Banff Sunshine
Sunshine sits high inside Banff National Park, three mountains straddling the Continental Divide where the snow falls naturally from early November to mid-May. No snowmaking, no compromises, just dry Rockies powder, big views and a gondola ride from the parking lot to a snowed-in base village.
Pistes and lifts
Run counts and piste kilometres are indicative. Green runs only exist in France, Spain, Andorra, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Japan, the United States, Morocco, Algeria, Lesotho, South Africa, Egypt, Canada, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand; Italy, Austria, Switzerland and Germany start at blue. Indicative average snow depth near the top of the resort, in cm.
True ski-in/ski-out at Sunshine means one place: the Sunshine Mountain Lodge at the top of the access gondola, the only on-mountain hotel inside Banff National Park. Everywhere else, you commute up by gondola from the parking lot each morning.
Get to know the resort
Sunshine Village is the rare ski resort you reach by gondola before you put your skis on. From the Banff parking, an eight-seater climbs five kilometres to the base at 2160 m, then three mountains open above you: Standish with its sunny family runs and the Wawa zone, Lookout straddling the Alberta-British Columbia border with sweeping high-alpine bowls, and Goat's Eye, steeper and wilder, the place locals point to for serious skiing. Total terrain reaches 1358 hectares and 145 km of pistes, 20 greens, 39 blues, 38 reds and 30 blacks. Delirium Dive and the Wild West gates demand a partner, a beacon and a transceiver, true backcountry hidden inside a ski area. Because the resort sits at altitude, snow is consistently dry and the season runs from early November to Victoria Day in May, the longest non-glacier season in Canada. The base village has a few mountain lodges and the historic Sunshine Mountain Lodge, but most skiers stay down in Banff town and ride up daily. Calgary airport is about ninety minutes east.
Hotels in Banff Sunshine
Hotels and apartments around the lifts. Compare prices on Booking, Expedia and Hotels.com.
Plan your trip
Frequently asked questions
Is Banff Sunshine good for beginners?+
Banff Sunshine offers 145 km of pistes across 12 lifts, from 1,660 m to 2,730 m. Whether it suits beginners depends on the dedicated learner zones at the base of the slopes, so check the local ski-school options for green and blue run access.
When is the best time to ski Banff Sunshine?+
The season runs from Nov 8 to May 18, with a snow score of 93/100. The best conditions are usually from late January through February, while spring skiing in March and April brings longer days and softer afternoons.
Where should I stay for true ski-in/ski-out?+
True ski-in/ski-out at Sunshine means one place: the Sunshine Mountain Lodge at the top of the access gondola, the only on-mountain hotel inside Banff National Park. Everywhere else, you commute up by gondola from the parking lot each morning.
How big is the Banff Sunshine ski area?+
Banff Sunshine has 145 km of marked pistes served by 12 lifts, between 1,660 m and 2,730 m of altitude.
Is Banff Sunshine more for beginners or experts?+
Banff Sunshine counts about 127 marked runs in total. The colour breakdown above shows how they split by difficulty, a good guide to whether the resort fits your level.
Other ski destinations
Similar style, different mountain.
Lake Louise
Canadian Rockies
Marmot Basin
Canadian Rockies
Whistler Blackcomb
Coast Mountains
Revelstoke
BC Interior