Town of Banff

Nordic Skiing

You will find ready access to all of the different categories of Nordic skiing in Banff and Banff National Park: classic track-set cross-country and groomed skate-skiing trails, untracked backcountry trails, telemark slopes, and rugged ski mountaineering routes.

For most recreational skiers, the cross-country ski season runs from December through March. But local nordic enthusiasts and competitive athletes are usually on the snow at Lake Louise area trails (especially Moraine Lake Road) or at the nearby Canmore Nordic Centre by mid-November.

There are several enjoyable easy-to-moderate x-country trails in or near the Banff townsite, including:

• Cascade Fire Road, from the Lake Minnewanka parking lot
• Spray River Loop, from the Banff Springs Hotel trailhead
• Sundance Canyon, starting from Cave and Basin Historic Site
• Banff Springs Golf Course, from the Bow Falls parking lot
  
• Bow River, from the Canoe Docks

Some popular favourites in Lake Louise include:

• Moraine Lake Road
• The Great Divide (Highway 1A)
• Bow River Loop, starting near the Station Restaurant

There is also a series of scenic cross-country trails accessible from the top of the Sunshine Village Gondola (note that there is a fee for the gondola ride).

Cross-country ski rentals are available at a limited number of retail outfits, including Mountain Magic Equipment in Banff, Monod Sports in both Banff and Lake Louise, and Wilson Mountain Sports in Lake Louise.

Further information about cross-country skiing in Banff, along with trail descriptions and maps, is available at the Parks Canada Web site.

Guided cross-country ski tours are available through White Mountain Adventures and Willow Root Nature Tours.

World-class Nordic facilities and equipment rentals are also available at the Canmore Nordic Centre, built for the 1988 Winter Olympics, just 25 km east of Banff.