Conditions Report
This report is from Monday, January 19, 2026.
When I woke up and checked the forecast, and saw it was calling for 14°F and blue skies, I knew I was in for a great day in Banff. Banff Sunshine Village in Alberta is one of the most scenic ski resorts in the world. If you get a chance to ski there on a clear day, it is one of the coolest experiences you can have at a ski resort. The resort is surrounded by some truly magnificent peaks that have you pulling your phone out to snap a picture multiple times a run.
As I rode up the gondola, I had the pleasure of seeing a big-horned sheep standing on a cliff face right beside the lift. I could not get my phone out in time to snap a picture, but it was a good start to the day. The gondola ride also reminded me of what makes Sunshine such a unique resort. At most resorts, you pull into the parking lot, and you can look up at the mountain and see the terrain you are about to ski. At Sunshine, you pull into the parking lot, and the ski resort is nowhere in sight. To get to the main base area, you have to take an almost 3-mile-long gondola ride, but when you get out at the top, it’s like you have been transported to another world. The lack of on-mountain buildup and no sight of civilization from anywhere on the resort makes you feel like you are truly isolated from the outside world.
I started my day with a few laps on the Goat’s Eye Chair, which serves some great steep groomers as well as good glade terrain. With conditions being firm, I stuck to mostly groomers in the morning to let the bumps soften up for the afternoon.
After several laps of Goat’s Eye, I headed over to the Great Divide chair, which services the main peak at Sunshine, Lookout Mountain. This terrain zone offers wide-open bowl terrain and some great blue cruisers. Almost the entire peak is treeless, offering unobstructed views of the picturesque peaks and valleys that surround this one-of-a-kind resort.
After spending some time on Lookout Mountain, I made my way over to Mount Standish, which not only boasts great beginner terrain but also steep, technical runs. With a vertical drop of only 706 feet, the Mount Standish terrain zone may seem tame on paper, but the zone provides some truly technical lines with steep chutes and rock drops visible from the lift.
Even though the conditions were a little firm to start the day, the snow softened up in the afternoon, making for a great day on the mountain.
So far this season, Banff Sunshine has received 206 inches of snow and a settled base of 84 inches, which is well above the resort’s year-to-date average. With other regions on the western half of the continent struggling with snowfall, Banff seems to be the spot to go this year if you want consistent snow conditions and a great view.
Current Conditions
Forecast
