Where can you go skiing or snowboarding?

Calgary is renowned for its proximity to the Canadian Rockies, making it an ideal starting point for skiing. The city offers the perfect combination of urban winter entertainment and access to world-class ski resorts within a two-hour drive. From Olympic slopes right in the city center to the snow-capped peaks of Banff, Calgarians have a choice that is the envy of many European ski capitals.

WinSport: Olympic experience in the city center

WinSport at Canada Olympic Park is the closest and most accessible place to ski in Calgary. Located just off 88 Canada Olympic Road SW, only minutes from downtown, this complex offers a complete skiing experience without having to leave the city.

WinSport's slopes and facilities include:

  • Two main lifts on a large slope and several conveyor belts for beginners
  • A terrain park, world-class halfpipe, and FIS-certified slopestyle track
  • Evening hours: until 9:00 p.m. on weekdays and until 5:00 p.m. on weekends

WinSport lift pass prices (2023-2024 season):

  • Adults (18-64 years old): $79 per day
  • Juniors (6-17 years old): $49 per day
  • Children (3-5 years old): $29 per day
  • Half days: 20-40% off daily rates

Season highlights: WinSport is open from late November to early April, depending on weather conditions. A season pass pays for itself in just 9-10 visits.

Servus Tube Park: adrenaline for the whole family

WinSport also has one of Western Canada's largest snow tubing parks with nine lanes. The park is open from December 21 to March 30 with two-hour sessions.

Tube Park schedule and prices:

  • Friday: 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. ($16)
  • Weekends: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. ($25)

Minimum age: 4 years old and 91 cm tall Children between 91 and 106 cm tall must ride with an adult holding their tube

Banff Resorts: World Class an Hour Away

Banff's three legendary resorts are located within two hours of Calgary and offer over 8,000 acres of skiable terrain.

Mount Norquay: closest to Calgary

Mount Norquay is only 112 km (69 miles) from Calgary, making it the closest ski resort in Banff. The drive takes about an hour on the Trans-Canada Highway.

Mount Norquay features:

  • 60 trails and 6 lifts
  • Season: mid-November to mid-April
  • Free parking at the base station

Mount Norquay lift pass prices:

  • Adults: $134 per day
  • Juniors (13-17): $99 per day
  • Children (6-12): $52 per day
  • Adult season pass: $1,129

Sunshine Village: the longest season in Canada

Sunshine Village offers the longest non-glacier ski season in Canada – seven months of skiing from early November to the May holidays. The resort is located on the continental divide at an altitude of over 2,100 meters, which guarantees high-quality “champagne” powder.

Sunshine Village features:

  • Over 3,300 acres of skiable terrain
  • 12 lifts, including the new heated Super Angel Luxury Express
  • Unique ski-in, ski-out Sunshine Mountain Lodge hotel
  • 2024-2025 season: November 8, 2024 to May 19, 2025.

Lake Louise Ski Resort: the largest resort

Lake Louise is the largest of the three Banff resorts with 4,200 acres of skiable terrain, 145 trails, and 10 lifts. It is 183 km from Calgary, approximately 2 hours by car.

Lake Louise highlights:

  • Famous back bowls: Boomerang, ER3, ER7
  • Legendary black run Elevator Shaft
  • 37 miles from Banff, you can stay in Lake Louise Village

City alternatives: free winter activities

Ice skating

Calgary offers numerous free outdoor skating rinks:

Bowness Park Lagoon – the most photogenic skating spot in the city:

  • Hours: 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily
  • 1.6 km ice track along the Bow River
  • Skate rental from the University of Calgary Outdoor Centre
  • Additional features: ice bikes and curling

Cross-country skiing

Fish Creek Provincial Park offers over 80 km of winter trails for cross-country skiing. The park turns into a true winter wonderland with groomed trails of varying difficulty.

Additional cross-country skiing locations:

  • Confederation Park with lighted trails
  • Nose Hill Park for wilder routes
  • West Bragg Creek (54 km from downtown) – best fat biking and cross-country skiing

Snow tubing and sledding: official slopes

Calgary has 22 officially approved sledding hills, as sledding is only allowed in designated city areas.

Most popular sledding hills:

St. Andrew's Heights (2504 13 Ave NW):

  • Considered the best sledding hill in Calgary
  • Long, steep slope with a safe stopping area
  • Smaller hill for toddlers near the Community Center

Confederation Park (2800 10 St NW):

  • Several slopes of varying difficulty
  • Additional winter activities: skating rink, walking trails
  • Picturesque bridge and mature trees for family photos

Prairie Winds Park (223 Castleridge Boulevard):

  • Tall artificial hill with a view of airplanes
  • Popular with teenagers due to its long, steep descent

Ice climbing: extreme adventure

The Canadian Rockies offer some of the best ice climbing opportunities in the world. The ice climbing season runs from November to the end of April, with the peak season in December to March.

Programs for beginners:

University of Calgary Outdoor Centre:

  • Two-day introductory ice climbing course
  • One-day “sampler” programs for first-timers
  • ACMG-certified guides with small groups

Yamnuska Mountain Adventures:

  • Courses for all levels in the Canmore/Banff area
  • Experiential programs from December to mid-March
  • Full equipment rental through partner Trailhead Climbing

Alpine Club of Canada:

  • Introductory courses for $450 + taxes
  • Instructor-to-student ratio of 6:1 maximum
  • Includes ACC Ice Climbing Leader handbook

Training and schools: from beginners to professionals

WinSport Winter Sports School

The school offers ski and snowboard lessons in various languages, including Ukrainian. This makes the resort particularly attractive to newcomers from Ukraine.

Languages available: English, French, Mandarin, Ukrainian, German, Russian, Japanese, Cantonese, Czech, Italian, Spanish.

Programs for adults:

Adult Snowboard Lessons at WinSport:

  • Beginner 1: $230 per course
  • Small groups of up to 4 participants
  • Lessons available in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese

Specialized programs:

Riders on Board – Freestyle Basic (ages 13-17):

  • 3 hours per session, 8:1 ratio
  • Monday-Thursday 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
  • Focus on halfpipe, slopestyle, rails, and boardercross

Shops and equipment rental

Specialized shops in Calgary:

Fresh Skis (108 10 St NW):

  • Hours: vary by day of the week
  • Premium brands: Faction, Armada, K2, Völkl
  • Ski prices: $649-949 CAD
  • Smith Optics goggles: $154-389 CAD

Ski Cellar Snowboard (4 locations in Calgary):

  • Full range of equipment and clothing
  • Personalized advice and selection
  • COVID-19 protocols with advance booking

Lou's Performance Centre:

  • Online appointment booking
  • Limited capacity to 15% due to the pandemic

Equipment costs:

Basic beginner's package:

  • Skis: $649-849 CAD
  • Bindings: $299 CAD
  • Boots: $200-400 CAD
  • Helmet: $129-204 CAD
  • Goggles: $154-324 CAD

Practical tips for planning

Transportation to mountain resorts:

Options for getting to Banff resorts:

  • Private car: the most convenient option
  • Public transportation: Calgary-Banff buses $60-80
  • Private transfer: the most expensive but most comfortable option
  • Shuttle from hotels: $35-63 per person

National Park:

Important to remember: all Banff resorts are located within Banff National Park, so you will need a Park Pass. Passes can be purchased online or at the park entrance.

Seasonality and weather:

Best time to ski:

  • December-March: peak season with the best snow
  • November and April: shorter lines, lower prices
  • Spring skiing (March-May): warmer weather, longer days

Saving money:

Ways to save:

  • Early bird season passes: up to 30% off
  • Ticket to the North: 50% off for season pass holders from other resorts
  • Group lessons: cheaper than private lessons
  • Weekdays: significantly lower prices than weekends

Conclusions

Calgary offers a unique combination of urban winter entertainment and access to world-class ski resorts. WinSport provides convenient skiing right in the city, while the Banff resorts offer a true alpine experience just an hour or two away.

For newcomers, the availability of Ukrainian-speaking instructors at the Nakiska Winter Sports School is particularly appealing, making it easier to adapt to Canadian winter traditions.

Regardless of skill level or budget, there is something for everyone, from free city skating rinks to premium resorts with ski-in/ski-out hotels. The main thing is to prepare for the Canadian winter and enjoy some of the best winter entertainment in the world.