Current Weather:
Snow
weather 28°

Base Depth:
50-55"

24hr Snowfall:
0

Surface:
Packed powder

Lake Louise

1 Whitehorn Road, Lake Louise, T0L 1E0
Phone: 877-956-8473 Snow Report: 403-244-6665 (snow report)
Lake Louise Website

by Crai S. Bower

Lake Louise provides an ideal departure point for winter exploration into this huge park. Ascend the snow and ice with pickaxe and crampons as part of an ice climbing expedition or crawl under the snow to explore the Canmore Caverns, a cave system open year round. Jump behind a dogsled or tour the ice formations by foot. For less strenuous adventure, Brewster Lake Louise Stables offers sleigh rides departing the Chateau for loops above the lake and through the trees. Plenty of horsepower can also be found from several snowmobiling outfitters.

Lake Louise Ski Resort’s 4,500 skiable acres is among the largest in Canada. The backside terrain, a valley accessible from the easiest trails to most challenging chutes and cornices, spreads across the “Powder Bowls.” Ptarmigan, Eagle and Hector Ridges, The Wall and The Ultimate Steeps combine to make the resort one of just a handful on Earth to boast at least three days of double black diamond terrain without ever descending the same run twice. Fortunately, the vast and diverse terrain offers numerous options for the beginner to intermediate as well, especially on the front of the mountain and in the Larch area.

Every resort should have at least one back bowl, an opportunity to slip off into your own alpine playground. With four mountains of skiable terrain, disappearing at Lake Louise is as easy as stepping into the Grizzly Express Gondola. Where you point your skis once you disembark, now that’s another decision altogether. Reserve a mountain guide when you visit Lake Louise because just picking where to begin will boggle your mind.

“The valley below is heavy with grizzlies in the summer and fall,” Guide Hans mentions as we ride the Paradise Triple Chair to “The Wall” for more deep powder exploration. “So much so that summer hut-to-hut trekking is sometimes forbidden.”

The brown bears may be fast asleep now, but we’re wide eyed as we stretch our day right up to last runs before sliding into après at the Lodge of Ten Peaks for a well deserved pint of local ale and perhaps a little nap of our own.

*all photos are courtesy of Henry Georgi and The Lake Louise Ski Area

WEATHER CONDITIONS

Current Weather:
Snow
weather 28°

Forecast:
No data available
°

SKI CONDITIONS

Latest Report: 20100311T08:39:00
24hr Snowfall:
0		 Last Snowfall:
Mar 09 - 6 7"		 Surface:
Packed powder
Base Depth:
50-55"		 Trails Open:
133		 Total Trails:
139
Percent Trails Open:
92%		 Lifts Open:
icon 9		 Total Lifts:
icon 10
Terrain Type:
Beginner:
N/A		 Intermediate:
N/A		 Advanced:
N/A		 Expert:
N/A
Elevation:
weather Peak Elevation:
8650 ft 2637 m Vertical:
3250 ft 991 m Base Elevation:
5400 ft 1646 m		 Total Acres:
4200 Total Miles:
N/A
Longest Run:
N/A
 Easiest Run:
Easy Street		 Steepest Run:
Gravity Pull
Best Bumps:
Exhibition		 Best Trail Name:
Elevator Shaft		  
 

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The village of Lake Louise is about 180km (2 hours) west of Calgary and 59 kilometres (36 miles) from the town of Banff. The ski resort of Lake Louise is a few kilometres from the village of Lake Louise, which is another five kilometres away from the actual lake of Lake Louise where the chateau is located.

Air Travel

The closest international airport is Calgary, with various companies offering airport transfers. Many people choose to hire a car to enable flexibility of travel. It’s fairly easy to navigate to Lake Louise along the Trans Canada Highway.

Driving Directions

From Calgary: Take TransCanada Hwy 1 west about 130 km. (80 miles) to Banff.  Lake Louise is about 65 km (40 miles) north of Banff on TransCanada 1.

From Vancouver: Take TransCanada Hwy 1 east about 430 miles to Lake Louise.  Banff is an additional 40 miles south on TransCanada Hwy 1.

Traveling To Canada

For short term visits to Canada you will need a valid passport, unless you are an American citizen or permanent resident arriving from the U.S.A. in which case you must provide proof of citizenship or residency upon request. Proof of citizenship consists of a passport, original or certified copy of your U.S. birth certificate, current voter's registration card, U.S. military discharge papers, or certificate of citizenship or naturalization. If you are a permanent resident of the U.S.A., but not a U.S. citizen you must provide your 'green card' if requested. Persons under 18 years traveling without their parents should have identification and a letter of authorization from a parent or guardian to travel into Canada.

 

Having a car is the easiest way to get between Lake Louise resort, the village of Lake Louise, and the chateau on the shores of the lake. None of these areas are really walking distance apart. Car travel is also the easiest if wanting to travel to Banff or other ski resorts nearby. Parking is generally not a problem (although it can be expensive at Lake Louise chateau). You will need to purchase a Banff National park pass. 

Otherwise, if you have a tri-area ski pass there is a complimentary resort shuttle bus that operates from most of the Lake Louise hotels to the resort. Departures from the hotels run every 30 minutes during peak season. There is also the Lake Louise taxi as an option for getting around.

There are buses to and from Banff, but it’s much easier to drive.