Bow Valley Ski Season Pass- What’s the best bang for your buck?

The leaves are starting to change color, the temperature has cooled and the sought after pumpkin spice latte has returned. This only means one thing. Winter Is Coming!!! Every year we ask ourselves the same question. What ski pass will give me the best bang for my buck? Living in such close proximity to multiple ski hills makes the choice even harder. With the increasing cost of living, we have decided to bring you an easily followed blog that summarizes all the options on offer from the Bow Valley including Lake Louise, Sunshine Ski Resort, Mt. Norquay and beyond.

*This table compares The price of each ski hill for a mid week or full week seasons pass. Below is a few of the varying passes that set each hill apart.

Mt. Norquay

Located closest to the town of Banff, Norquay is a good cheaper alternative to get you and your family on the slopes. Mt. Norquay is the only hill within proximity of Banff and Canmore that offers night skiing. Mid season, on both Friday and Saturday evenings, they stay open until 9pm. They have the option to purchase just a night skiing pass. This gives you access on both the nights from 5pm-9pm for $89+gst covering the full season.

They also offer a power of 4 pass. This is valid Monday to Friday from 9am-4pm, It does not include weekends or night skiing. It must be purchased in groups of four and costs $219+ gst per person. There is some black out days (days you cannot ski on your pass) throughout the season.

Click here for Mt. Norquay Seasons pass prices 

Sunshine Ski Resort

Sunshine ski resort is located about 30 minutes from Banff town. From the table above you can see that it is priced in the middle of Mt. Norquay and Lake Louise making it favorable for locals.  Sunshine boasts the longest ski season in the valley. This means you get more days worth of skiing on your pass. Sunshine also offer afternoon seasons passes. This gives you access starting at 12pm each day. The pass costs $1040+gst. If you work mornings and find yourself idle in the afternoons, this might be the ideal pass for you.

Click here for Sunshine Ski Resort pass prices

Lake Louise Ski Resort

Lake Louise is around a one hour drive from Banff. Although it is the most expensive on the list, it does offer the most terrain out of the three hills listed here. They offer a parent pass for $1599+gst. This pass must be purchased with a child or tiger ski pass. It gives families the opportunity to have both parents on the one pass, with only one parent riding. The other parent gets a complimentary learning area pass. Perfect to get you and your little ones out on the slopes.

Click here for Lake Louise Ski Resort pass prices

If you are thinking of doing a lot of ski trips this winter, there are a few passes that offer you multiple hills.

Multiple Hills- One Pass

The Ski Big 3 pass includes Mt. Norquay, Sunshine Ski Village, and Lake Louise Ski Resort. A full season pass is $2,999+gst.

The Mountain Collective Pass gives you access 24 different hills worldwide. You get 2 days at each resort and discounts on extra days. Lake Louise and Sunshine Ski Resort are included in this pass.  Its costs $630 USD +gst. It also includes multiple US resorts, Niseko in Japan, Mt.Buller in Australia and many more.

The IKON pass includes unlimited access to 16 destinations and 7 days at 39 different locations. It includes multiple destinations worldwide including Switzerland, New Zealand, Chile and lots more. It retails at $1,259 USD+ gst.

Choosing the right pass is inevitably dependent on what you want. If riding with your family is your priority then the Lake Louise Family pass look's like a good option. Maybe you plan to spend time with your friends and they are all getting a pass for Sunshine Ski Resort.  Do you want to on the hill within 30 minutes of leaving home?  Mt. Norquay is a brilliant choice. Be sure to research the pass you want extensively and ensure you are checking all your boxes. We highly recommend getting your pass insured. This ensures that if you get injured you get some of the value of your pass refunded. Most importantly, get outside and enjoy your winter ride.

Want to know more about the ski hills in the Bow Valley ? Click Here