Banff/Lake Louise, Canada
About The Resort
Banff Sunshine Village (formerly Sunshine Village) is a ski resort in western Canada, located on the Continental Divide of the Canadian Rockies within Banff National Park in Alberta and Mt Assiniboine Provincial Park in British Columbia. It is one of three major ski resorts located in the Banff National Park. Because of its location straddling the Continental Divide, Sunshine receives more snow than the neighbouring ski resorts. The Sunshine base area is located 9 mi southwest of the town of Banff. Banff Sunshine ski runs and lifts are accessed via an eight-person high-speed gondola. It moves passengers from the parking lot (or bus terminal) to Goat's Eye mountain in 10 minutes and to the upper Village area in 18 minutes. There are 9 chairlifts and 134 trails within the alpine valley formed by the three mountains (Mount Standish, Lookout Mountain, and Goat's Eye Mountain) that constitute Banff Sunshine. In summer, the resort runs a shuttle bus service to its attractive walking trails and alpine meadows.
The Lake Louise Ski Resort & Summer Gondola is a ski resort in western Canada, located in Banff National Park near the village of Lake Louise, Alberta. Located 35 mi west of Banff, Lake Louise is one of three major ski resorts within Banff National Park. The resort is situated on the southern slopes of the Slate Range, between the heights of Mount Richardson, Ptarmigan Peak, Pika Peak, and Redoubt Mountain, all around 10,000 ft above sea level. The base of the slopes is defined by the Pipestone River, a tributary of the Bow River.
RESORT STATISTICS
Sunshine Village
GATEWAY CITY: Calgary DISTANCE: 5 minutes ELEVATION: 5,440'-8,954'
# OF LIFTS: 12 # OF MARKED TRAILS: 115 LONGEST RUN: 5 miles
BEGINNER RUNS: 20% INTERMEDIATE: 55% ADVANCE: 17% EXPERT: 8%
HIGHEST VERTICAL DROP: 3,514'
Banff-Norquay
GATEWAY CITY: Calgary DISTANCE: 1.5 hours ELEVATION: 5,500'-7,150'
# OF LIFTS: 5 # OF MARKED TRAILS: 60 LONGEST RUN: 0.7 miles
BEGINNER RUNS: 37% INTERMEDIATE: 28% ADVANCE: 27% EXPERT: 8%
HIGHEST VERTICAL DROP: 1,650'
Lake Louise
GATEWAY CITY: Calgary DISTANCE: 2 hours ELEVATION: 5,400'-8,650'
# OF LIFTS: 11 # OF MARKED TRAILS: 160 LONGEST RUN: 5 miles
BEGINNER RUNS: 25% INTERMEDIATE: 45% ADVANCE: 20% EXPERT: 10%
HIGHEST VERTICAL DROP: 3,250'
Hotel Partners
Fairmont Banff Springs
Hotel Class:
Offering plenty of amenities, 11 restaurants, and 14 shops, this hotel is styled after a Scottish Baronial Castle and is located in Banff National Park. Each room includes a flat-screen TV and seating area, while others offer beautiful mountain views and large living room areas. On-site activities include bowling, tennis, horseback riding, golfing, an outdoor heated pool, a lap pool, and a spa with 27 treatments.
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
Hotel Class:
Offering beautiful panoramic views of Lake Louise and the Victoria Glacier, this resort features a heated indoor pool and state-of-the-art fitness center. Rooms are traditionally decorated and include a flat-screen TV, coffee maker, and more amazing views. Dine at The Fairview Dining Room serving regional cuisine, or the Chateau Experience serving cheese fondue, chateaubriand, and chocolate fondue.
Banff Caribou Lodge - Town
Hotel Class:
Only 3.5 miles from the Banff Gondola, this mountain lodge sits in the heart of Banff city center. Each comfortably designed room includes a flat-screen TV, mini-fridge, a seating area, and an in-room safe. A restaurant serving dinner and drinks is available on-site, as well as a full service spa area, hot pool, steam room and fitness area.
Banff International - Town
Hotel Class:
Featuring a sauna and hot tub, this hotel is located in a nice location in Banff. Guest rooms include a flat-screen TV, mini-fridge, iPod docking station, and some include views of the mountains. Free WiFi is also available for guests' convenience.
Ptarmigan Inn - Town
Hotel Class:
Located just minutes from the center of Banff, this inn offers convenient amenities and is within walking distance of many area attractions. Rooms feature free WiFi, a cable TV, and a private bathroom. A hot tub and steam room are also available to all guests.
