discover: sunshine village ski resort.
mountain stats:
skiable terrain:
3,358 acres / 1,359 ha
top elevation:
2,730 m / 8,954 ft
vertical:
1,070 m / 3,514 ft
avg. annual snowfall:
9.25 m / 30 ft
difficulty:
◯ 20% / ▢ 55% / ♢+ 25%
number of lifts: 12
named runs: 120
located in banff, alberta, canada.
the mountain in a nutshell.
In Western Alberta, at the end of what can only be described as the Canada's sketchiest access road lies the magnificent parking lot to Sunshine Village. Yes, the parking lot, not the base. That's because the true base of this unique resort is a 15 minute trip up a winding gondola to the upper alpine, where the resort opens up into a giant bowl-like playground of snow. From the daring steeps of the Delirium Dive and Goat's Eye to the gentle terrain of the Strawberry Chair, this is truly a resort for everyone (although boarders might feel personally victimized by some of the flats).
True to its name, Sunshine Village is an incredible mountain to ski on the bright sunny days. A quick ride on the Great Divide Express to the summit of Lookout Mountain and skiers are welcomed by awe inspiring views of both Banff National Park and Kootenay National Park in the distance. But be warned, even a small amount of cloud cover blowing in can turn the visibility to near zero on the mountain as you ski in and out of the clouds. On an overcast day here you might have a better chance closing your eyes and trusting in the force rather than your own eyesight!
Days at Sunshine Village end in a spectacular fashion however. The resort's Ski Out allows guests to ski all 1,070 metres (3,510 ft) of vertical in one go meaning the last run of the day is either a joyous slide down a long windy run or the last nail in the coffin of your exhausted quads.