Conditions Report
This Lake Louise report is from Monday, November 17, 2025.
Departing from Calgary, I was optimistic about my first ski day of the year at SkiBig3’s Lake Louise. Even though there was no snow in the city, the mountains in the distance were snow-covered, with 15 inches reported to have fallen the week prior. With a sunny day in the forecast and the full 3,250-foot vertical drop available for the first time this season, I was excited to get in my first turns of the season.
As I drove into the mountains, I noticed the clear sky give way to low clouds covering the peaks of the Rocky Mountains around me. As I pulled into the parking lot, I hoped that the weather inversion had not engulfed the whole mountain. To my relief, the whole upper half of the mountain was clear, and I was treated to the stunning view Lake Louise is known for.
I spent most of my morning lapping the gondola, which provided a solid 2,414-foot vertical run, which got my legs warmed up for the afternoon. The snow was a little heavy as the temperature hovered just above freezing for most of the day, but this prevented runs from becoming too icy.
The second half of the morning, I spent lapping the upper mountain zone via the Top of the World Express and Summit chair. This terrain provided some pretty incredible coverage for how early in the season it was. The views from the summit were stunning, as usual, and reaffirmed to me why Lake Louise remains the most picturesque mountain I have ever skied.
In the afternoon, I lapped the Pipestone Express, the high-speed six-pack bubble chair that was installed last season. The lift provided a nice break from the wind and offered access to excellent bowl terrain.
Overall, this was a great way to start the season. As it was a Monday, there were no lift lines, and the snow did not get tracked out until the afternoon.
The week following my visit, Lake Louise received another 30 inches of snow, which has opened even more terrain, bringing the season snow total to 80 inches. This early-season snowfall is quite common in this region, as the SkiBig3 resorts: Banff Sunshine, Lake Louise, and Norquay are consistently some of the first resorts on the continent to open every year. If you are looking to score some early-season turns and your local resort is still not open, chances are the three Banff resorts are already open.
- Related: Alberta’s SkiBig3 Resorts are Offering Free Lift Tickets and Rentals for Kids This Winter
Snow Conditions
