NORQUAY

There’s something so wonderful and humbling about visiting a small local hill – the type of resort where you can still buy a day ticket for under $100. The kind of place where you can just dump your backpack without worrying about hiring a locker, and where packed lunches are the norm. 

Just 10 minutes from Banff, Norquay is one such resort. Arriving here feels like you’ve stepped back in time to a mythical period in ski history where you don’t wince every time you have to pull out your wallet and the slopes are practically empty. It’s got such a happy, friendly vibe that you can’t help but smile and go along with it. Fortunately, there’s some really great skiing to be had, too!

Norquay was opened in 1926, and it was the original ski area of the Canadian Rockies. To this day it’s still independently owned by ski enthusiasts, which is why it’s retained its old world charm. It is a small ski resort (just 5% of the size of Lake Louise), so it’s perfect as a change to skiing the larger areas, especially if you’re tired of driving. And if you’ve just arrived in Banff in the morning and feel like a warm up before you hit the larger resorts, Norquay offers afternoon skiing tickets

Cascade Lodge is where most of the activities in Norquay are centered. There’s a rental and retail shop, cafeteria and pub. Of course you’re always welcome to bring your bagged lunch, too.

In a world of mammoth ski resorts with all the bells and whistles (and lift lines), it’s a nice change of pace during your ski trip to Banff.

Norquay is the perfect first timer’s resort with some gentle slopes and uncrowded beginner areas. There are easy lifts with lots of nice intermediate groomers that allow new skiers to progress once they’ve gained some confidence. The Cascade and Spirit chairs are our recommendation for beginners, with a good variety of green gentle slopes.

Advanced skiers will find some fun at the top of the Mystic Express and North American lifts, where there are some great (albeit short) steeps and chutes for exploring. If you're a fan of bumps, Lone Pine will be sure to test those knees! At the top of the Mystic and Spirit chairs, skiers can take a short hike for some more advanced side-country skiing. Though given how small the area is, high intermediates and advanced skiers may get a little tired of the same runs after a day or two. Lower intermediate skiers will enjoy the longer runs that trail off the Mystic Express, and there a plenty of opportunities for a bit of tree skiing (a good choice for those taking their first steps into the trees).

In addition to the friendly slopes and wallet-friendly prices, Norquay also offers great tubing facilities and a kids’ play zone with a small sliding area. It’s also the only resort in the Banff area to offer night skiing (on Friday and Saturday Nights, until late March).

Meanwhile, there’s a good ski school plus a daycare facility where you can drop your kid off for a full day of supervised fun from 9am-4pm. Half days and 2 hour drop-ins are also possible. Overall, Norquay is a top choice for families, especially those with younger first-timers who seek a quieter resort for learning and easy access from Banff.

There is no on-mountain accommodation. Downtown Banff is the best place to stay if you want to ski at Norquay, however it is also an easy day trip from Lake Louise. 

Find a great list of hotels in downtown Banff here.

For such a small area, Norquay has some excellent activities. These include a terrain park, night skiing (on weekends), and a big tubing park with 2 dedicated lifts, 6 lanes and a special kids’ zone. Norquay has three snowshoe trails that begin from the base.

Norquay is easy to get to from Banff, which is just 10 minutes down the hill. If you are driving, there is ample parking. There are also shuttle buses from Banff with several runs in the morning and afternoon. The shuttle bus is complimentary with a tri-area lift ticket.

Find a great map of the Canadian Rockies and location of each of the ski resorts here.

January and February can be cold, but there’s a better chance of powder snow. March is also pretty reliable, and towards the end of the month and in April you can get some warmer spring days. Norquay typically opens for weekends only in early November with a full opening at the end of November. It operates until towards the end of April.