Lake Louise
1,700 hectares, 160 runs across four faces in Banff National Park. Striking alpine views, Ikon Pass.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
1 Nov 2026
Closes
2 May 2027
Days open
182
Annual snow
7.3m
The Overview
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
7.3m
Annual snow
Ikon / Mountain Collective
Pass
The Terrain
160 runs across 4,201 acres skiable
Lake Louise is among the largest ski areas in the Canadian Rockies, covering about 1,700 hectares with 160 runs across four distinct faces. The summit is at 2,637 metres and the base at 1,646 metres, a vertical of 991 metres. Intermediates dominate with 45% of the terrain, followed by 25% beginner, 19% advanced and 11% expert. That mix makes it welcoming for mixed groups, with cruisers on one side of the mountain and committing lines on the other. The grading keeps most skiers well inside their comfort zone, yet there is plenty to grow into.
The Front Side carries the long groomed runs, including the Men's Downhill, and the bumps beneath Ptarmigan are a decent workout. Larch has gentle tree-lined pistes and good tree skiing. Over the back, the Back Bowls and West Bowl hold the real test: Whitehorn, Paradise Bowl and the cliff bands and couloirs around them demand strong skills. Beginners find wide, easy slopes close to the base. Lake Louise suits families, intermediates after variety and expert skiers who want sustained in-bounds steeps, and the day is best planned by face, starting on Front Side before moving over to the Bowls.
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 2026 - 2027
1 Nov 2026
Opens
2 May 2027
Closes
182
Days open
7.3 m
Annual snow
The record
Historical snowfall at Lake Louise
Daily snow reports at Lake Louise go back to 2025, 3 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.
38 cm
Snowiest day
13 Jan 2026
8 cm
This winter · 2026-27
so far
817 cm
Typical winter
average of complete seasons
Winter totals
cm
Past wintersThis winter
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
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Hotels and lodges near Lake Louise, powered by Stay22.
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1 Nov 2026
Lake Louise Snow Report
Snow Report
Updated 7 Nov 2026
2637m
summit
+8cm
new snow · last 24 hours
Partly Cloudy-8°C / -4°C · SW 29km/h
Snowfall
24 hours
8cm
48 hours
8cm
7 days
8cm
Base depth
23cm
Season total
8cm
Typical winter 817cm
Total lifts10
Live open status isn’t available right now.
1 Nov 2026 - 2 May 2027
Hour by Hour
Next 48 hours· Updated Nov 7, 2026 at 6:32 PM
Scroll for the full outlook · Open-Meteo
7-Day Outlook
2,439 mUpdated Nov 7, 2026 at 6:32 PMOpen-Meteo
Days 1–7
0.0cm
Days 8–14
3.4cm
Sun, Nov 8
Foggy
Temp-4° / -8°°C
Snow0.0cm(80%)
Wind29 km/h SW
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.