Banff Sunshine
Lake Louise Ski ...
Mt. Norquay
Tue, 07 Apr 2026
If you’re searching for the steepest ski runs in Banff and Lake Louise, SkiBig3 is home to some of the most legendary terrain in the Canadian Rockies. Spanning Banff Sunshine, Lake Louise Ski Resort, and Mt. Norquay, this world-class destination offers everything from steep groomers to extreme freeride lines, including chutes, couloirs, cliffs, and deep powder fields. With nearly 8,000 skiable acres, SkiBig3 delivers no shortage of steeps for advanced and expert skiers and snowboarders looking to push their limits.
This guide breaks down the best steep runs at SkiBig3, with local tips to help you find the most challenging lines and make the most of your time in Banff National Park.
Banff Sunshine
Spread across three mountains, Banff Sunshine is where you level up from groomed blacks to full-on big mountain riding. Expect everything from fast, fall-line cruisers to consequence-heavy chutes stacked with cliffs, couloirs , and powder stashes. If you're chasing big steeps, you can't go past Sunshine’s iconic freeride zones.
Garbage Chutes (68)
Run grade: Black
Directions: Ride the Standish Express Quad up and then ride lookers left
Short, sharp, and guaranteed to spike the adrenaline. The Garbage Chutes are all about quick hits with steep entries and tight lines. Lap it a few times and you’ll feel your confidence climb.
Air time in the Garbage Chutes | Photo credit: Rajiv Dhaliwal
The Shoulder (16)
Run grade: Black
Directions: Ride the Tee Pee Town or Super Angel Express chairs, ski Ecstasy (24) before dropping in to The Shoulder on skiers right.
Don’t let the open face fool you, The Shoulder demands attention. This steep, sustained pitch invites big turns up top before funneling you into tight trees that’ll have your legs burning. Smooth, controlled, and technical enough to keep things interesting.
Powder skiing on The Shoulder | Photo credit: Jill Scarpato
The Southside Chutes
Run grades: Black & double black
Directions: Ride Goats Eye before traversing through to the chutes on lookers right.
This is where things start to get serious. The Southside Chutes features nine different chutes, each with their own personality. Some tight, some rocky, all steep. Traverse or hike further and you’ll unlock better snow and more committing lines. Nail these and you’re well on your way to mastering Sunshine’s freeride zones.
The Southside Chutes | Photo credit: Dan Evans
Delirium Dive (91)
Run grade: Double black
Directions: Ride Great Divide and enter the gates above the lift. For the least steep way down, head down the metal stars on the right. A buddy and avalanche gear, including a transceiver, probe and shovel, are mandatory to access these zones.
Welcome to the big leagues. Delirium Dive is some of the most challenging in-bounds terrain in Canada, and it doesn’t hold back. Think terrain that ranges from steep powder fields to cliffs, spines, and exposed rock bands. Pick your line wisely. Send it with confidence. Check out our guide to the Dive here.
The entrance to Delirium Dive | Photo credit: Dan Evans
The Wild West
Run grade: Double black
Directions: Ride Goats Eye Express and ski Sunshine Coast (71) until you reach the gates on skiers right. A buddy and avalanche gear, including a transceiver, probe and shovel, are mandatory to access this zone.
Raw, rugged, and unapologetically steep. The Wild West is as gnarly as it gets. Think rocky couloirs, mandatory airs, and no-fall zones that demand absolute focus. This is expert terrain in its purest form.
Peyto’s in the Wild West | Photo credit: Jill Scarpato
Lake Louise Ski Resort
Lake Louise is where steep skiing meets scale. The terrain here is big, bold, and packed with technical lines that rewards skill. From steep groomers to wide open freeride zones and rocky chutes, Lake Louise has something for everyone chasing a hit of adrenaline.
Men’s Downhill (1)
Run grade: Black
Directions: Ride the Glacier Express to the Top of the World Express and ski Upper Wiwaxy (28) to Men’s Downhill (1) on skiers right.
Fast, steep, and built for speed. Once part of the World Cup circuit, this run is regularly groomed and your chance to channel race energy on a wide-open pitch. Let the skis run, trust your edges, and use it as a launchpad before heading into more technical terrain.
West Bowl (157)
Run grade: Black to double black
Directions: Ride the Glacier Express to the Top of the World Express to the Summit Chair and drop in on your left or ski around the back of the bowl and take the stairway to West Bowl to enter from the top.
Opened in 2020/2021, West Bowl includes some of Lake Louise’s most iconic bowl terrain and serves big mountain energy. West Bowl serves up everything from steep glades to rolling features to hidden gullies and powder-filled pockets. Every lap feels different, and the deeper you explore, the better it gets.
Connor Ryan skiing in West Bowl | Photo credit: Jill Scarpato
Lookout Chutes (152)
Run grade: Double black
Directions: On the backside, ride the Larch Express and ski down Larch (149) before dropping in on skiers left.
Tight, technical, and straight to the point. The Lookout Chutes drop you into steep fall lines lined with trees, demanding quick reactions and precise turns. No room for hesitation, just pick your line and commit.
Paradise Bowl / Eagle Ridge
Run grade: Black to double black
Directions: On the backside, ride the Paradise Chair and head left. Corridor (83) connects to 8 different chutes.
The backbone of Lake Louise’s expert terrain, Eagle Ridge (often referred to as ER) features 8 main faces filled with cornices, wide open bowls, cliff jumps, steep pitches, technical sections and narrow chutes. This is where you earn your turns. Hunt for hidden stashes, scope your line, and send it.
Paradise Bowl | Photo credit: Jill Scarpato
Whitehorn 2 / Alphabet Gullies
Run grade: Double Black
Directions: Ride the Glacier chair to the Top of the World Chair to the Summit Chair and head right
From A to I, it only gets steeper, tighter, and more technical. The Alphabet Gullies are classic Rockies skiing. Rocky, committing, and absolutely electric on a powder day. Thread the needle between spines, slash through deep pockets, and hold it together top to bottom. This is high-alpine skiing at its most addictive.
Alphabet Gullies | Photo credit: Dan Evans
Mt. Norquay
100 years strong this season, Mt. Norquay is where you go when you want fast laps, no fluff, and terrain that gets straight to the point.
Black Magic (52)
Run grade: Black
Directions: Ride the Mystic Chair before skiing Giver Grandi (42) onto Black Magic
A deceptively spicy warm-up. Groomed but steep, Black Magic lets you build speed before ducking into tight glades for quick, snappy turns.
Skiing in the powder on Black Magic | Photo credit: Jill Scarpato
North American Chair (locally known as Big Chair)
Run grade: Black
Directions: Ride Cascade Chair before traversing along and down to the North American Chair.
This is where reputations are made. Big Chair serves up Norquay’s (and SkiBig3’s) steepest terrain. Wide-open faces, punchy moguls, and tight tree lines, all with massive views over the Bow Valley. It’s where locals earn their stripes, because, if you can ski Big Chair, you can ski anywhere.
Powder skiing off Big Chair | Photo credit: Rueben Krabbe
Take on the Steeps at SkiBig3
If steep lines, exposed chutes, and adrenaline-fueled descents are your thing, SkiBig3 is your playground. One lift ticket unlocks all three resorts, each with its own flavor of steep and technical terrain. Three Resorts. Endless lines.
