Lake Louise

Located in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, Lake Louise Ski Area is a 2 -2.5 hour scenic drive from Calgary Airport. It is widely rated as one of Canada's best resorts and not without reason; terrain is vast and the powder infamously light and dry. The terrain on offer is spread out over 4 mountain faces and easily competes with major rival Whistler-Blackcomb's, even at half the size it is immense and varied. The sense of being on the edge of a raw, rugged wilderness differentiates Lake Louise from Whistler. The Rockies' scenery is jaw dropping, with intimidating looking sheer, rugged mountains towering all around. If trying to decide which resort to choose, it is a double edged sword. Terrain wise, both are fantastic. Rule of thumb: Whistler gets more powder but it is wetter and heavier than Lake Louise's light, champagne dry loveliness.While Lake Louise's slopes are crowdless it's also practically nightlifeless, while Whistler's slopes have (at times) got increasingly more crowded but there's an energetic, lively village with tons of nightlife. Hmmm!

The terrain on offer at Lake Louise consists of the Front Side/South Face, the Ptarmigan, Paradise and Back Bowls, and the Larch area that collectively provide slopes to suit all levels and styles of rider. The well-connected lift system includes a high-speed quad that can whisk you to the Top of the World in under ten minutes, from where you can access the Back Bowls with unlimited long tree-lined powder runs lying in wait at every turn. Cold and dry due to its altitude (top elevation 8,652 feet, base 5,400 feet) perched precariously astride the Continental Divide, be prepared with warm layers and rehydrate lots.