BANFF SUNSHINE VILLAGE SKI RESORT
There are three world-class ski resorts in Banff National Park, Alberta: Lake Louise Ski Resort, Banff Sunshine Village Ski & Snowboard Resort, and Mount Norquay. They are known as SkiBig3, and you can visit one, two, or all three of them.
Banff Sunshine Village in particular provides more than 3,300 acres of skiable terrain for both skiers and snowboarders. This diverse land spans across three mountains, from greens to double black pistes. With a season that stretches from early November until late May with an average of nine meters (30 feet) of snow in a season, Sunshine Village is a fan favorite.
Just 20 minutes away from Banff’s downtown, Sunshine Village is easily accessible. Because this resort is in a national park, you will need to display a National Parks Pass in your car, which can be purchased at any park gate or in advance on the Parks Canada website. Please note that if you do not have a penchant for driving in winter conditions, there are many buses that go to Sunshine!
Once you arrive at the base, you will be whisked away on a gondola. We stopped at the village, where you will find the bunny hill and many dining options. I stuck around the bunny slope as CJ made his way to green and blue runs. I will say that the bunny slope at Lake Louise gives you a lot more varied opportunities to practice, whereas the bunny slope at Sunshine is just one teeny little hill. Please be mindful of where you are going, as a lot of runs end where the bunny slope is and many people will be whizzing by.
Banff Sunshine Village also provides lockers, where you can put any items that you do not want to take with you on the slopes. I prefer the lockers at Lake Louise, because they come in different sizes, you can pay by credit card, and you can return to them throughout the day. At Sunshine Village, you cannot pay by credit card and the lockers are one time use (which means you cannot keep opening and closing them). However, there are plenty of people who leave their belongings outside in the open, which is free!
Please note that if you do not have your own gear, no problem! You can rent equipment at Banff Sunshine Village, a SkiBig3 hub, or any other rental site that you would like. We had a lot of fun here, and we hope you enjoy skiing or snowboarding at Banff Sunshine Village, too!
