Brains
There is something to be said about shredding powder in Canada. Whether it’s the Chinook winds, the bountiful snowfall in the winter months, or the commanding and towering peaks of the Canadian Rockies, there is a certain aura in this part of the world. And what better way than to highlight two top-notch ski locations in different parts of the Canadian Rockies? Let’s begin!
#1 – Lake Louise Ski Resort and Gondola
This ski resort is perched in the epicenter of the Canadian Rockies right across from the famous Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. This spot is hard to beat for many reasons. The ski area is less than an hour north of the towns of Banff and Canmore. This location makes it ideal for a day’s adventure. Lake Louise Ski Resort and Gondola is perched on Whitehorn Mountain, which tops out at a respectable 8650 ft (base elevation is 5400 ft) and offers 3250 ft of vertical drop. There are 4200 acres of skiable terrain giving you loads of options across varying difficulty levels to send it. These levels effectively break down as 25% beginner, 35% intermediate, and 45% advanced. Lake Louise Ski receives ~196 inches of snow annually. You can expect that quintessential dry and light Alberta powder experience at this resort.
As I bring things to a close on Lake Louise Ski, I wanted to share some cool little-known facts. Did you know that the longest run is 5 miles? Impressive, right? The other amazing fact is this ski area holds the title of the Canadian Rockies biggest ski resort.
#2 – Marmot Basin
Next, we will move roughly 2 hours 55 minutes north to the town of Jasper where you will find the next ski resort called Marmot Basin. This ski resort is perched on the northeast side of Marmot Mountain. The summit tops at 8570 ft, which is just shy of the elevation of Lake Louise Ski area at 8650 ft.
It offers 3,000 vertical feet across 1720 acres of varying types of terrain. This breaks down to 91 runs with 30% novice/intermediate and 20% advanced/expert. Regarding snowfall, Marmot Basin receives ~173 inches of snow per year. And, like Lake Louise, you can expect that classic dry and light Alberta snow at Marmot Basin too. Here are some fun facts I came across about Marmot Basin. Its longest run is 3.5 miles. It also hosts the highest base elevation (5570 ft) of any ski area in the Canadian Rockies! How cool!
If you had to pick one of these two epic places based on what was shared above, which one would you go for this upcoming winter and why?
