Travel to Mount Norquay with ski insurance from Essential Travel

The town of Banff is surrounded by great mountains (Mount Rundle to the south and Mount Cascade to the north) and has the Bow River running through it. Tourism used to be confined to the summer months, but the town has now positioned itself as one of Banff’s best ski resorts. This is a cosmopolitan town with an exclusive, trendy feel to it, created mainly by the cafés and boutiques lining the streets.

The impeccably prepared and sheltered pistes make the experience of skiing at Mount Norquay a pleasure (even in poor visibility). Expert skiers will love the steep and challenging black-diamond runs, while beginners and intermediate skiers also have plenty of choice among the 28 runs.

An option you may like to consider is the Tri-Area mountain ski pass. The pass (including lifts and buses) allows access to Mount Norquay and the nearby slopes of Lake Louise and Sunshine Village. Worthy of your time is a one- or two-day drive north up the Icefields Parkway into Jasper National Park, which takes you past Athabaska Glacier (where you can walk to the glacier’s toe). Also available is the Columbia Icefield trip that will put you on a bus with massive ice-prepared tyres.

Mid-December to mid-April is the normal ski season at Mount Norquay. You are most likely to find discounted prices at the beginning of the season (in early December). Travel by air to Calgary, then by bus or hire car, is the most convenient route to Banff.

Skiing in Mount Norquay

Mount Norquay is located in the southern part of the Rocky Mountains, close to Banff. Banff locals have been skiing on Mount Norquay since 1926. The resort has a variety of slopes to suit all levels, but has become well known for its challenging runs. The runs are sheltered from bad conditions by the cliffs above the slopes.

The longest of Mount Norquay’s 28 faultlessly groomed runs is 1,167m. The toughest pistes are the black-diamond rated Gun Run and Upper Lone Pine. For cross-country skiers, 50kms of trails are present. The total skiable area is 65 hectares (59 hectares of it are covered by snowmakers). The pistes are divided into 20 per cent for beginners, 36 per cent intermediates, 28 per cent advanced and 16 per cent for expert skiers. The five lifts (one surface, one high-speed quad and three chairlifts) servicing the runs can carry as many as 7,000 skiers an hour.

Mount Norquay has been used by skiers for 78 years and is now a spectacular resort renowned for its difficult runs. Banff, just across the valley, supplies most of the lodging and entertainment for skiers. Good facilities, a wide-range of terrain for all levels of skier, and immaculately prepared slopes characterise this Rocky Mountain resort.

The season at Banff Mount Norquay starts in early December and continues until the middle of April. Cheap deals on ski packages to Mount Norquay can be found in early December. From Calgary International Airport, the most common connection to Banff is by bus and hire car.

Après-ski in Mount Norquay

Although there are no lodges at the slopes, Banff provides 4,500 rooms in 40 lodges. A twice-daily bus service takes you the short distance to the pistes. One famous and historic hotel, located in Banff, is the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel (built in 1888).

The town of Canmore (20 minutes east of Banff) also offers a variety of lodging. Shopping at Banff takes place along Banff avenue. Most shops along the street either cater to outdoor pursuits or are high-end boutiques. Après ski at Banff takes place at more than 140 bars and restaurants; while a cinema and arts centre provide alternatives.

Activities and facilities at the resort include: snowboarding (terrain park and half-pipe), snowblading, night skiing (16:00 to 21:00 on a Friday), ski jump, ice-skating, ski school (CSIA certified), day care (children ages 19 months to six years), day lodge (with delicatessen, café, pub/restaurant, coffee bar, cafeteria and lockers), and first-aid. Banff town has many restaurants and bars to keep you entertained après-ski; while a cinema, arts centre and museums can provide a change of pace.

Transportation to Mount Norquay

Banff Mount Norquay resort in the Rocky Mountains has become a popular tourist destination in the summer, as well as the winter months, mainly due to its stunning location. As a ski resort, the superb preparation of the runs and the more challenging slopes will keep you coming back for more.

By car from Calgary, the journey takes you west along Provincial Route 1/16 Ave Trans Canada Highway, past Exshaw and Canmore and then on to Banff (125kms; 1 hour, 40 minutes). The longer journey from Edmonton by car takes you to Calgary first; use the Calgary TRL NW/Provincial Route 2, heading south, and then follow the directions listed above from Calgary to Banff (300kms; 5 hours, 30 minutes).

There is no rail option available to take you to Banff. The nearest station (287kms away) is at Jasper and has connections to Edmonton onboard ‘The Canadian’ (5 hours, 10 minutes). An express bus leaves Jasper five times a week for Banff.

The nearest airport to Banff is Calgary. The Banff Airporter service departs from Calgary Airport for Banff every two hours. The nearest alternative is Edmonton, but seeing as the connecting journey takes you through Calgary, this is not a very practical route.

Greyhound buses travelling to Vancouver from Calgary go through Banff on the way. The bus journey from Calgary to Banff takes 1 hour, 40 minutes and runs four times a day.

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