Spring break on a crowded beach? You can do better. This year, swap flip-flops for ski boots and make Banff National Park your spring break playground. With three world-class resorts, lively nightlife, and endless mountain adventures, this is the spring break that checks every box. Picture carving fresh tracks with your crew, après pitchers on a sunny patio, and soaking in hot springs surrounded by snow. SkiBig3 is where college spring break turns legendary.
If you have an Ikon Pass, Banff should be at the top of your spring break list. Your pass gets you access to Banff Sunshine, Lake Louise, and Mt. Norquay, and your friends score 25% off lift tickets. Instead of lapping the same runs every day, you can switch it up across three resorts. Add in the fact that your US dollar goes further in Canada, and with Canadians ready to welcome you warmly, you get a spring break that feels huge on adventure but light on your wallet.
Lookout at Mt. Norquay | Reuben Krabbe
Banff is the kind of place that makes planning a group trip simple. Flights into Calgary connect from most major US cities, and the drive or shuttle into Banff, Lake Louise, or Canmore is under two hours. Once you arrive, you have choices: walkable hotels in downtown Banff or budget-friendly condos you can split with friends in Canmore.
Plus, SkiBig3 packages bundle lodging, lift tickets, rentals, and even lessons, so your whole crew saves money and everyone, from first-timers to pros, can get in on the fun.
Trappers Banff Sunshine | Dan Evans
This is where SkiBig3 really wins for spring break. You are not stuck at the same ski area for five days. Instead, you get to switch it up:
With 3,300 acres of terrain, Banff Sunshine is famous for its light Prosecco Powder, 360 degrees uninterrupted views, endless variety of terrain. Beginners can cruise gentle groomers while experts head straight to Delirium Dive and playful chutes. Sunshine is also home to some of the best terrain parks in the Rockies, with multiple lines and features that keep park riders lapping all day. Spring is when the mountain really comes alive with après on the Trappers patio.
Banff Sunshine Village Early April | Reuben Krabbe
At over 4,200 acres and 3,250 vertical feet, Lake Louise Ski Resort offers terrain for every style of skier or rider, from wide-open groomers to powder-filled bowls. For spring 2025, the brand-new Richardson’s Ridge is set to open, unlocking even more terrain and making the experience bigger than ever. The après scene is just as awesome, with live music and DJs at Banded Peaks.
Lake Louise Ski Resort in March | Reuben Krabbe
Mt. Norquay is the local favorite with something for every skier, whether you are learning on gentle greens, lapping steeps, or hitting the terrain park. It is also the only hill in Banff National Park with night skiing, Friday and Saturday under the lights. Add in tubing under the stars and affordable après deals at the Lone Pine, and Mt. Norquay delivers a spring break vibe that balances skiing and social energy.
Mt. Norquay in April | Reuben Krabbe
Banff is the heart of the park and the center of the action. Walkable hotels, budget hostels, and nonstop après make it the top pick for students who want to be in the mix. Shops, restaurants, nightlife, and ski shuttles are all within easy reach.
Friends waiting for the Ski Shuttle in Banff
Lake Louise Ski Resort Banded Peak Patio at Après | Jill Tester
Just outside the park gates, Canmore brings a more laid-back mountain-town vibe. This is the place for spacious condos and townhomes that are perfect to split with friends. You will find craft breweries, casual dining, and a fun local scene that balances out the high-energy nights in Banff.
Town of Canmore (Basecamp Suites Condo-Style Hotel) | Leigh Caporal
Banff is a college student’s dream when it comes to après. Start with pitchers on sunny patios, then roll into the night with spots like Hello Sunshine for karaoke and sushi, Banff Ave Brewing for pints, or Rose and Crown for live music.
Just 20 minutes from Banff, Canmore brings a more laid-back mountain-town energy. Grab après beers at Grizzly Paw Brewing or catch happy hour, sip cocktails at Where the Buffalo Roam, or go classic at The Drake and Rose & Crown for live music and late nights with the locals.
Hello Sunshine | Mirae Campbell
Banff is more than skiing and nightlife. Here are the kinds of adventures that make your trip feel bigger than just a ski vacation:
These bucket-list activities turn your spring break into something your friends will still be talking about at graduation.
Tubing at Mt.Norquay | Reuben Krabbe
This is not your average spring break. It is skiing powder, chasing sunsets in the Rockies, and living it up in Banff with your crew. With three resorts, endless nightlife, and adventures you cannot find anywhere else, SkiBig3 is the college spring break destination that sets the bar higher. Best of all, your dollar goes further here, making it one of the best-value spring break trips you can plan.
