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LAKE LOUISE SKI RESORT
Lake Louise Resort is famous for its “Back Bowls” with steep skiing in deep powder but those back bowls keep going, ridge after ridge into the terrain that surrounds the resort, providing a whole lot of untracked goodness to be enjoyed. For the adventurous powder hound willing to earn their turns the rewards are plentiful. All that fun comes at a price however. The steep and deep alpine bowls can pack a punch bigger than face shots if you’re not careful. The predominantly complex terrain requires the patience to wait for stable snow conditions and good visibility or the judgement and experience to know how to work the terrain to minimize your exposure. Note that skinning up the piste within the resort boundary at Lake Louise is only allowed on the “Ski Out”, crossing the Larch and Marmot runs to access the Skoki Trail. Please stick to the edges of the piste and give right of way to downhill skiers. Always obey any area closures while inside the resort boundaries.. To share any info your have on backcountry skiing at Lake Louise Ski Resort, or to get the lowdown from others, check out our backcountry skiing forums on the region.
All of the routes below are in a shortened format, the full versions can be found in our Lake Louise Sunshine Banff Ski Touring Guide which you can pick up for a bargain over here. Be very well prepared and be sure to check out the Parks Canada Avalanche Forecast web site for conditions in Banff National. Have a look at the routes, buy the guide and play safe!
(This map is not meant to be used as a navigational aid but rather a visual indication of the route description.)
ROUTES: 1. Mt. Whitehorn - West Bowl Area 2. Pipestone Ridge 3. Richardson Ridge - Speed Run Area 4. Hidden Bowl 5. Corral Creek 6. Redoubt Bowl 7. Wolverine Ridge 8. Purple Bowl 9. Surprise Pass |
For a full listing of backcountry huts, cabins and lodges check out the Rocky Mountain cabins/huts/lodges page over here. If you are looking for maps and guides to the area then check out the following Backcountry Skiing Canada publication in our Backcountry Skiing Canada Store:
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Lake Louise Sunshine Banff Ski Touring Guide: $18.95 |
Backcountry skiing is an inherently dangerous activity that requires experience and knowledge to travel safely. Any of the routes on this site may be dangerous depending on conditions. You are responsible for your own safety in the backcounty—the team behind backcountryskiingcanada.com disclaim any responsibility for any injury resulting from people travelling on routes described on this site. To read our Terms of Use and get all the details, read HERE.
MT. WHITEHORN - WEST BOWL AREA
Easily accessed from the lifts, this area provides a good variety of off-piste runs, however the high elevation windward aspect can be thin and rocky with wind loaded pockets and gullies. Both these conditions have resulted in numerous skier-triggered avalanches over the years.
ROUTE: #1
ACCESS: Summit Platter Lift
MAP: Lake Louise 82 N/08 & Trail Map
TIME: 1 - 2 hours
ELEVATION GAIN: 1,030m/3,379’
(Including 1,030m/3,379' chair ride)
ATES RATING: Complex (3)
Full route description—including details on access, ascents and descents—in the Guide.
PIPESTONE RIDGE
The alpine bowls on the north side of Mt. Whitehorn’s NW Ridge are easy to get to but see much less traffic than West Bowl because skins are required to re-enter the resort. This aspect is more protected from sun and wind but expect cornices and wind loading at ridgetop.
ROUTE: #2
ACCESS: Summit Platter Lift
MAP: Lake Louise 82 N/08 & Trail Map
TIME: 2 - 3 hours
ELEVATION GAIN: 1,680m/5,511’
(Including 1,030m/3,379' chair ride)
ATES RATING: Complex (3)
Full route description—including details on access, ascents and descents—in the Guide.
RICHARDSON RIDGE - SPEED RUN AREA
These SW facing lines are seen from anywhere in the Back Bowls so their main attraction is being able to admire your tracks from the resort! The slopes often have thin coverage due to the windward, sunny aspect but the gullies hold snow and can provide good skiing.
ROUTE: #3
ACCESS: Top of the World Express
MAP: Lake Louise 82 N/08 & Trail Map
TIME: 1 - 2 hours
ELEVATION GAIN: 1,330m/4,363’
(Including 1,030m/3,379' chair ride)
ATES RATING: Complex (3)
Full route description—including details on access, ascents and descents—in the Guide.
HIDDEN BOWL
This NE facing bowl on the backside of Richardson Ridge is out of sight from the resort and so has a remote feel despite the relatively easy access. The steep open alpine slopes are committing and demand good stability but the sheltered aspect can hold preserved powder when the Speed Run Area is wind blown or sun crusted.
ROUTE: #4
ACCESS: Top of the World Express
MAP: Lake Louise 82 N/08 & Trail Map
TIME: 1 - 2 hours
ELEVATION GAIN: 1,380m/4,527’
(Including 1,030m/3,379' chair ride)
ATES RATING: Complex (3)
Full route description—including details on access, ascents and descents—in the Guide.
CORRAL CREEK
The SE end of Richardson Ridge has three slide paths that run to the valley bottom housing Corral Creek. These serious slopes have big start zones but can provide exhilarating runs of up to 350m in the right conditions.
ROUTE: #5
ACCESS: Top of the World Express
MAP: Lake Louise 82 N/08 & Trail Map
TIME: 1.5 - 2.5 hours
ELEVATION GAIN: 1,230m/4,035’
(Including 1,030m/3,379' chair ride)
ATES RATING: Complex (3)
Full route description—including details on access, ascents and descents—in the Guide.
REDOUBT BOWL
This cool alpine bowl seen from the resort offers great skiing with little traffic. Lots of terrain and exploring to be had in this bowl during good stability.
ROUTE: #6
ACCESS: "Ski Out" & Skoki Trail
MAP: Lake Louise 82 N/08 & Trail Map
TIME: 7 - 9 hours
ELEVATION GAIN: 950m/3,117’
ATES RATING: Complex (3)
Full route description—including details on access, ascents and descents—in the Guide.
WOLVERINE RIDGE
To the east of the “Larch Ski Area” lies the 1 km long Wolverine Ridge. The NE aspect of this ridge, know as the “Tylenols”, offers snow which is more sheltered from the wind and sun (although expect some windslab and cornices off the ridgetop). Here you will find acres of fun skiing, ranging from open slopes to treed glades, from ridges to bowls, and from steeps to more mellow lines. The 140-180m vertical runs can be lapped multiple times in a day for a great backcountry session.
ROUTE: #7
ACCESS: "Ski Out" & Skoki Trail
MAP: Lake Louise 82 N/08 & Trail Map
TIME: 5 - 7 hours
ELEVATION GAIN: 750m/2,460’
ATES RATING: Complex (3)
Full route description—including details on access, ascents and descents—in the Guide.
PURPLE BOWL
The famed Purple Bowl can offer excellent turns when stability and visibility are good but the lack of trees make it hard to judge terrain features and slope angle in poor light.
ROUTE: #8
ACCESS: Larch Express Quad
MAP: Lake Louise 82 N/08 & Trail Map
TIME: 1.5 - 3 hours
ELEVATION GAIN: 630 - 730m/ 2,067 - 2,395’
(Including 300m/984' chair ride)
ATES RATING: Complex (3)
Full route description—including details on access, ascents and descents—in the Guide.
SURPRISE PASS
This spectacular loop visits wonderfully scenic terrain which lays hidden in a high valley with easy access but a remote feel. The boot pack to the narrow pass and the nearly 700m fall line descent make for a world class tour! This is big country though. A poor decision here could be fatal so leave it for a good stability day.
ROUTE: #9
ACCESS: Chateau Lake Louise Parking
MAP: Lake Louise 82 N/08
TIME: 5 - 7 hours
ELEVATION GAIN: 750m/2,461’
ATES RATING: Complex (3)
Full route description—including details on access, ascents and descents—in the Guide.
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