flights from London take about 9 hours to Calgary, Montreal, Vancouver. This table shows approximate transfer times to Lake Louise from the nearest airports, smaller airports can be more prone to delays.

Airport Distance Transfer Time
Calgary 190 km 2 hours

How long is the transfer from nearest Canada train station to Lake Louise?

The transfer time from alpine train stations are generally shorter than from airports, Call us for details of Lake Louise transfers.

Station Distance Transfer Time
Lake Louise 0 km 0 minute

Lake Louise Maps

Lake Louise piste map
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Local Map 1, Lake Louise
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Town Map
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More Lake Louise Information

Lake Louise Ski Holiday Resources

Need help choose your Lake Louise ski holiday? Call us on 020 7770 6888 or click Enquire - we love to help!


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