WorldMark Canmore - ski trip

[tomvc]

First trip to Canadian Rockies. Do you recommend WorldMark Canmore as a base to ski Banff and Kicking Horse Mountain Resort? Currently have Epic Pass, but thinking of adding Ikon or Mountain Collective for the trip. How are the road conditions in the winter (currently showing ~40 minute drive)?

Which mountains do you recommend for skiing and snowboarding and where would you stay to ski/board there?

Thanks!

 

[Carlsbadguy]

I am considering a trip her in April. Is there a bus that runs from town to the ski resorts?

 

[Tacoma]

Canmore is a great base for a ski trip to Sunshine or Lake Louise and even Nakiska ski areas. Because the first 2 are in a national park there is almost no on mountain accomodation. Your drive will be likely 30 minutes to Sunshine and an hour to Lake Louise but it isn't saving you much time if you stay in Banff. I think it is way too far away from Kicking Horse and I certainly wouldn't want to do the mountain passes for that trip. Stay in Golden or go to Revelstoke. Road conditions from the Calgary to Lake Louise corridor are generally very good. My husband goes boarding every weekend from Calgary and rarely has a problem.

I'm quite sure there is a bus from hotels in Banff but there isn't one from the WM in Canmore. I recommend having a car.

 

[tomvc]

Thanks, @Tacoma. I meant to paste in Nakiska Ski Area instead of Kicking Horse Mountain Resort on my original post. Both are on Epic Pass and I was using Googe Maps to see how far they are from Worldmark.

@Carlsbadguy In my research so far, I found two shuttles from Coast Canmore Hotel (about a 10 min from Worldmark). Unless parking is really bad near the mountains, I'll most likely drive.

Canmore Rates & Schedules | Sunshine Coach

Lake Louise Ski Bus

lakelouiseskibus.com

 

[Tacoma]

There is ample parking for Sunshine and Lake Louise if you arrive at a reasonable time. Weekdays would likely never be a problem except perhaps at Christmas vacation times. Weekends I would try to arrive before 9 or 10 at the absolute latest. My husband regularly arrives before the lifts open for 2 reasons, one he wakes up early always and he is a first run of the day person to get the powder. On powder days there is a significant sized group who are at the resorts bright and early, if there has been no new snow you can go later.

 

[djyamyam]

Sunshine Village is my go to for skiing in the area. Nothing better on a bluebird day. Divide chair is great for nice longer runs with a couple groomers and offpiste. Tipi town lift is great for powder since they put in the new lift. Goat's eye side is great in the afternoon if they've had snow - if not, it's super icy.

Lake Louise front side has lots of groomed runs, with the women's world cup nice to just fly down. Backside of Louise is bumps and lots of pow and tree skiing

 

[djyamyam]

First trip to Canadian Rockies. Do you recommend WorldMark Canmore as a base to ski Banff and Kicking Horse Mountain Resort?

Thanks!

Canmore has lots of timeshare resorts (WM, Grand Canadian, Paradise, Sunset Resorts, Elkhorn, etc) and Banff has the Rocky Mountain. You didn't say how you're planning to book or if you're exchanging in. You'll have more options for sure in Canmore and if you're exchanging, II would have more availability. Not sure when you're looking to go.but there's availability in II for Jan/Feb/Mar and has had it for some time (outside of the Feb holiday and Mar spring breaks).

For ski passes, if you're planning on Sunshine and Louise as your main resorts, you may want to consider the Sunshine Card or the Louise+ Card, both give you 1st, 4th and 7th days free. You can also buy discounted lift tickets for both the ski hills at Costco in two-packs. Those are probably your best bang for the buck short of being a season ticket holder.

 

[tomvc]

Thanks, @djyamyam ! I haven't booked yet, but looking at an Exchange or Getaway/Extra Vacation on II and RCI for late Jan to early March timeframe. Thanks for the tips to check out the local mountain passes and Costco.

 

[Carlsbadguy]

I have the Ikon pass so gives me 7 days total at Sunshine and Lake Louise. I was looking at an exchange thru II at the Grand Canadian or Paradise Resort. There also a resort at Panorama that looks nice but seems like that would be a very long drive from the Calgary Airport. Have stayed at Banff Rocky Mountain Resort in the summer.
What would be the best time of year to go snow condition and weather wise? Considering the end of March or first week in april when it warms up or is earlier on the season better.

 

[tomvc]

Here's what I found.

Banff Ski Trip: When is the best time to visit the Canadian Rockies? – SkiBig3

Wondering when is the best time to plan a Banff ski trip? We’ve created this month-to-month guide in Banff and Lake Louise to help you choose.

www.skibig3.com

 

[nomadio]

End of March/first week of April is a good plan for Sunshine, Lake Louise, Nakiska.

 

[bizaro86]

I have the Ikon pass so gives me 7 days total at Sunshine and Lake Louise. I was looking at an exchange thru II at the Grand Canadian or Paradise Resort. There also a resort at Panorama that looks nice but seems like that would be a very long drive from the Calgary Airport. Have stayed at Banff Rocky Mountain Resort in the summer.
What would be the best time of year to go snow condition and weather wise? Considering the end of March or first week in april when it warms up or is earlier on the season better.

Last week of March is spring break in Calgary. The slopes will be much, much busier that week than the first week of April.