Lake Louise Banff - Sunshine Village

jj2
jj2
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4 out of 5
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3
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Editor Pick

Lake Louise and Sunshine Village

  • April 22, 2005
  • Rated 5 of 5 by DrewD from Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Lake Louise and Sunshine Village

There are three major resorts in Banff National Park (Lake Louise, Sunshine Village, and Norquay). Only Lake Louise and Sunshine Village were open this late in the season, but boy was it worth it. We spent two days at Lake Louise and one in Sunshine Village, and probably would have reversed it if we could. Crowds were almost non-existant, and for this American, not another Yank in site. The weekend we were there it was "Canadian Celebity Weekend" - didn't know there was such a thing. Snow was good, very nice weather, and absolutely beautiful surroundings. Because of the liberal Commonweath work visa requirements, nearly every worker at the resorts were either Australian or English, which made my Aussie partner very happy. So if you're single and have a thing for an accent, I highly recommend him.

I suggest renting skis the first day, then storing them at the resort or taking them with you - don't mess with renting at your hotel. Sunshine Village has fewer amentities, but better for the "true skiier" - more challenging and only natural snow. Lake Louise is more a resort in the typical Vail Valley tradition - more plush, better food, and groomed trails.

In spring, it's best to ski higher up the mountain or on the Back Bowls/Larch areas. Fewer people and much better snow. There's a good mix of green, blue, and black, and plenty of acreage to keep you content.

From journal Spring Skiing in Banff/Lake Louise

Sunshine Village Ski Area

  • April 10, 2005
  • Rated 3 of 5 by spen1024 from Oak Park, Illinois
Sunshine Village Ski Area

The snow was great. The scenery was better. There was enough terrain to keep you occupied for weeks. The snowboarders, however, were very obnoxious. The trails were not quite as long as those of neighboring Lake Louise

From journal Lake Louise, Sunshine Village and Banff

Editor Pick

Sunshine

  • February 7, 2001
  • Rated 3 of 5 by jj2 from Madison, Alabama
Sunshine contrasted in many ways with Lake Louise. While Lake Louise was easily accessible, Sunshine is a longer drive and, once you have arrived, a long gondola ride from the parking area. Just getting there requires a much greater investment in time, so get an early start. Lake Louise’s three major areas are close and easily accessed from each other. Sunshine also has three main areas, Goat’s Eye Mountain, Mt. Standish and Lookout Mountain. Mt. Standish and Lookout both connect to the village area, but Goat’s Eye is farther away. While it is interconnected by skiable trails to the village, the distance makes it a strategic decision to change areas (you can also exit the main gondola midway to ski Goat’s Eye). Sunshine does offer a large area, over 3100 acres, with a heavy weighting toward the advanced skier (22% novice, 31% intermediate, 42% advanced and 5% expert).

Conditions on the day that I skied the mountain were not good. High winds, flat lighting and very cold temperatures made the large open area served by the Continental Divide lift very difficult. Mt. Standish was better shielded from the winds, and I opted for shorter, but more comfortable trails there such as Big Bunkers. Time did not allow a visit to Goat’s Eye, but companions reported that it was their favorite area. Overall I found the convenience and variety of intermediate terrain at Lake Louise preferable, but it is difficult to provide a completely objective comparison given the weather conditions during my stay at Sunshine.

My wife spent most of her time at the Sunshine Inn lounge. The staff was friendly, and she felt relaxed in the couches set by the large see-through fireplace. This was a warm and inviting place to wait. We dined on standard ski fare in the Mad Trappers Saloon on the second floor of the Old Sunshine Lodge. This old west style building sits right in the middle of the village area and is the easiest to reach from the lift bases. It is smaller than the Day Lodge, but we did not wait long for food and a table.

Sunshine is closer to Banff than it is to Lake Louise. Due to the lengthy process of just getting there, the ski-in/ski-out accommodations in the village present the best option for a serious skier who plans to maximize time on the slopes. You can get more information at .

From journal Lake Louise: Emerald of the Canadian Rockies

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