| Lake Louise Ski Resort | |
|---|---|
 Lake Louise in 2004 | |
| Location | Lake Louise,Alberta, Canada |
| Nearest major city | Banff, Alberta Calgary, Alberta |
| Coordinates | 51°26′31″N116°09′38″W / 51.44194°N 116.16056°W /51.44194; -116.16056 |
| Vertical | 991 m (3,250 ft) |
| Top elevation | 2,637 m (8,650 ft)[1] |
| Base elevation | 1,646 m (5,400 ft) |
| Skiable area | 17 km2 (6.6 sq mi)[2] |
| Trails | 145[2] |
| Longest run | 8 km (5 mi)[2] |
| Lift system | 8 lifts: - 2surface lifts - 1 triple - 1fixed-grip quad - 4high-speed lifts - 1 six-passengergondola[1] |
| Lift capacity | more than 14,000 skiers/hr |
| Terrain parks | 4 |
| Snowfall | 454 cm (180 in) per year |
| Website | skilouise.com |
TheLake Louise Ski Resort & Summer Gondola is aski resort in westernCanada, located inBanff National Park near the village ofLake Louise,Alberta. Located 57 km (35 mi) west ofBanff, Lake Louise is one of three major[a] ski resorts within Banff National Park.[3]
The resort is situated on the southern slopes of theSlate Range, with most of its skiable terrain on the slopes ofWhitehorn Mountain, with additional skiable terrain to the east on the lower western slope ofLipalian Mountain. The overall ski area is between the heights ofMount Richardson,Ptarmigan Peak,Pika Peak andRedoubt Mountain, all around 3,000 m (10,000 ft)above sea level. The base of the slopes is defined by Pipestone River, a tributary of theBow River, immediately north of the intersections betweenHighway 1A (Bow Valley Trail),Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway), andHighway 93 (Icefields Parkway).
Lake Louise has been a home to skiing since the 1920s, as the gateway to theSkoki Ski Lodge. The first lift was constructed in 1954, and apoma was added in 1960.[4][5][6]
Until autumn 2008, the ski resort was owned and operated by theResorts of the Canadian Rockies (RCR) company. In 2008,Charlie Locke, a former owner of the ski area (1981–2003),[7] exercised a buy-back option to reacquire Lake Louise from RCR to return as the ski resort's owner, president and operator.[8]
The Lake Louise Ski Resort is the first stop on theFIS Alpine Ski World Cup circuit, and the only place in Canada where this event is held.[9] The event, also known as theLake Louise Winterstart World Cup, is described byAlpine Canada as "Canada's highest-profile alpine ski race",[10] and attracts high-profile downhill skiers from around the globe - such as four-time World Cup champion,Lindsey Vonn.[11] The races began at the resort in1980 and ran consecutively from1993 to 2020. The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic caused the 2020 races to be cancelled.[12] The race is one of the select few that holds both the men's and ladies' speed events on the World Cup circuit and plays host to the first World Cupdownhill andsuper-G races of the season.[13]
The Lake Louise Ski Resort hosted its firstFIS Snowboard Cross World Cup in December2013.[14][15]
The resort also hosts Shake The Lake: a freestyle and live music event held at the end of the snow season.[16]
The 145 marked ski runs and back bowls on four mountain faces are 25% beginner, 45% intermediate and 30% advanced.[2] The 'Terrain Park' is also designed for riders of all levels. Four full service day lodges are operational during winter.Snowboarders have access to all trails and the terrain park.
The Lake Louise sightseeinggondola is open year-round, offering panoramas of glaciers, natural springs, wildflowers and possibly wildlife (such asgrizzly bears). Other activities in the resort area include dog sledding,ice skating, andcross-country skiing.
| Easier | Intermediate | Advanced | Difficult (Double Black) ♦♦ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | 25 | 54 | 43 |
