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Lake Louise resort snow
Lat Long: 51.46° N 116.09° W
Ski Canada - Alberta

Lake Louise Resort Reviews

Weather Forecast for Lake Louise at 2141 m altitude

Issued: 5 pm 05 May 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Next snow in Lake Louise: 1.5 cm on Fri 8th  (after 9 PM)

Visitor reviews for Lake Louise Ski Resort

Lake Louise Ratings

Overall: 3.8. Based on 46 votes and 40 reviews.

Rate this resort

Snowsure: 4.1

  • Occasionally gets enough snow for skiing
  • Is often closed due to a lack of snow
  • Occasionally suffers from a lack of snow
  • Rarely suffers from a lack of snow
  • Lake Louise is snowsure even in the poorest seasons

Variety of pistes: 4.8

  • The ski runs are featureless and unvaried
  • The ski runs are varied but not extensive enough for a week
  • Lake Louise has diverse and interesting pistes including forests and high alpine terrain

Off-piste: 4.2

  • No off-piste worth mentioning
  • Off piste is out-of-bounds
  • Some varied offpiste that stays fresh for one or two days
  • A vast array of off-piste routes that can stay untracked for several days

Scenery: 4.9

  • An ugly resort in a bland setting
  • Average mountain views and resort
  • A spectacular setting and a beautiful / historic resort town

Access: 3.9

  • At least one overnight stop
  • Requires a whole day
  • Requires more than half a day – you may have time for a few turns
  • Arrive by lunchtime and ski all afternoon
  • There is a main airport within an hour of Lake Louise

Public Transport: 3.8

  • There are no buses or taxis to Lake Louise
  • There are slow or infrequent buses / trains available
  • Getting to the resort is easy with frequent bus / train connections

Accommodation: 3.7

  • No places to stay in/near Lake Louise
  • A few places to stay in the resort
  • A wide variety of accommodation suitable to suit all budgets

Cheap Rooms: 3.2

  • No budget accommodation available
  • Just one or two hostels so book ahead
  • Several cheap hostels and pensions available

Luxury Hotels: 4.4

  • No luxury accommodation available
  • Just one or two luxury hotels so book ahead
  • Several up-market hotels in Lake Louise

Ski in/Ski out: 2.7

  • The ski area is located far from any accommodation
  • A free ski bus takes you to the ski area in a short trip
  • Ski-in ski-out accommodation is available

Childcare: 4.1

  • There are no child care facilities at Lake Louise
  • The resort has limited child-care facilities
  • the resort has excellent child-care facilities including at least one reasonably priced creche

Snowmaking: 3.9

  • Lake Louise relies entirely on natural snow
  • There are just a few snow cannons
  • There are snowmaking facilities on all pistes

Snow Grooming: 3.9

  • There are no snow groomers at Lake Louise
  • Occasionally some pistes are left ungroomed and in a poor state
  • All the runs at Lake Louise are groomed daily

Shelter: 3.9

  • There is nowhere to ski when it is windy or visibility is bad and lifts often shut
  • There are some trees for poor visibility but main lifts sometimes close
  • Lake Louise is mostly in forest where you can ski in flat-light and windy days, lifts rarely close

Nearby options: 3.6

  • If snow conditions are poor at Lake Louise, it will be poor everywhere nearby
  • There are good alternatives within an hours drive
  • Other locations on the same lift pass provide a rich variety of snowsure ski conditions

Regional rating: 3.7

  • Lake Louise usually has poor snow conditions compared to other resorts in region
  • Has average conditions for the region
  • Usually has the best snow conditions in the region

Lift Staff: 4.3

  • The staff at Lake Louise are rude or unhelpful
  • Lift staff at Lake Louise are pleasant, cheerful and eager to help

Crowds/Queues: 3.6

  • The resort is always busy and there are usually long lift queues
  • It is quiet apart from occasional weekends and school holidays
  • It is uncrowded and lift queues are very rare

Ski Schools: 4.4

  • No ski schools available
  • One or two ski schools but local language only
  • A few ski schools but book early for multi-lingual instructors
  • Plenty of ski schools and multi-lingual instructors available
  • Excellent ski schools with friendly multi-lingual ski instructors

Hire and Repairs: 4.4

  • Nothing can be sourced, not even ski-wax or ptex
  • There are some ski shops but rentals need to be booked in advance
  • Good quality ski equipment can be purchased or hired and overnight repairs are possible

Beginners: 4.1

  • Beginners can only watch others ski and snowboard
  • A few gentle slopes but beginners will get bored in less than a week
  • Vast areas of gentle terrain

Intermediates: 4.4

  • No intermediate terrain at Lake Louise
  • Intermediate skiers will get bored after a few days
  • Vast areas of cruising runs

Advanced: 4.8

  • Nothing for advanced skiers and snowboarders
  • Enough steep terrain for a few days with some good offpiste
  • Enough steep terrain and offpiste areas to entertain advanced skiers for at least a week

Snow Park: 4.0

  • Not even a kicker at Lake Louise
  • Average sized park quite well looked after
  • Huge park area and expertly crafted pipes, jumps and boardercross trails

Cross-country: 4.0

  • There is nowhere to go for cross-country skiing around Lake Louise
  • There are some cross country trails available
  • The area features many spectacular and well maintained cross-country trails

Luge/Toboggan: 2.4

  • No designated luge or toboggan runs
  • There are toboggan runs that open quite often
  • Lake Louise has long and well maintained luge / toboggan facilities suitable for all ages

Mountain Dining: 3.6

  • Nowhere to buy food by the pistes
  • Some places to eat up on the mountain but they are often busy and expensive
  • There is a variety of excellent mountain eateries right next to the slopes to suit all budgets

Eating: 3.5

  • Bring your own food, there isn't even a shop
  • There are a few places to eat in the resort but nothing special
  • A wide variety of places to eat and drink in the resort, from fast food to fancy restaurants

Apres-Ski: 3.2

  • Nothing to do, not even a bar
  • There are a few bars in the resort but nothing special
  • Clubs and bars stay open until very late and have a friendly atmosphere

Other Sports: 2.3

  • No sports facilities at all apart from ski lifts
  • Resort has just a small public swimming pool
  • Resort has all kinds of sports facilities, including a full-size swimming pool

Entertainment: 3.2

  • Besides the snow and walking there is nothing to do here
  • The non-skier will find things to do for few days but may become bored after a week
  • The resort area is a fascinating place to visit, regardless of winter sports

Winter Walks: 3.8

  • Very limited walking and no snowshoe trails
  • A couple of designated scenic walking/snowshoe trails
  • Extensive and diverse winter walking trails for all abilities

Ski Pass Value: 3.7

  • A 1 week ski pass is overpriced compared to the number of lifts available
  • The ski pass is averagely priced and covers a reasonable number of lifts
  • Ski passes are excellent value for money and cover a lot of lifts spanning a big area

Value (National): 3.8

  • Overall, Lake Louise is one of the most expensive ski resorts in the country and not worth the money
  • Overall represents average value for money
  • Overall offers the best value resort in the country

Value (Global): 3.9

  • Overall, Lake Louise is one of the most expensive ski resorts in the world
  • Overall it offers pretty average value for money compared to resorts from other countries
  • Internationally the resort offers excellent value for money

Show all 35 ratings

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March 13, 2012
Glyn
Having ridden just about every hill within driving distance of Calgary I have a good idea of what can be expected around here. Lake Louise is a fun hill, but it's not 'extreme' like some are making it out to be. If you want a challenge go to Kicking Horse. The front side is generally icy, due to catching the sun all day and Louise's low altitude. Going over the back into the bowls is much better. I think the main drawback of the hill is that it's too close to Calgary and gets skied out in about an hour. Then it's just one giant mogul run for the rest of the day (snowboarders beware). On the plus side it covers a massive area, so you'll be exploring for quite a while. To enjoy Louise you really have to leave the groomed track way behind and explore into the bowls & trees as much as possible, the fun area's are quite well hidden.
January 31, 2012
Kevin
Excellent skiing in the back bowls and chutes - black to double black. Very poor grooming on the front or other cruising runs (Ladies, Larch, Meadow Lark, Gully, etc. Very old snow making, very old lifts, very few cats. No money being put back into what should be a world class ski area. So if you like steeps and chutes and off piste you will like it. If you like groomed and cruising - forget it.
January 08, 2012
jp
An excellent hill in a beautiful small town. The terrain is what makes this hill for advanced or intermediate skiers. The food and the music bite (what with the 70's & 80's at every Canadian resort). There is a ton of slackcountry. It can be quite busy on weekends but the lifts that service the largest pieces of real estate rarely have lines. It is the black and bumpy nature of the runs that keep people to the same three lifts. The wind pretty constantly keeps snow moving from the front to the back and boot deep powder is common when hardly any snow has fallen the night before. Reading the reviews below - they are all correct - one sees quickly that your level of ability decides your enjoyment level. Come here and take it up a notch.
February 17, 2011
Boris
This is the best year for snow at LL (Lake Louise) in about 4-5. The coverage is awesome and patrol is doing a great job opening ski terrain. I was skiing powder last week and heading for some more tomorrow.
December 22, 2010
Jared
I've skied every hill in Alberta and a handful in B.C. Lake Louise has better variety than most. It's the type of ski hill you really have to know to appreciate. If you want to make fresh tracks at the Lake you have to work for it, I love how the average skier/snowboarder just sticks to marked groomed trails. To all the reviewers from the UK, keep sticking to groomed trails, thank you!
February 24, 2010
dave from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
Just returned from Banff and very disappointed with all three resorts. Very much like the states, they talk up the resorts, but unless there has been recent snow it's all very bland. Very little grooming on piste, lack of facilities and short opening times means it is actually very over priced in comparision to Europe. All runs are very short, and most lead straight back to the lift you just took, no adventure at all. It hasn't snowed in weeks and they are desperate for something to cover the rocky pistes! I'm sure it is a different story during a good season, but with respect to the travel time to Canada, travel from Banff to the resorts and the taxes added to every purchase, there are much better options which aren't so dull!
January 27, 2010
Cheryl
I am 49, have lived in Calgary most of my life and started skiing when I was 6. I have skied Lake Louise hundreds of times but always with people who liked the blue runs and maybe a little taste of a black diamond. I was one of those people that gave LL a bad review as most times I went up the runs on the front side, which were icy and the blue runs on Larch, were over skied or icy. Well, a couple of weeks ago I went skiing with my baby brother (who is 51!) he encouraged me to follow him on most of the ER runs (double blacks) I can honestly say it was the best ski day of my life - Lake Louise is the hill of all hills!! The moguls were beautiful, the pitch feverish at times and the snow was great despite the lack of new snow. If you can ski very steep runs and enjoy lots of moguls Lake Louise is heaven.
December 30, 2009
Stephanie
I love Lake Louise. I've been skiing there since I was two years old (I'm now fifteen) and it is the mountain I know the best. What I love about it is that every member of my family has something. I am a former ski racer (eleven years) and freerider, and I love the challenging double blacks off the summit and the little runs only the locals know about. However, my mom is a blue skier, and she is perfectly happy as well. There is some great variety. I love how the double blacks are actually double blacks, instead of some resorts where a double black and a black are pretty much the same. It can get a little windy, especially at the top of Paradise Chair, but it actually isn't that bad once you drop in. Everybody gives Louise a bad rep, but it really is an overall good resort. If you really want a good time at Louise (Lake Louise), find an expert local. Most people ski the same 30% of the mountain, giving it the repuation it has. However, there are some absolutely amazing runs if you know the mountain.
December 17, 2009
Kevin Lee
I've skied Lake Louise all my life. Born and raised in Calgary, I'm now 50, so I've skied there literally for the past 45 years. It is the area to measure all other areas in the world. Half the area is below tree line, so you get the long green and blue runs which are excellent for that level of skier. Higher up and on the back side it's wide open fall line skiing. Very steep terrain, not for the faint of heart. There are wide open bowls and narrow steep shoots. The steep runs are seriously steep, do not attempt the double blacks unless you are actually an expert, these are actual double blacks, not like some areas that just label a lame-o run as double black to look good on the map. Louise has the best and most double black of any area around. If you're not into extreme, then check out the expert terrain off ptarmigan lift or in the paradise bowl, or the front side of summit. It's all challenging and long. There is enough terrain and a wide variety of exposure that you can always find some good skiing no matter what the conditions are elsewhere on the mountain.
January 29, 2009
Taf from Beverley from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
I am just sitting in my hotel room at Lake Louise aching due to to amount of fantastic skiing I have encountered over the 1st week of my holiday. This place is absolutely breathtaking and by far the best place I have ever skied. Brits are serial complainers but trust me I cannot gripe about anything. The pistes are empty, the queues are non existent except on Saturday when you have to wait about 5 minutes, if that. It's great for all levels and the instruction at Lake Louise is second to none. The ski hosts are a great option to acquaint yourself with the mountain. I have got another week and its just started to snow so it will be fresh powder in the morning. Forget the cold, the journey time, and all them other little niggles that you read in reviews this place is just the best. If you want to do some serious skiing and powder hunting in a vast mountain playground then this is the place to be. I am going to close by telling everyone - bring everyone, this place is big enough for a whole load more people to enjoy.