SnowStash
ForecastsCompareNews
SnowStash Logo

Live snow, webcams and expert resort guides for the world's mountains - plan your next day on snow.

hello@snowstash.com
Download on the App Store

Destinations

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • Europe
  • Japan
  • New Zealand
  • United States

Company

  • About Us
  • Work With Us
  • Privacy Policy

Explore

  • Compare Resorts
  • News & Updates
  • Snow Forecast
  • Mobile App

© 2026 SnowStash. All rights reserved.

    Alberta, Canada · Ikon / Mountain Collective

    Mt Norquay

    77 hectares, 60 runs minutes from Banff. Only night skiing in Banff National Park, Ikon Pass access.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    Opens
    8 Nov 2025
    Closes
    20 Apr 2026
    Days open
    163
    Annual snow
    4m
    The Overview
    MF
    Michael Fulton
    Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.

    Mt Norquay's summit reaches 2,183 metres, dropping 503 vertical metres to a base at 1,680 metres across 60 runs spread over roughly 77 hectares within Banff National Park, Alberta. Terrain splits 38 per cent beginner, 37 per cent advanced, 25 per cent intermediate and no dedicated expert terrain, with average annual snowfall of roughly 4.4 metres. The resort carries Ikon and Mountain Collective affiliation. Five lifts, including three quad chairs and one double chair, serve the mountain alongside one surface lift.

    Mt Norquay holds the distinction of being Banff's closest ski resort, sitting just minutes from the townsite, and remains the only resort in Banff National Park offering night skiing. This combination of proximity and evening access has built Norquay's reputation as a genuine locals' mountain, distinct from the more destination-focused resorts nearby.

    The mountain was named in 1904 after John Norquay, premier of Manitoba from 1878 to 1887. Winter sport pioneer Gus Johnson chose a slope roughly 1,000 feet above Banff for a ski camp, and the first runs were cut in 1926. Following Johnson's death, the Banff Ski Club, led by Cliff White and Cyril Paris, built the first ski cabin at Norquay in 1928, with rope tows installed in 1942 and Canada's second chairlift added in 1948.

    A group of Alberta-based investors, including former Olympic alpine racer Ken Read, owned the resort from 2006 to 2018, when the Waterous family acquired it, operating today as Norquay Mystic Ridge Ltd, a subsidiary of Liricon Capital Ltd. Adult daily tickets run from 119 to 134 Canadian dollars.

    503m
    Vertical
    60
    Runs
    190 acres
    Skiable
    4m
    Annual snow
    Ikon / Mountain Collective
    Pass
    The Terrain

    60 runs across 190 acres skiable

    Mt Norquay spreads 60 runs across 190 acres skiable of terrain. It leans beginner at 38%, with 23 beginner runs to find your feet and 22 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.

    Terrain split
    60
    runs
    60 runs across 4 grades
    Beginner23 runs · 38%
    Intermediate15 runs · 25%
    Advanced22 runs · 37%
    Expert0 runs · 0%
    Time it right

    When to visit Mt Norquay

    The 2025-26 season at Mt Norquay ran from 8 November 2025 to 20 April 2026, a roughly twenty-four-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 4.4 metres. Season dates can shift depending on early and late-season weather in Banff National Park.

    Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions to Norquay's mixed terrain. As an Ikon and Mountain Collective resort, Norquay draws pass-holding visitors alongside a strong contingent of Banff locals and residents given its considerable proximity to town.

    Norquay's night-skiing programme, the only such operation within Banff National Park, continues to draw strong evening visitation from residents and visitors alike throughout the season. School holiday periods bring family visitation given the resort's approachable, beginner-weighted terrain.

    Specific event programming beyond standard operations and night skiing is not confirmed in available resort information. Since the Waterous family's 2018 acquisition, Norquay has continued building on nearly a century of history since the mountain's first runs were cut in 1926. The resort's proximity to Banff and unique night-skiing access remain central to its enduring local appeal.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    8 Nov 2025
    Opens
    20 Apr 2026
    Closes
    163
    Days open
    4 m
    Annual snow
    Getting there

    Getting to Mt Norquay, and where to stay

    Mt Norquay sits within Banff National Park, Alberta, with a base elevation of 1,680 metres and a summit at 2,183 metres across a 503-metre vertical drop over roughly 77 hectares. This setting places Norquay closer to the town of Banff than any other resort in the park.

    The town of Banff itself, a genuine national park townsite with extensive lodging and dining, sits just minutes from Norquay's base, making the resort a genuinely convenient option for both residents and visitors staying in town.

    Mt Norquay Road provides direct access to the resort from Banff, one of the shortest approach drives of any major Rockies ski area. Winter driving conditions on this short route can include snow and ice, though the well-maintained road reflects the resort's considerable local visitation.

    Calgary International Airport, roughly a 90-minute drive away, is the primary gateway for visitors flying into the region, with Norquay's proximity to Banff making it a genuinely convenient option for visitors staying in town without a vehicle.

    Where to stay

    Search all stays →

    Hotels and lodges near Mt Norquay, powered by Stay22.

    Latest News

    From the SnowStash desk

    View all news →
    Thredbo Is 'On the Table' as EVT Reviews Its Whole Business

    Thredbo Is 'On the Table' as EVT Reviews Its Whole Business

    Thredbo is officially 'on the table.' EVT Limited, owner of Australia's most decorated ski resort, has hired Rothschild & Co to review its entire corporate structure - and confirmed Thredbo isn't off limits, even as it books a stronger year of earnings. The resort's own valuation has nearly halved after a brutal 2026 season, and speculation is already running toward Vail Resorts, Alterra, or a New Zealand operator picking it up. Here's what EVT actually said, and who could buy it.

    25 Aug 2026
    Ski-E-O! Is the Ski Resort Tycoon Game We Didn't Know We Needed

    Ski-E-O! Is the Ski Resort Tycoon Game We Didn't Know We Needed

    I'm not a gamer. I'm a skier and snowboarder who happens to have a laptop. So when a ski resort management game called Ski-E-O! landed on Steam, I wasn't expecting to lose an afternoon to it - but here we are. Real mountain terrain, a full weather system, storms that roll in and wreck your snow base, avalanche danger, and enough depth to make RollerCoaster Tycoon feel simple by comparison. Early access lands in November. Here's what a few hours in the free demo actually looks like.

    23 Aug 2026
    Sugar Bowl, California, Rebuilds Its Historic Village Gondola

    Sugar Bowl, California, Rebuilds Its Historic Village Gondola

    The rumours are true: Sugar Bowl is tearing out its Emerald gondola, in place since 1983, and replacing it with a new 8-person Doppelmayr system - nearly doubling uphill capacity to 1,800 people an hour. It's the fourth generation of a gondola line that dates back to 1953, when Sugar Bowl became the first resort on the West Coast to run one at all, and it's just one piece of a $100 million overhaul touching lodges, parking and snowmaking. Here's what's changing, and what's staying the same.

    23 Aug 2026
    Two Confirmed Dead as Search Continues After Swiss Alps Fire

    Two Confirmed Dead as Search Continues After Swiss Alps Fire

    The death toll from Thursday night's fire at Restaurant Beverin in Thusis, Switzerland, has begun to firm up. One Swiss outlet, citing Graubünden Cantonal Police, reports that two of the five people initially reported missing have now been confirmed dead, leaving three unaccounted for. The building's collapsed stairwell and structural instability have slowed recovery efforts throughout. Here's what's changed since the fire broke out, and what's still unconfirmed.

    22 Aug 2026
    Selwyn Snow Resort Closes Early as Rain Ends Its 2026 Season

    Selwyn Snow Resort Closes Early as Rain Ends Its 2026 Season

    Selwyn Snow Resort has called an early end to its 2026 season, a day after Victoria's Mount Baw Baw did the same. Rain on Thursday stripped what was left of the snowpack, and the cold nights needed to rebuild it through snowmaking never arrived. It's a rough result for a resort that only just found its footing again after being burned to the ground in the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires and a multi-year rebuild. Here's how the season fell apart, and where Selwyn's been since the fire.

    22 Aug 2026
    Mt Baw Baw Becomes First Australian Resort to Close for 2026

    Mt Baw Baw Becomes First Australian Resort to Close for 2026

    Mt Baw Baw is calling time on its 2026 season this Sunday at 5pm, becoming the first Australian resort to close for the year after warm spells and rain wore through its snowpack. Lifts stop, but the resort stays open, entry fees get waived, and there's one last Bollywood Weekend before the lights go out. Fifty-seven days after opening, here's how the season ended and what it means for the rest of Australia's struggling snowpack.

    21 Aug 2026
    Arosa to Replace 40-Year-Old Hörnli Lifts With New Gondola and Chair

    Arosa to Replace 40-Year-Old Hörnli Lifts With New Gondola and Chair

    Arosa's Hörnli sector is getting its biggest overhaul in decades. The 1986 gondola and 1994 chairlift linking toward Lenzerheide are both being replaced, with capacity up, tower count down and a new base station lower on the hill. At roughly CHF 67 million, it is the largest single investment Arosa Bergbahnen has ever made - and the target opening has already slipped a year, to December 2028. Here is what is changing, and why the timeline moved.

    20 Aug 2026
    Sundance Mountain Resort Is Getting a New High-Speed Quad and More Back Mountain Terrain This Winter

    Sundance Mountain Resort Is Getting a New High-Speed Quad and More Back Mountain Terrain This Winter

    Sundance Mountain Resort's back mountain is finally getting a proper lift. The Electric Horseman Express opens for 2026-27, unlocking a new bowl next to Bishop's Bowl and three expert gladed chutes across roughly 105 fresh acres - on top of the Storyteller ridge run that debuted in preview form last season. It's Sundance's biggest expansion since 1985, and it turns a three-lift slog into a single six-minute ride to Bearclaw Summit.

    19 Aug 2026

    Lift tickets

    Ikon / Mountain Collective9 pass options
    Buy passes ↗

    Single-day passes

    Adult 18–99

    Adult Full Day Ticket

    CA$119up to CA$134 peak

    Mt Norquay offers the only night skiing in Banff National Park with 60 trails across 190 acres. Located just 7 minutes from downtown Banff, this local favorite features family-friendly terrain and excellent learning zones.

    Buy pass
    Youth 13–17

    Youth Full Day Ticket

    CA$89up to CA$99 peak

    Mt Norquay youth lift tickets provide access to diverse terrain perfect for progression. Experience beginner to advanced slopes with the convenience of being closest to Banff townsite.

    Buy pass
    Child 6–12

    Child Full Day Ticket

    CA$45up to CA$52 peak

    Mt Norquay child lift tickets for ages 6-12. Perfect for families with young skiers, featuring excellent beginner terrain and easy mountain navigation just minutes from Banff.

    Buy pass
    Senior 65–99

    Senior Full Day Ticket

    CA$89up to CA$99 peak

    Mt Norquay senior discounted lift tickets for guests 65+. Enjoy convenient access to quality skiing with the shortest drive from Banff townsite and excellent groomed terrain.

    Buy pass
    Child 0–5

    Child 5 & Under Ticket

    Free

    Free lift access for children 5 and under at Mt Norquay. Must be accompanied by paying adult. Experience family skiing at Banff's most accessible mountain resort.

    Buy pass
    Child 6–12

    Magic Carpet Ticket

    CA$28up to CA$37 peak

    Mt Norquay Magic Carpet ticket provides access to beginner terrain and learning area. Perfect for first-time skiers and young children learning to ski in a safe, controlled environment.

    Buy pass

    Half-day passes

    Adult 18–99

    Adult Afternoon Ticket

    CA$96up to CA$107 peak

    Mt Norquay afternoon lift tickets starting at 12:00 PM. Perfect for half-day skiing with access to all terrain including the famous steep North American chairlift runs.

    Buy pass
    Adult 18–99

    Night Skiing Ticket

    CA$49

    Mt Norquay night skiing offers the only night skiing experience in Banff National Park. Available Friday and Saturday evenings from 5:00-9:00 PM with fully lit terrain park and trails.

    Buy pass
    Adult 18–99

    Last Hour Ticket

    CA$48

    Mt Norquay Last Hour ticket for 3:00-4:00 PM skiing. Perfect for getting a few final runs in at Banff's local mountain with convenient access and easy parking.

    Buy pass

    Mt Norquay lift tickets & passes

    The 2025 - 2026 season at Mt Norquay closed on Apr 20, 2026. Check back for next season's opening date and ticket pricing.

    Day passes start from CA$28, with peak rates up to CA$134.

    Lift tickets FAQ

    How much does a Mt Norquay day pass cost?+
    Mt Norquay day passes range from CA$28 to CA$134 depending on the date and advance booking.
    Can I buy Mt Norquay lift tickets online?+
    Yes, you can purchase tickets directly from the resort website or at the resort ticket office.
    Are there discounts for multi-day passes?+
    Yes, multi-day packages typically offer significant savings compared to individual day passes. The per-day cost decreases with longer stays.
    What is included with a Mt Norquay lift ticket?+
    Full access to all lifts and trails at Mt Norquay, including mountain safety and patrol services.
    What is the difference between Mt Norquay lift tickets and ski passes?+
    "Lift tickets" and "ski passes" refer to the same thing at Mt Norquay - your access to the mountain's lifts and trails for your chosen duration.
    When should I buy Mt Norquay lift tickets for the best price?+
    Purchase tickets at least 7 days in advance for the best rates, and consider weekday visits for further savings over weekend rates.
    Does Mt Norquay offer group discounts on lift tickets?+
    Group discounts are typically available for parties of 10 or more. Contact Mt Norquay directly for group booking information and rates.
    How can I check current conditions before buying tickets?+
    Before purchasing, check the live snow report and mountain webcams to see current weather, snow conditions, and lift operations at Mt Norquay.

    More Mt Norquay intelligence: snow report, webcams, resort overview.