How to ski and snowboard Alberta, from Canadian Rockies to foothills and valleys
Thirty-nine! Within the province of Alberta there are 39 places where you can buy a lift ticket to ski or snowboard.
With 39 spots to shred, obviously there are the big, internationally known resorts (Sunshine, Lake Louise, Marmot Basin). But there are also 36 other destinations, including three more resorts in the Canadian Rockies (Castle, Norquay and Nakiska), and 33 more across the province.
And though the non-mountain resorts may be smaller, they have their own unique, DIY charm, from the tasty homemade foods they serve to the warm welcome you will receive.
Lake Louise's iconic Lodge of the Ten Peaks.
Ready to hit the road? Here is how to ski or snowboard across Alberta.
How to ski and snowboard Alberta
Skiing or snowboarding in Alberta is a memorable experience given you'll score consistently great snow conditions, great après and more than a few "kodak moments" in breathtaking locations.
Photo:
Karl Lee
Skiing in the Canadian Rockies you will be constantly blown away by views like these.
Flights and road trip tips
If you are going to fly here, you have two choices on where to land:
1) Fly into Calgary where you will ski places including Banff's Sunshine Village and Lake Louise.
Sure, you can take a shuttle from the Calgary airport out to Banff and then each ski resort has its own shuttle you can take from there.
But don't stop there! Consider renting a car to experience more out-of-the-way spots including Castle Mountain (which you can connect with BC's Fernie over a three-night stay/two mountain adventure).
Or spend more time in Banff to experience Mount Norquay, Nakiska Ski Resort and/or go cat skiing at K-POW within the Kananaskis Region (about an hour drive from Banff).
Photo:
Karl Lee
Nakiska, another Rockies destination, famously hosted the 1988 Olympics downhill events.
2) Fly into Edmonton where you will ski places including Jasper's Marmot Basin while warming your legs up at one of Edmonton's four local ski hills.
From YEG (Edmonton International Airport), you can take a shuttle to Jasper or hire an SUV so you can make a road trip to Marmot Basin.
Then drive south along one of the world's most scenic drives—the Icefields Parkway—and hit Lake Louise and Sunshine Village as a Rockies loop.
Photo:
Paul Lavoie
Marmot Basin in Jasper, Alberta, surrounded by pristine wilderness in the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies, Jasper National Park.
If you do have to fly into Alberta to go skiing or snowboarding, consider carbon offsets to minimize your impact. We @SnowSeekers recommend LESS, a carbon tax credit company powered by Bullfrog Power (a leader in alternative energy sources since 2005).
Map It Out & Get Stoked
Use our helpful map to gain a better idea of how to get around and where to book.
You can always DM us on Facebook or Instagram as we are happy to provide advise on how to make the best ski or ride Alberta road trip ever.
Last but not least, sign up to SnowSeekers e-newsletter so we can keep you stoked on why BC and Alberta (the province right next store) are the right choice for your next snow bound adventure/road trip.
Do your homework and get inspired through this series of Alberta SnowSeekers stories.
Photo:
Marty Clemens
Let us know what you find in your travels, include the hashtag #snowseekers in your Alberta ski or ride road trip posts so we might feature your snow-filled adventures on our social media channels.
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