Ski Banff: Powder, Peaks & Local Tips

There’s something about skiing in Banff that hits different. Yes, the mountains are massive, and the snow is famously dry and light. But it’s more than that, when you ski Banff it’s the feeling you get when you breathe in that Rocky Mountain air and realise you’ve left the rest of the world behind.

Banff isn’t just another ski destination. It’s a place where the scenery and the experience force you to unplug. Your phone might still be in your pocket, but your mind is somewhere else entirely focused on the turns, the snow, and the silence between chairlift rides.

Part of this reset comes from Banff’s altitude. At Sunshine Village, you’re skiing so high that you’re above the clouds, in what can only be described as a real-life snow globe. The snow stays dry and fluffy because it falls at higher elevations, away from coastal humidity. And there’s a cool bragging right, too—the cross-country trail the Great Divide Chair at Sunshine heads to the border between Alberta and British Columbia. The locals still refer to it is as the “old 1A Highway to Lake Louise” but it’s now true wilderness.

Over at Lake Louise, the wide-open bowls are pure therapy. The Back Bowls were once “locals only” terrain, whispered about in town but rarely shared with visitors. Now they’re open to everyone—but they still feel wild and untouched, like a secret you just discovered.

If you’re looking for real Canadian ski history, head to Mt. Norquay, just minutes from Banff town. Norquay was the first ski resort in the Canadian Rockies, opening back in 1926. Ride the North American chairlift to find steep, challenging runs, but also some of the best views over Banff and the Bow Valley.

The Local Quirks That Make Banff Different

The experience doesn’t stop with the chairlift, Banff town is perfect for slow, chill nights. There is no rush, locals and visitors alike move together at mountain town pace. It’s about cozy pubs, firelit lounges and swapping ski stories over pints at places like the Bear Street Tavern.

Banff sets its own rhythm, and these are the best quirks you only pick up when you spend time here:

• Mountain Town Pace: Don’t expect people to rush. Locals might stop mid-run to chat with someone they know from the chairlift. It’s part of the lifestyle.
• Car Park Tailgating at Norquay: It’s not unusual to see locals grilling sausages or sipping coffee out of thermoses in the parking lot. Some have been doing it for decades, it’s the easy version of après-ski.
• Banff Upper Hot Springs: The secret to hitting the slopes day after day, a trip to the springs to heal the body and quiet the mind.
• Wildlife Traffic Jams: You’ll sometimes be delayed not by snow, but by elk or bighorn sheep wandering across the road on your way to the hill. No one honks. You just wait.
• Snow Ghosts: Trees get so covered in rime frost they look like white statues. Locals call them “snow ghosts”, and they’re as much a part of the landscape as the runs themselves.

Banff is about that mix of history, scenery, and headspace you don’t find anywhere else.  You’ll leave with tired legs, a clearer mind, and new stories. At Travel & Co, we know Banff because we’ve skied and loved it. We’ll handle the details – flights, passes, logistics – so you can focus on the fun part.

Written by Laura Hutchings, Wholesale Account Manager and former Snow Holiday Expert at Travel & Co. Laura has been with the team since 2017 and skied 15 resorts across the USA, Japan, Europe and Canada.