First timers' Guide

Discover Banff & Lake Louise in the Canadian Rockies

Cold Plunges and Snow Peaks: Dive Into SkiBig3 in Banff and Lake Louise.

Everything you need to know to experience the 3 ski resorts of Banff National Parks and what to expect when staying in the town of Banff or the village of Lake Louise. Easy trip planning tips to make the most of your next ski vacation.

4 Easy Arrival Steps

Getting Here is Easy

The closest airport is the Calgary International Airport (YYC). From there, the town of Banff is an easy 90 minute drive along the all-weather, four-lane Trans-Canada Highway (Hwy #1). Lake Louise is a scenic 45 minutes further west. KAYAK offers a variety of domestic and international flight options to Calgary - click here to explore flight options and more.

Frequent airport transfer services are available between Calgary International Airport and Banff-Lake Louise hotels – this can be booked with your package online or with our reservations specialists.

Getting to Banff

Banff National Park

Part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Canada’s first National Park now encompasses 6,641 square kilometres of unmatched mountain scenery nestled in the heart of the magnificent Canadian Rockies.

Surrounded by snow-capped peaks, glistening glaciers and sweeping vistas, you’ll be seduced by the elemental allure of this extraordinary wilderness.

And just beyond the town of Banff and the village of Lake Louise, you can explore this vast wilderness, home of some of North America’s wildest creatures, including caribou, elk, wolves, black and grizzly bears.

Discover the park

Two historic towns

Town of Banff

First settled in the 1880s after the transcontinental railway was built through the Bow Valley, the town of Banff is the gateway to the Canadian Rockies and its namesake national park. Tourism here got its start when railway workers discovered a series of natural hot springs on Sulphur Mountain. Soon, construction of the majestic Banff Springs Hotel was underway and the rest, as they say, is history.

Where should I stay

Village of Lake Louise

Welcome to the most iconic mountain community in the world. Set against the stunning backdrop of Victoria Glacier, Lake Louise is one of the most photographed sights in the Canadian Rockies. Staying in the village of Lake Louise provides a quiet wilderness location with quick access to the Lake Louise Ski Resort.

Lake Louise Lodging

3 Ski Resorts, 2 Mountain Towns, 1 National Park

The Island in the Sky

Sitting on the continental divide, Sunshine is famous for its all natural snow & diverse terrain. Banff Sunshine features runs ranging from easy greens to the hardest double blacks.

Banff Sunshine

Canada's Friendly Giant

With 4200 acres to explore, it might seem intimidating, but Lake Louise features terrain for everyone with beginner, intermediate, and expert routes from nearly every chair.

Lake Louise

Banff's Backyard

Only a quick 7 minutes from the townsite of Banff, Mt Norquay is known as a local's favourite. Ski steeper terrain, take it easy on gentle groomers, or test your tricks in the terrain park.

Mt. Norquay

Access is easy!

Ski Shuttles & Public Transit

Banff and Lake Louise offer a variety of shuttles and a user-friendly public bus system. All three ski areas offer daily ski shuttle service that run from Banff with pick up points conveniently located throughout the town. Ski Shuttles are free for guests with a SkiBig3 Lift Ticket, Mountain Collective and Ikon Pass.

The town of Banff is easy to navigate on foot but, if you aren’t feeling up to it, traveling within town is made easy with a public transit system (ROAM) that runs 3 different lines as well as a regional service to the village of Lake Louise and the neighbouring town of Canmore.

Go car free