Best Places to Snowboard in Banff

Set in a stunning National Park, Banff is known to be one of the best places for snowboarding and the most scenic places for a Canada ski holiday. The resort is made up of three sub-resorts, known as ‘The Big 3’ – Sunshine Village, Mt. Norquay and Lake Louise. Each resort offers a range of slopes and holds a unique sense of Canadian charm. Snowboarding in Banff has it all. Enjoy steep descents, wide, cruisy runs, and perfect powder beds.

Accommodation in Banff offers something for everyone, from cosy lodges and apartments to family-run hotels and five-star stays. The town itself is a great place to spend your winter break. Enjoy a selection of mountain-inspired restaurants, lively bars, and shops for leisurely perusing. However, Banff is best known for its perfect powder and immaculate snowboarding conditions. Read ahead for our take on the best places to snowboard in Banff.

Sunshine Village

One of the most iconic spots for snowboarding in Banff. Sunshine Village has a gloriously long season, meaning keen snowboarders can enjoy its deep powder for months on end. This area is a snowboarder’s paradise, with more than 135 well-connected runs and an average snowfall of nine metres each year. Beginner boarders can practice on the cruisy runs that surround the Standish chairlift. These green and blue runs are perfect for practising switching and carving. There are some natural terrain features to ease budding boarders into performing jumps and tricks. The Strawberry Express lift also offers some excellent slopes for those building their board confidence.

More experienced boarders can enjoy the black runs and off-piste explorations that flow from Mount Standish. This peak boasts an impressive altitude of 2,400m. Here you can find a perfect mix of pretty tree-lined runs and bowls of deep powder. Sunshine Village also boasts five terrain parks. Each is designed to encourage boarders to test their skills and build confidence.

Strawberry Park has a range of boxes, rails, and tubes. It also hosts an annual event for those willing to show off their skills. For a range of jibs and jumps, head to Great Divide Park. Grizzly Park offers a long line of jumps, aimed at intermediates and experts. For building confidence, Springhill Park is home to some gentle and flowy jibs. Finally, the Kids Play Park is a great spot for beginners to practice on boxes, rails, and jumps. These snowparks make Sunshine Village not only one of the best places to snowboard in Banff, but in all of Canada.

Lake Louise

With a stunning landscape, 164 slopes and endless off-piste areas, Lake Louise is a hot spot for avid snowboarders in Banff and one of the best places to snowboard in Canada. Reliable snowfall offers immaculate snowboarding conditions all season long. Boarders will often find fresh, untouched powder to explore. The Sunny Side area is great for beginners, with a magic carpet and gentle greens that are perfect for building confidence.

The next step up is the series of blue runs that flow from the top of the Juniper Express lift. These slopes are great for cruising, carving, and feeling more confident on the board. Intermediates and experts can head straight up the Grizzly Gondola or the Glacier Express. From here, there are many scenic red runs, racy black slopes, and off-piste areas to delve into.

Lake Louise is home to four terrain parks. The Elbow Park is aimed at beginners, with small jumps and boxes to practice on. Intermediates should venture to Triple Bridge Park or Boulevard Park for some bigger jumps and pipes. Experts will feel at home in Easy Street Park. Contrary to its name, this park boasts some sizeable rails and challenging jumps.

Mt. Norquay

Although smaller than Sunshine Village and Lake Louise, Mt. Norquay remains an excellent spot for snowboarding in Banff. The mountain is home to more than 30 runs, connected by six lifts. There is plenty of terrain suitable for beginner boarders, making the area a family favourite. The Cascade chairlift gives access to a variety of blissful green runs to explore. Enjoy wide slopes, tree-lined runs, and beautiful mountain scenery. For those more experienced, the Spirit chairlift will take you to more challenging slopes, ranging from blue to black.

Mt. Norquay’s terrain park caters to all abilities and preferences. Those new to boarding can build confidence on small jumps and pipes. Adrenaline junkies can get some serious air on the larger jibs. The best part? This park is open on Friday and Saturday nights. Keen boarders can practice their best tricks, guided by the stars and moonlight.

If you want to know more about the best places to snowboard in Banff call our ski experts today on 020 3553 7151.