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    Alberta, Canada · Ikon / Mountain Collective

    Lake Louise

    1,700 hectares, 160 runs across four faces in Banff National Park. Striking alpine views, Ikon Pass.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    Opens
    4 Nov 2025
    Closes
    4 May 2026
    Days open
    181
    Annual snow
    7m
    The Overview
    MF
    Michael Fulton
    Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.

    Lake Louise's summit reaches 2,637 metres, dropping 991 vertical metres to a base at 1,646 metres across 160 runs spread over roughly 1,700 hectares within Banff National Park, Alberta. Terrain splits 45 per cent intermediate, 25 per cent beginner, 19 per cent advanced and 11 per cent expert, with average annual snowfall of roughly 7.3 metres. The resort carries Ikon and Mountain Collective affiliation. Ten lifts, including four quad chairs, one six-person chair and one gondola, serve the mountain alongside one triple chair and three surface lifts.

    Lake Louise holds a genuinely distinctive place among Canadian Rockies resorts, spread across four separate mountain faces that give the resort exceptional terrain variety for a single connected ski area. Its considerable scale, combined with sweeping views over the turquoise lake and surrounding glaciers, has built Lake Louise's reputation as one of the most visually striking ski destinations in North America.

    Skiing history at Lake Louise dates to the 1930s, when Temple Lodge was built in 1938 on what is now the resort's Larch side, following the earlier construction of the nearby Skoki Lodge. A rope tow was built behind Temple Lodge in 1952, replaced by a detachable Poma lift in 1954, before the area's various slopes were formally amalgamated as the Lake Louise Ski Resort in 1971.

    Charlie Locke became a primary investor in the resort in 1974 and sole owner by 1981, operating the mountain for two decades before Resorts of the Canadian Rockies assumed sole ownership in 2003. Locke reacquired a 50 per cent share in 2008, and the resort remains family owned and operated by Locke, his wife Louise, and their daughters Robin and Kimberley. Adult daily tickets run from 145 to 175 Canadian dollars.

    991m
    Vertical
    160
    Runs
    4,201 acres
    Skiable
    7m
    Annual snow
    Ikon / Mountain Collective
    Pass
    The Terrain

    160 runs across 4,201 acres skiable

    Lake Louise spreads 160 runs across 4,201 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 45%, with 40 beginner runs to find your feet and 48 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.

    Terrain split
    160
    runs
    160 runs across 4 grades
    Beginner40 runs · 25%
    Intermediate72 runs · 45%
    Advanced30 runs · 19%
    Expert18 runs · 11%
    Time it right

    When to visit Lake Louise

    The 2025-26 season at Lake Louise ran from 4 November 2025 to 4 May 2026, a roughly twenty-six-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 7.3 metres. This extended season reflects Lake Louise's considerable elevation and reliable early and late-season conditions within Banff National Park.

    Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions across Lake Louise's four mountain faces. As an Ikon and Mountain Collective resort, Lake Louise draws substantial visitation from pass holders alongside destination travellers drawn by the resort's renowned alpine scenery.

    Lake Louise's considerable scale supports strong visitor capacity during peak weekend and holiday periods, with terrain spread across four faces helping distribute crowds relative to the resort's popularity. School holiday periods bring substantial family visitation given the resort's varied terrain across all ability levels.

    Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. Since the Locke family regained majority ownership in 2008, Lake Louise has continued building on nearly a century of skiing history since Temple Lodge's 1938 construction. The resort's considerable scale and striking alpine setting remain central to its enduring international reputation.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    4 Nov 2025
    Opens
    4 May 2026
    Closes
    181
    Days open
    7 m
    Annual snow
    Getting there

    Getting to Lake Louise, and where to stay

    Lake Louise sits within Banff National Park, Alberta, with a base elevation of 1,646 metres and a summit at 2,637 metres across a 991-metre vertical drop over roughly 1,700 hectares spanning four mountain faces. This setting places the resort beside the renowned Lake Louise and surrounding glacial peaks.

    The village of Lake Louise, a small national park hamlet, offers lodging and dining within a short drive of the resort, while the larger town of Banff provides more extensive services roughly 45 minutes away.

    The Trans-Canada Highway provides direct access to the resort from both Banff and Calgary. Winter driving conditions on this route can include snow and ice, though the well-travelled highway is regularly maintained given the resort's status as a major national park destination.

    Calgary International Airport, roughly a two-hour drive away, is the primary gateway for visitors flying into the Canadian Rockies, with Lake Louise's considerable international profile supporting substantial destination travel alongside more local Alberta visitation.

    Where to stay

    Search all stays →

    Hotels and lodges near Lake Louise, powered by Stay22.

    Latest News

    From the SnowStash desk

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    Stelvio Glacier Suspends Summer Skiing, Leaving Continental Europe Without a Lift-Served Slope

    Stelvio Glacier Suspends Summer Skiing, Leaving Continental Europe Without a Lift-Served Slope

    Italy's Stelvio Glacier has pulled the plug on summer skiing from August 15. It was the last lift-served ski option left standing in continental Europe, and now there's none. Operator SIFAS pointed to persistent heat, storms, and a snowpack that simply wasn't refreezing overnight anymore. The cable car keeps running. Whether skiing comes back later this summer depends on the weather turning - and right now, nobody's promising anything.

    15 Aug 2026
    Maverick Mountain's Only Chairlift Destroyed as Sand Creek Fire Tears Through Montana Ski Area

    Maverick Mountain's Only Chairlift Destroyed as Sand Creek Fire Tears Through Montana Ski Area

    Firefighters saved every base building at Maverick Mountain, Montana, but the resort's sole chairlift didn't survive the Sand Creek Fire. Owners Erik and Kristi Borge say the lift is "most likely" out for the 2026/27 season after flames tore through the mountain on August 8. The wildfire has since grown past 27,700 acres with zero percent containment. It's a gutting result for the tiny, one-lift operation near Dillon - though the lodge, groomers and equipment all made it through untouched.

    15 Aug 2026
    Fairmont Niseko: New Luxury Resort Revives Stalled La Plume Site for Early 2028 Opening

    Fairmont Niseko: New Luxury Resort Revives Stalled La Plume Site for Early 2028 Opening

    Fairmont is bringing its second Japanese property to Niseko, and this one's got history. The 165-room resort will rise on the site of the stalled La Plume project, which collapsed into bankruptcy in 2025 before J-Will Partners bought the site for redevelopment. Set between Mount Yotei and Mount Annupuri, it's slated for an early 2028 opening - putting it in play for the 2027/28 season. Expect two restaurants, a spa, onsen bathing, and a kids' club, a short drive from Niseko Village and Hirafu.

    12 Aug 2026
    Spain Moves to Ban Smoking at Ski Resorts Under New Tobacco Law

    Spain Moves to Ban Smoking at Ski Resorts Under New Tobacco Law

    Spain's government has approved a draft tobacco law that would ban smoking across a wide range of outdoor spaces, including sports venues - a category Spanish winter sports media expect to cover ski resorts, potentially extending to slopes and lifts themselves. The rules would also apply to e-cigarettes and vaping devices, even nicotine-free ones. The bill still has to clear the Spanish parliament before any ban, signage, or fines can take effect.

    22 July 2026
    South Tyrol Approves New 16-Person Ciampinoi Gondola in Val Gardena

    South Tyrol Approves New 16-Person Ciampinoi Gondola in Val Gardena

    South Tyrol has approved a full rebuild of the Ciampinoi cable car in Selva di Val Gardena, replacing the current 12-person gondola with a 16-person cabin and a new mountain-station restaurant. Capacity is capped at 3,200 people an hour rather than the 3,600 the operator wanted, and 250,000 euros must go toward compensatory measures. No construction or opening date has been set, though the upgrade is partly aimed at clearing bottlenecks before the 2031 Alpine Ski World Championships.

    22 July 2026
    Resort Spotlight: Hoshino Tomamu - Corporate Japan's Mountain Playground Revisited

    Resort Spotlight: Hoshino Tomamu - Corporate Japan's Mountain Playground Revisited

    Hoshino Tomamu is the ski resort equivalent of a conference hotel that happens to have excellent powder. Built for corporate retreats and package tourists, it offers genuine Hokkaido snow on surprisingly limited terrain - 29 runs spread across 585 vertical metres.

    21 July 2026
    La Thuile's New Cable Car Replaces Two Ageing Chairlifts

    La Thuile's New Cable Car Replaces Two Ageing Chairlifts

    La Thuile is spending 38.7 million US dollars on a new 10-person cable car linking Les Suches to Chaz Dura, replacing the La Combe and Chaz Dura chairlifts after nearly forty years of service. Built by Leitner, the new cable car runs 1,950 metres to a top station at 2,576 metres, carrying up to 3,000 people an hour with a six-minute ride. It also improves the connection to La Rosiere in France via the Petit-Saint-Bernard Pass, and is on track to open for the 2026/27 season.

    21 July 2026
    The Remarkables Adds Scarpa Bowl to Its Inbounds Terrain

    The Remarkables Adds Scarpa Bowl to Its Inbounds Terrain

    The Remarkables is adding new inbounds terrain for winter, bringing the Scarpa Bowl - known locally as the Toilet Bowl - into its lift-accessed network after years as backcountry-only ground. The roughly 500 metre run is reached by bootpacking from the top of the Sugar Bowl chairlift, with a shuttle picking skiers up from the road at the bottom. It's a smaller, faster addition than the resort's planned Doolans expansion, though the new terrain hasn't opened yet due to a lack of snow this season.

    21 July 2026

    Current conditions

    Snow Report
    Updated 18 Aug 2026
    2637m
    summit
    +0cm
    new snow · last 24 hours
    Overcast4°C / 17°C · NW 20km/h
    Snowfall
    24 hours
    0cm
    48 hours
    0cm
    7 days
    0cm
    Base depth
    0cm
    Season total
    0cm
    Total lifts10

    Live open status isn’t available right now.

    4 Nov 2025 - 4 May 2026

    Hour by Hour

    Next 42 hours· Updated Aug 18, 2026 at 6:32 PM
    WedNow1a2a3a4a5a6a7a8a9a10a11a12p1p2p3p4p5p6p7p8p9p10p11pThu12a1a2a3a4a5a6a7a8a9a10a11a12p1p2p3p4p5p
    Conditions
    Temp°C · feels
    76
    75
    64
    64
    53
    53
    42
    41
    75
    119
    1310
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    1612
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    109
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    86
    75
    74
    64
    63
    53
    63
    85
    1210
    1412
    1614
    1815
    1917
    2017
    2017
    1917
    2017
    Snowfallcm
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
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    Precip chance%
    1%
    1%
    1%
    1%
    1%
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    1%
    1%
    1%
    5%
    1%
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    36%
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    36%
    Precipmm000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
    Wind / gustkm/h
    3G9
    1G8
    1G8
    1G7
    2G6
    3G5
    3G4
    5G5
    2G7
    8G16
    14G29
    15G29
    19G32
    19G32
    19G32
    20G31
    19G30
    18G28
    17G27
    13G22
    9G16
    5G8
    3G6
    1G4
    2G2
    3G3
    5G5
    6G7
    6G6
    5G5
    5G5
    4G4
    4G5
    3G11
    6G18
    9G17
    10G23
    10G21
    10G19
    10G20
    8G19
    8G19

    Scroll for the full outlook · Open-Meteo

    7-Day Outlook

    2,637 mUpdated Aug 18, 2026 at 6:32 PMOpen-Meteo

    Days 1–7

    0.0cm

    Days 8–14

    0.1cm

    Unlock days 8–14

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    Wed, Aug 19

    Overcast
    Temp17° / 4°°C
    Snow0.0cm(6%)
    Wind20 km/h NW

    Live snow from the resort feed; forecast from Open-Meteo, via Supabase.

    Understanding the Lake Louise snow report

    Track current conditions at Lake Louise in Alberta. This report covers snowfall totals, base and summit depth, and the forecast across 160 runs.

    Snow measurements

    Snow depth at Lake Louise is tracked at both the base and summit, since the two elevations often see different totals — roughly a 991m difference here. We report fresh snowfall over the last 24 hours and 7 days alongside the running season total, in both metric and imperial units.

    Weather conditions

    Current weather conditions affect snow quality. Cold temperatures with low wind typically preserve snow quality, while warm temperatures or rain can impact conditions negatively — something worth watching closely at Lake Louise's 1646m base elevation, where temperatures run milder than the summit.

    Data sources

    We pull Lake Louise's conditions from on-the-ground mountain reporting, then layer in forecast data so you get a fuller picture than either source alone. The mountain is served by 10 lifts, including 4 quad chairlifts and a 6-person chairlift.

    When to check

    Snow reports are typically updated early morning and late afternoon. For the most current conditions, check back regularly, especially if a winter storm is approaching.