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Panorama Ski Resort
British Columbia’s Panorama Mountain Village is one of the less-known places to ski in the Rockies, but that’s by no means a bad thing.
The inspiration behind the name is obvious– it has stunning panoramic views over a thousand peaks of the Rockies and nearby Mount Nelson. The atmosphere here is laid-back and unpretentious, making it ideal for anyone who likes a bit of peace and quiet. The village is genuinely village-sized and the streets are pedestrianised (anyone with wheels can use the underground parking).
This is a village but it’s in no way old and ill-equipped. With modern, purpose-built accommodation spread across lower and upper villages, this is somewhere that combines the conveniences of the new world with the values of old. The upper village is at the base of the piste, right next to the lifts and if you want to pop to the facilities in the lower village, you can just take the gondola.
You’ll find all the shops you’d expect to see here as well as a good variety of restaurants serving up tasty food. If you’ve left any vital equipment behind, stores like Final Gate are well-stocked with major brands. For food, wines, beers and gifts, you can stock up in places like the General Store. Eating-wise, you’re spoilt for choice, from delicious stone-baked pizzas at Mile High Pizza to the award winning gourmet food served at Grey’s.
A big attraction is the huge (1258 ft.) hot spring bath, which is less than a stone’s throw away from the first lift and heated to a comfortable 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The slope-side location is truly spectacular - USA Today included Panorama in its worldwide “10 spectacular ski resort pools and hot tubs” list.
Calgary International Airport is three and half hours drive away and the journey is one of the best parts of the holiday – you’ll pass absolutely stunning scenery as you drive through Banff and the Kootenay National Parks.
Stats & FAQ
Location: British Columbia, Canada, Rockies
Established: 1962
Open: December - April
Downhill: 2975 acres
View our detailed Panorama snow forecast or snow report and see all live webcams, piste maps, road and travel maps and lift pass prices. For a picture of historic snow conditions see the snow depths month by month with our Panorama snow history.
| Nearest Airport & Transfer Time: | |
| Calgary (YYC) | 311km, 3h30 |
| Canadian Rockies International (YXC) | 161km, 2h |
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| Top Altitude: | 2450m |
| Bottom Altitude: | 1150m |
| Resort Altitude: | 1150m |
| Longest run: | 6.5km |
| Slope Orientation: | N NW NE |
| Vertical Drop: | 1300m |
| Skiable Vertical: | 1220 m |
| Night Skiing: | Yes |
| Glacier: | No |
Snow Report
Web Cam
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| Downhill Runs: | 2975 acres |
| Beginner slopes: | 20% |
| Intermediate: | 55% |
| Advanced slopes: | 25% |
| Lift Pass Price: | $159.00 (adult 4 days) |
| Nearby resorts: | |
Skiing/BoardingSkiing in Panorama
With 4,000 feet of vertical (the fifth highest on the North American continent) and 120 trails over an impressive 3,000 acres, the skiing is diverse, exciting and suited to all abilities. The tourist office describes this as a place to “ski your brains out” and as added bonus, there’s a good chance you’ll have it to all to yourself...
With 24 green and blue runs that allow steady progression, those just starting out are by no means forgotten here. The friendly Panorama Ski School caters for absolute beginners of all ages through to those looking to polish their skills. The learner’s slope is serviced by a magic carpet lift and next to this is a forgiving beginner’s run where you can progress at a comfortable pace.
With more than half the runs suited to intermediate levels, the area offers a nice variety of meticulously groomed blues including the long, gliding cruisers the area is well-known for. The Rollercoaster and Skyline runs are perfect for anyone who’s relatively new to the sport and looking to hone their skills. A must-ski is the aptly named Getmedown trail which is the only intermediate run from the summit - brilliant for those who have a head for heights and are a bit more confident on the white stuff.
Experts will love it here - the double diamond black runs in the Extreme Dream Zone and the chairlift accessible powder heaven that is Taynton Bowl offer great variety with steeps, treed trails, cliffs, glades and chutes. There’s also over 1,500 km of off-piste terrain and you can book a heli trip with RK Heliski, who are based in the village.
Boarders are also well catered for here. The newly opened (2014) Rockstar Terrain Park has a permanent ski and boardercross track which has a thrilling mix of kickers, whoops, tabletops, fun boxes, berms, spines and rails. There’s also a FIS regulation half pipe as well as an intermediate level terrain park with mid-sized kickers and rails.
Panorama Apres Ski
The après here is truly chilled out and genial – the kind of place where you can kick back, share a tall tale over a pint (or three) and enjoy the evening.
There are some terrific bars for those who like to party as hard as they ski. The Crazy Horse Saloon has live music throughout the season, and the Jackpine pub is always popular with its daily happy hour. If you’re still standing and want to dance the night away, the Glacier nightclub is open until the early hours.
The village has some great places to eat. For couples and anyone celebrating a special occasion, the award-winning Grey’s Restaurant at the Earl Grey Lodge is not to be missed; it offers a fine dining experience with some delicious cocktails, fine BC wine, gourmet food and incredible sushi. If you’re on holiday with the family, the Chopper’s Landing Restaurant has a cosy log cabin-esque atmosphere and a varied, child-friendly menu. The Wildfire Rustic Grill has a similarly friendly atmosphere with fusion style food on offer and we can’t fail to mention the homemade stone baked pizzas at Mile High - definitely the best in town.
If you like to spend your evenings relaxing, the hot spring baths are the best place to take in the surroundings, rest tired bones and contemplate the epic day of skiing you’ve just had. There are also lots of other opportunities including snowmobiling, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing and tobogganing.
Best time to go
Best time to ski Panorama
Best time to visit & ski Panorama
Thanks to its positioning on the west side of the Rockies, Panorama usually has milder weather than other destinations in North America.
There’s nearly 5 metres (that’s higher than a double decker bus!) of snowfall in average each year. If this wasn’t enough, to ensure consistent coverage, an extraordinary 50 million gallons of water is used to cover 15.5km of trails (around 40% of the named pistes) with water.
One of our favourite times to ski here is late in the season in March or April when the skies are sunny, conditions are usually excellent and the lines for the lifts are short to non-existent, which means great value for money. With slopes facing N NW NE, you should be riding on less of the slush and more of the late season powder.
Peak Dates
Christmas at Panorama is fun, memorable and true to the spirit of the season. There’s usually a lot going on, from family photos with Santa to carols by candlelight. Panorama Christmas ski holidays ‣
New Year at Panorama is traditionally celebrated with an awesome fireworks display and torch-lit descent... but it doesn’t stop there; children’s events, a family party and shindigs in the local bars are just a few ways you can see in the New Year. Panorama New Year ski holidays ‣
If you’re looking for a much needed getaway, let the masses head to Europe and spend February half-term at Panorama. With an excellent ski school and a wide variety of non-skiing activities, this is a super destination for the week off school. Panorama Half Term ski holidays ‣
Easter at Panorama is something special - north facing slopes offer some potentially excellent late season skiing and a variety of Easter themed and non-ski activities keep everyone entertained. Panorama Easter ski holidays ‣
Families in Panorama
With a well-organised ski school, superbly groomed beginner runs and a low-key, friendly atmosphere, Panorama is an unforgettable base for a family holiday. The intimate village is split into lower and upper sections, which are linked by a gondola as well as being right at the base of the piste and activities, restaurants and shops are all within easy reach, so getting around is really easy, even for little legs.
The Panorama Snow School caters for beginners and improvers of all ages and is close to most accommodation. We’ve heard great things about the lessons here, especially with regard to the rate of progression some learners have enjoyed. There’s a lovely learner slope with a magic carpet and 24 beginner-friendly green and blue runs, providing plenty of variety for progression (make sure you ski the cruisey Horseshoe and the Showoff).
For older children who’ve clocked up a few weeks on the piste, there’s heaps of intermediate terrain and Panorama has two snowparks - the Rockstar is brand new (opened in 2014) and has a good mix of fun boxes, rails, kickers and berms.
Children who still have boundless energy after a day on the slopes will find a variety of non-ski activities: we love the tube and tobogganing park and you can also book snowmobile adventures, snowshoeing and ice fishing. For tired grown-ups, there’s a huge hot spring pool (included in USA Today’s “10 spectacular ski resort pools and hot tubs”) as well the Pure Massage spa where you can book massages and body treatments.
If the grownups want to hit the slopes alone, Panorama has a fully licensed on-site childcare company called Wee Wascals who do half and full day packages and cater for children from 18 months to five years.
GroupsGroup Holidays Panorama
With its genial and down to earth atmosphere, good mix of activities and first-rate skiing, Panorama is a great place for groups both small and large.
If you’re all of different abilities, this place is ideal. There are 24 well-groomed green and blue runs which progressively notch up the difficulty. Fifty percent of the runs are suited to intermediate levels, including well-groomed blues like the Get Me Down trail from the summit, and the resort’s famed long cruisers (we love Rollercoaster and Skyline). The glades, chutes and tree-lined runs at the Tanyton Bowl and Extreme Dream Zone offer excellent skiing for experts and if a bunch of you are really confident on the snow, RK heliski specialise in one day heli-trips for an awesome experience of the surroundings.
The nightlife here is lively but not overbearing, making it perfect for groups who like a chilled out environment for exchanging banter over a pint or two. If you’re looking for a traditional pub, The Jackpine is a local favourite and has a daily happy hour. The T-Bar and Grill is a super place for an après beer (try their deep fried pickles) and the Mile 1 Hut has some fine BC wines to enjoy on the summit. There’s also a nightclub, the Glacier, if you fancy dancing into the early hours.
If any members of your group are non-skiers, there’s a good variety of activities to keep them entertained including snow-shoeing, tobogganing, snowmobile tours and more... That’s if they can tear themselves away from the village’s huge thermal pool, which is not to be missed if you’re on holiday here.
Which are the best ski holidays in Panorama?
| Accommodation | Number of nights | Price (per person) from |
|---|---|---|
| Upper Village Condos | 7 | £ 1827 |
| Panorama Springs Lodge | 7 | £ 1895 |
| The Approach | 7 | £ 1376 |
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