This Massive North American Ski Resort Is Located Inside an Iconic National Park—With Glacier Views and Short Lift Lines

Most ski areas offer dramatic mountain vistas with evergreens punctuating the landscape, but few can boast about their glacier views and a location within a protected national park. Lake Louise Ski Resort has it all and more. The ski area is surrounded by rugged peaks and faces the Victoria Glacier in Banff National Park. Here, strict national park development rules preserve the landscape’s raw beauty—and my goggle-laden eyes were grateful for it during my January 2025 visit.

At Lake Louise Ski Resort, there are no overpriced eateries or designer boutiques. Instead, the focus is squarely on nature—and, of course, skiing. As the largest ski area in the Canadian Rockies, Lake Louise spans 4,200 acres across four mountain faces, and at the base sits an old-school lodge that serves as a hub for gear rentals and lunchtime meetups. That translates to minimal lift lines and a wide variety of terrain. And that famously warm Canadian hospitality? It’s real.

When to Go

The best time to ski at Lake Louise is from mid-February to late March, when the temperatures are mild and snowfall is more consistent. Sam Hamilton, the sales and marketing content supervisor at Lake Louise Ski Resort, said in an interview with Travel + Leisure, “April is also a fantastic time to come with warmer temps, longer days, and plenty of fun spring events going on like the Temple Lodge Takeover and Banded Peak Deck Parties.” She noted that apart from the Christmas holidays, “the resort is never too busy and lines are never long.”

Typically, the ski season at Lake Louise Ski Resort runs from early November to early May. 

Where to Stay 

Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

The most iconic hotel in the Lake Louise area (if not one of the most iconic hotels in the world) is the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. The hotel is set on the edge of turquoise-blue Lake Louise, surrounded by mountains. I didn’t stay at the Fairmont during my January visit, but I did get to skate on the lake and dine on fondue at the hotel’s Walliser Stube restaurant. 

In September 2025, the hotel opened its long-awaited BASIN Glacial Waters spa, which is fed by the Victoria Glacier that looms above the hotel. Lake Louise Ski Resort is around 10 minutes from the Fairmont by car.

Lake Louise Inn

I stayed at the Lake Louise Inn during my January trip and found it to be both comfortable and convenient. It was an easy five-minute drive to the ski area from the hotel, and the inn is located just off the scenic Icefields Parkway, which connects Banff and Jasper National Parks.

Lake Louise Inn is also one of Hamilton’s top recommendations. “They have an indoor heated pool to relax in the afternoon and plenty of great dining options,” Hamilton shared. 

Fairmont Banff Springs

If you prefer staying in the center of the action, you’ll want to stay in Banff, which is significantly larger and has more to do than the town of Lake Louise. In Banff, the castle-like Fairmont Banff Springs is a standout. It has a beautiful location, great views, and amenities including indoor and outdoor pools, 12 restaurants, and afternoon tea. Plus, there’s a bus from the hotel to Lake Louise Ski Resort that takes about 50 minutes.

Where to Eat

Kuma Yama

Tucked upstairs in the lodge at the base of Lake Louise Ski Resort is an unlikely gem: a sushi and ramen restaurant that may just be the most surprising thing you’ll find at the ski area, aside from the views. Kuma Yama, Japanese for “bear on the Mountain,” is simple, quick, and tasty. During my visit, I ordered the ramen and a mug of steaming green tea.

Whitehorn Bistro

For high-end, on-mountain cuisine, swing by the Whitehorn Bistro, a ski-in, ski-out restaurant located at 6,700 feet above sea level. The vibe at Whitehorn is casual, but the food is a notch above what you’ll find elsewhere on the resort, and the views are some of the area’s best. Signature dishes include the Whitehorn burger and a seafood chowder.

Walliser Stube

After a day on the mountain, nothing hits quite like a hot meal, a glass of wine, and up-close mountain views. Just across the valley from Lake Louise Ski Resort, inside the renowned Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, is Walliser Stube, a European eatery. The restaurant features a menu of hearty Swiss and German dishes that counteract the cold weather and a lengthy wine list. If you can, nab a seat by a window overlooking the lake.

Where to Après-ski

Powder Keg

At the end of the ski day, Lake Louise Ski Resort riders gather at the Powder Keg, which has a pub-like feel, a solid beer and cocktail menu, and menu items like wings, nachos, pizzas, and chili. “No day at Lake Louise is complete without an après stop at Powder Keg,” said Hamilton. “Settle in for a hearty meal and local brews—we recommend the beef dip!”

Banded Peak Base Camp

This outdoor dining and après spot is perfect on a clear, sunny day when you can enjoy 360-degree views of the Rockies. Banded Peak Base Camp is known for its BBQ and easy access from the gondola, Glacier Express, and Juniper Express chairlifts, making it an easy choice for a midday rendezvous. “In the spring (sometimes as early as February), the Banded Peak Base Camp patio is my favourite place to enjoy the sun while watching people cruising down the mountain,” Hamilton said. “There is a DJ on the patio every weekend in the spring, which is always a ton of fun.” 

Ice Bar

Every winter, a pop-up Ice Bar takes shape along the frozen waters of Lake Louise. The outdoor bar is made from 20 blocks of solid ice and offers the best views in the area, with an outdoor setting overlooking the Victoria Glacier and the mountain basin below. The Ice Bar, which the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise builds, is a great place to warm up with a drink before renting a pair of skates for a turn around the frozen-over lake. 

Off-mountain Activities 

Drive the Bow Valley Parkway.

The Bow Valley Parkway was once the main road connecting the towns of Banff and Lake Louise, but it’s now the quieter alternative to the busier Trans-Canada Highway. Hamilton explained that the scenic route is “right off the resort access road, which is a beautiful drive where you can see wildlife, stop by the iconic Morant’s Curve to spot a train, or visit Johnston Canyon.” 

Ice skate on Lake Louise.

One of the most recognizable ice skating spots in the world is located a short drive from the base of Lake Louise Ski Resort. When the beautiful blue Lake Louise freezes over, it becomes an ice-skating rink at 5,680 feet. Skates can be rented from Chateau Ski & Snow, which is located by the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise front desk.

Go Nordic skiing.

There is plenty of skiing within Banff National Park, including several trails that wind along the Bow River in Lake Louise. During my visit, I spent the day with Clare McCann of Bikescape, enjoying a calm, cross-country ski along the Bow Valley. McCann and her team also offer fat tire bike tours throughout the Lake Louise and Banff area.

How to Ride 

Tickets

You can ski Lake Louise Ski Resort with the Ikon Pass or the Mountain Collective Pass. Lake Louise is also part of the SkiBig3 group, which includes the nearby ski areas of Banff Sunshine and Mt. Norquay. Lift tickets start at $78 a day but increase as the season progresses.

Rentals 

In the main lodge at the base of the ski area is a rental shop with everything you need to get out on the mountain. In addition to skis, snowboards, boots, and poles, they rent out jackets, pants, and helmets. Plus, the rental shop is located slopeside, so the distance you have to lug your gear is minimal. The rental shop also has an unlimited swap policy, so you can change your equipment as often as you’d like.

Skiing and Snowboarding Info

Lake Louise Ski Resort has 4,200 acres of terrain. The skiing is spread across four mountain faces and accessed by 12 lifts. In total, the ski area has 164 named runs; 25 percent are beginner-friendly (green), 45 percent are intermediate (blue), and 30 percent are advanced (black).

You can also venture beyond the traditional ski area boundaries to Skoki Lodge, a private hideaway and National Historic Site with backcountry and Nordic skiing surrounding it. The lodge can be accessed via a seven-mile trail that runs from the resort into Banff National Park’s high alpine. The lodge is rustic, with no electricity or running water, but it still manages a bit of elegance thanks to cozy beds topped with down comforters and flannel sheets, and hearty meals, including a three-course dinner served with fresh-baked bread. Reservations must be made at least seven days in advance.

Programming

In addition to private and group lessons for kids and adults, Lake Louise offers “first tracks” lessons that begin 30 minutes before the lifts open to the public. With a first tracks lesson, you can avoid the crowds (a plus for nervous beginners) and be among the first to enjoy the resort’s groomed trails—or, in some cases, fresh powder. Lake Louise also offers multi-day and multi-week lessons.

Visitors not interested in skiing or those who need a day off can visit the Sunny Tube Park, which Hamilton said is “groomed and maintained daily to ensure a smooth ride, so you can focus on having a blast.” She added that the Grizzly Gondola is another popular to-do. From the aerial sightseeing gondola, you can see the surrounding Rockies, Lake Louise, and the Victoria Glacier.