Plan a Ski Getaway to Panorama Mountain Resort (with affordable slopeside lodging at the Approach Hotel)

My family looks forward to our annual ski trips to Panorama Mountain Resort every winter, and it's always an added bonus when we can stay slopeside in the quaint mountain village, walking distance to chairlifts, restaurants, and the outdoor hot pools (largest slopeside pools in Canada!)

Plan a Ski Getaway to Panorama Mountain Resort in British Columbia

Introduction to Panorama Mountain Resort

Panorama Mountain Resort is located 20 minutes outside the Community of Invermere in the Columbia Valley. From Calgary, it is approximately a 3.5 hour drive across the border into British Columbia. We've found that we can easily make it to the resort Friday night for a quick ski weekend, and then make it home again Sunday in time for work the next day (Even if one of us is still riding the last chairlift at 4:00 that afternoon!) 

Enhance your stay with overnight accommodations in the village and experience why ski in/ski out vacations are the absolute BEST! Panorama is unique for ski resorts in the Canadian Rockies in that it has its own alpine village, complete with accommodations, restaurants, après ski activities, and nightlife.

Stay in one of the properties on the hill and you'll also receive access to Canada's largest slopeside hot pools! The pools are located in the Panorama Springs Lodge and are walking distance from everywhere in the Lower or Upper village (a small gondola connects the Lower and Upper Village and is free to use.)

Soak in Canada's largest slopeside hot pools at Panorama Mountain Resort 

Sometimes I quit skiing early so I can spend the afternoon here!

Affordable Lodging at the Slopeside Approach Hotel 

Day trips to go skiing are easy to execute, but there’s nothing like an overnight ski getaway to really take in the full resort experience.

We just returned from a weekend at Panorama Mountain Resort where we stayed slopeside in the newly renovated Approach Hotel in the heart of the village.

From our hotel room we could look out our window to the main base chairlift (easy to load at 9am when you’re sleeping within sight of it) – and I could see the trailhead leading to the Nordic Centre for the afternoon cross-country skiing I wanted to enjoy.

Our room at the Approach was perfect for families with two bunk beds (singles over queen beds) and we took advantage of the Alto Kitchen and Bar restaurant located downstairs for breakfast one of the days. And while our son is too old for this, children 5 and under eat free for breakfast with an adult purchase of a breakfast entrée (1 child per adult.)

We also appreciated the Fireside Café on the ground floor of our hotel where they make awesome breakfast sandwiches to go.

Single over queen bunk beds in our hotel room at the Approach

Stays at the Approach give you easy access to a variety of restaurants in the upper village (I highly recommend the pizza at Alto for dinner,) and we enjoyed the short walk to reach the Panorama Springs hot pools, perfect for a soak at the end of a long ski day.

We enjoyed our comfortable lodging, we ate very well, and we took full advantage of our slopeside stay at Panorama.

My boys spent two days skiing incredible powder, riding the Monster X snow cat to access extreme terrain in the Taynton Bowl, and enjoying the best conditions Panorama has had this winter.

I managed to fit both downhill and cross country skiing into my weekend, and I’m pretty sure I was one of the last skiers on the hill Sunday after skiing for 7.5 hours, first to last chair (Have to fully use your lift ticket, right?)

NOTE: If you want to enjoy the amazing pizza at Alto for dinner, make a reservation. We learned this the hard way on a recent trip. For breakfast and lunch you can just drop in.

Alternately, if you don't make a reservation, you can still go next door to the T-Bar and Grill family-friendly pub.

On the hill so early we had to wait for the summit lift to open!

First tracks after a slopeside stay at the Approach

Alto is a great choice for dinner after a day on the ski hill!

A No Frills Affordable Basecamp at Panorama Mountain Resort

The Approach Hotel provides skiers with a "no frills" affordable slopeside basecamp that's high on convenience.

Rooms are simple with comfortable beds, in-suite bathrooms with showers, and a small television with a wide variety of channels. What you won't find however, is a microwave, fireplace, or sitting/living area (just beds to sit on.) NEW for 2025 however, each room now has a mini fridge so you can bring some basic supplies for breakfast and lunch in your room.

We stayed in a Twin Peaks Room which had two bunk beds (singles over queen beds) and which would fit up to 6 people, perfect for families with 3+ children or youth. 

Most other rooms have two queen beds unless you book the romantic Bluebird room (one king bed,) or the Approach Glades Loft room (Queen and twin bed with loft.)

Update: We returned to Panorama in winter 2025 and stayed in one of the Approach Glades Loft Rooms (photos below.) This was a nice option for a small family of three.

Approach Glades Loft Room with a queen + twin bed combo

Approach Glades Loft Room with a queen + twin bed combo

There are no suites or kitchenettes at the Approach, so if you're planning to have some light continental meals in your room make sure you also bring dishes, paper towel or a large package of wet wipes, utensils, knives, etc. You could also bring an electric kettle for morning oatmeal. For coffee I just ran downstairs to the Fireside Cafe.

Families who want a kitchen, dedicated living room, fireplace, or separate bedrooms may want to look at one of the condos or townhouses on the resort. 

Personally, for a short ski weekend, we had everything we needed at the Approach, and it was much more convenient than staying in a hotel in a neighboring town. We chose to splurge on restaurant meals rather than bringing supplies for eating in our room, and it was a nice treat.

See all lodging options here. 

Save money for the skiing with affordable lodging at the Approach Hotel

A Ski Resort for the Whole Family

We've been skiing at Panorama Mountain Resort for a few years now, and the biggest thing that continues to impress me is how easy it is to progress as a skier or snowboarder at this resort. Families can start on the magic carpets and the beginner platter lift, work up to four other beginner-friendly chair lifts, and then keep moving up the mountain towards the summit (where there's enough terrain to keep the whole family challenged for a lifetime of skiing or riding.)

Read more on progression from beginner to expert terrain in my previous blog post here:

Read: Magic Carpet to Monster at Panorama Mountain Resort 

This kid started on the magic carpet and is now shredding the double blacks!

On our most recent trip to Panorama, I happily spent the weekend racing down the groomers, and on Sunday, I skied down 10,000 vertical metres in a single day (more than the height of Mt. Everest from summit to sea level!) I did top to bottom laps all day adding up to 63 km total distance (which still amazes me!)

10,000 vertical metres of skiing is a very BIG ski day!!

My boys spent most of their two days hiking (or riding) out to the double black chutes in the Taynton Bowl where they got a backcountry experience located fully within resort boundaries (patrolled and monitored for avalanche risk.)

While you can hike to all runs in the Taynton Bowl, guests at Panorama can also experience pay-per-ride cat skiing, buying individual rides on the resort's Monster X Snowcats which provide comfortable easy access to reach the far end of the Taynton bowl.

My husband and son love the backcountry skiing type experiences they get at Panorama and I feel good knowing the terrain has been checked and marked safe by the resort's avalanche control professionals.

Ready to launch into the Taynton Bowl!

Monster X access to the Taynton Bowl at Panorama

Not an "expert" skier? No worries! Take the kids to find the Secret Forest tree house off the Mile One chair (complete with a slide that's fun to navigate in ski boots,) spend an afternoon cruising around the mellow intermediate terrain in the Sun Bowl, or plan a "hut to hut" traverse around the mountain stopping at each of the on-mountain restaurants and cabins for snacks, a gourmet lunch, or hot drinks.

I like visiting the Summit Hut for a cup of coffee while I warm up after the three chairlifts you'll ride to reach the top of the mountain. And then there are several options for cruisy skiing back down to the base on groomed intermediate runs.

The Summit Hut serves hot food and drinks and is accessed via 3 chairlift rides!

Not a downhill skier at all? This is one resort where you'll find more than enough opportunities to entertain the entire family. Try fat biking around the village, rent snowshoes or cross-country skis for a tour of the resort Nordic trails, go for a walk along Toby Creek from the lower village, or spend an afternoon in the slopeside hot pools (included with all lodging options at Panorama.)

Visit the Greywolf Nordic Centre to rent fat bikes, cross-country skis, or snowshoes.

There's more to Panorama than downhill skiing!

Most of the loops are beginner/intermediate friendly

Other recommended reading from previous trips to Panorama Mountain Resort:

Read: Family Guide to Panorama Mountain Resort 

Read: Find it ALL at Panorama Mountain Resort 

The Hale Hut at the top of the Panorama Nordic Centre where you can have your lunch

Nordic Skiing at Panorama Mountain Resort

There are 20 km of groomed Nordic Trails at the resort for classic and skate skiing, and all of the trails are open to skiers with well behaved dogs on or off leash (with the purchase of a special pooch pass.)

And these are GOOD professional Nordic trails! This isn't a case of: "Ok, you Nordic skiers, we groomed you a cute little 3 km loop around the ski resort."

The Nordic Trails are groomed daily, and we like skiing up to the Pentagon and Hale Huts in approximately 10 km round trip from the Greywolf Golf Course. 

The Pentagon Hut is a short ski, fat bike ride, or snowshoe from the Nordic Centre

You can purchase day passes for the Nordic trails at the Greywolf Golf Course which is the winter clubhouse for XC skiing, fat biking, and snowshoeing.

Visit the Panorama Mountain Resort website for more information on Nordic Skiing.

You can also rent skis if you don't have your own.

And for non-skiers, you can also try snowshoeing or fat biking on the Panorama multi-use trails (which also reach the Pentagon and Hale Huts.) - with rentals on site for both.

The trackset trails are reserved for XC skiing, but Panorama has six multi-use trails for fat biking and snowshoeing. These trails are usually groomed for easy walking and biking.

On our recent trip, I spent an afternoon cross-country skiing, and it was very convenient from our room at the Approach. I could even see the Valley Trail sign from my hotel window!

The Valley Trail is a multi-use trail, but it's groomed and trackset for skiing, so I was able to ski to the Nordic Centre from the main base area to access the dedicated ski trails. 

If you need to rent skis, you'll have to drive to the Nordic Centre, but if you bring your own, it's only a 1-km ski from the base area on the Valley Trail. Then you can purchase a trail pass when you arrive at the Greywolf Club House.

Visit the Nordic Pulse website to see trail conditions and the grooming report.

This multi-use trail connects the resort base with the Nordic Centre

Read more on winter activities at Panorama Mountain Resort here in my previous blog post:

Read: Panorama Mountain Resort (much more than downhill skiing)

Disclaimer: My family received complimentary skiing and accommodations on our recent stay at Panorama Mountain Resort.

Plan a Ski Getaway to Alberta's Castle Mountain Resort (with slopeside accommodations!)

Want to "kick butt" at planning that next family ski getaway from Calgary? It all starts with a trip to Castle Mountain Resort in Southern Alberta.

With affordable slopeside accommodations, fabulous terrain for every ski ability, and the friendliest resort staff you'll ever meet, it's guaranteed to be a great weekend.

There's no shortage of epic ski terrain at Castle Mountain Resort!

Introduction to Castle Mountain Resort

Castle Mountain Resort is located in Southwestern Alberta, approximately 30 minutes SW of the Town of Pincher Creek. Families living in the south part of Calgary can reach the resort in 2.5 hours, making the trip very doable for a 2-day weekend.

The resort is located on the Continental Divide on the Alberta/BC border, and thus gets a LOT of snow each winter (up to 9 metres per year on average.) 

A peaceful Sunday afternoon at Castle Mt. Resort (no line ups!)

Castle has accommodations on site with options for all budgets, and if you fancy winter camping, you can also bring your trailer down and camp in the parking lot (It's absolutely allowed here!)

The ski hill itself is out of this world with terrain that easily compares to what you'd find at bigger resorts in the Rockies. My boys spend their days lapping the double black chutes while I meander my way down the gorgeous traverses and groomed intermediate runs top to bottom.

Castle has a dedicated beginner chair as well along with an intermediate progression chair with gentle groomed runs perfect for building confidence. 

Add small hill charm, uncrowded runs, the friendliest people you will ever meet at a ski hill, and a family-friendly pub with unbelievable food. 

Have you started to plan your next ski getaway yet?

This guide has been updated for 2026.

Closer to Heaven, Down to Earth at Castle Mountain Resort

Affordable Skiing at Castle Mountain Resort 

One of the things I love best about Castle is that you can get the same experience that you'd find at a major ski resort in Banff, at a much more affordable price. Lodging is cheaper (see accommodations below,) lift tickets are more reasonable, and yet the snow is just as good as what you'd get at a big resort in  the Rockies. Add less people, an uncrowded resort, and a "simple" vibe, and what's not to love?!

If you think you'll visit the resort a few times this winter, I'd recommend checking out the resort's "Wonders of Winter" (WOW) card where you'll enjoy 50% off skiing every single day this winter.

The WOW Card starts saving you money after only your second day on the slopes. Once the card is in your pocket you’ll enjoy unlimited 50% off days, with no blackouts, at Castle Mountain Resort. 

Looking to maximize your time on the mountain? Upgrade your card to direct-to-lift, free of charge, so you never have to visit Guest Services again!  Whatever way you choose to WOW, it’s a no brainer if you’re planning to ski 2 or more days, this season!"

 

The resort has also expanded WOW Card eligibility to include ALL of their paid ticket categories – including children 6 – 12.  

Follow the link above for information on pricing and all details.

WOW indeed!! 

Affordable On-hill Accommodations

We've been spoiled by a few too many ski in-ski out trips and now it's a huge priority when we plan family ski weekends. I want to be able to have a leisurely morning without a long drive to the ski hill, and my son likes to be first in line for the lifts opening. This means that staying very close to the hill is almost imperative for us. 

At Castle Mountain Resort there is an affordable ski lodge located across the parking lot from the ski hill. It's not quite "ski out your door" lodging but I'm ok with having to carry my skis across a parking lot. It's also very handy on Sunday when you can pack up your car and go skiing without having to move the vehicle to a separate day-use parking lot. 

The ski lodge offers private hotel-style rooms with either 2 queen sized beds or a queen bed and a double / single bunk. 

There's no swimming pool and you won't get a luxurious condo here, but what you will find is a cozy base camp you can actually afford without breaking the bank, so you can focus on the real priority - the skiing! 

Simple but functional rooms at the Castle Mountain Ski Lodge 

The rooms don't have kitchens or anything fancy, but each room has a mini fridge, and there is a shared microwave, kettle, and coffee maker in the hallway so you can bring your own food for breakfast and lunch. 

The day lodge also serves a great breakfast (and opens at 8:00am) and so we always eat there when we go to Castle. For lunch, we've discovered that the day lodge also has great options beyond the typical burgers and hot dogs with choices like homemade lasagna or turkey pot pie. 

For dinner, I recommend the T-Bar Pub which accepts children and has amazing food. Alternately, there's a shared BBQ outside the ski lodge if you want to cook your own food. Pizza can also ordered for takeout from the pub and brought back to your room.

However you handle your meals, the ski lodge is a huge step up from many motels that don't even have a fridge to offer their guests in the rooms. Bring your own dishes, a cooler of ready-to-go food choices, and you can save a lot of money at Castle Mountain Resort by taking care of your own meals.

Follow this link for information on rates and availability at the Castle Mountain Resort Ski Lodge and make sure you order your discounted direct-to-lift tickets with your reservation.

The Castle Mountain Ski Lodge is conveniently located at the base of the resort

Tips for Staying at the Castle Mountain Ski Lodge

• Bring bags you can carry up a flight of stairs if you're staying in the hotel rooms at the ski lodge. They are upstairs and there is no elevator. 
  
  
• Bring inside shoes/slippers if you want because all footwear must be left at the front door.
  
  
• Bring your own dishes if planning to eat in your room.
  
  
• There is free WiFi at the ski lodge which is good because there is no cell service anywhere at the resort.
  
  
• Each room has a DVD player so bring favourite movies with you from home or visit the free borrowing library in the ski lodge. AND, as of 2026 there is free streaming on each TV for all main platforms (Disney, Netflix, Crave, etc.)

Otherwise, for families wanting to take it up a notch in their accommodations, there are other options available on the hill including bed & breakfast suites, slopeside rental houses, or chalets with suites available for rent. Visit the Castle Mountain website to view all options. 

And, if you're interested in camping, overnight camping in the parking lot of Castle Mountain Resort is permitted with a few restrictions. (Follow the link.) It's a pretty sweet set up though and there's even a heated bathroom building to use. 

First tracks are easy to get when you stay slopeside

The Slopeside Win for a Family Ski Getaway

I know so many families who struggle with diverse ski challenges in their family from kids who don't want to wake up early to ski, to younger siblings who can't ski a full day, or to teens who want to ski solo without their parents following them around. Add beginners who might only want to ski for a couple of hours and it can be very hard to go skiing as a family!

A slopeside ski getaway at Castle solves most of the challenges above!

• Sleep in and still get to the chairlift by 9am for fresh tracks!
  
  
• Spend the morning on the beginner chair with young children and then retreat to your hotel room or slopeside house for the afternoon while the rest of the family continues skiing. (And parents can take turns supervising the little ones.)
  
  
• Set the teenagers loose on the Huckleberry Chair where you can rest confident that they won't get into too much trouble (while still enjoying some independence.)
  
  
• Enjoy your basecamp retreat for anybody in the family who finishes skiing early - while the rest of the family can continue to ski as long as they want.

Castle Mountain Resort also has a great snow school program including The Little Castle Club for youngsters ages 3-5 (in either a half or full day program.)

Castle Mountain Resort has terrain for all abilities from beginner to extreme!

Big Mountain Skiing at a Resort for all Abilities 

This section is copied straight from previous blog posts I've written because it's the information I'm always looking for when I visit a new ski resort. 

Castle Mountain Resort sets the bar high for progression. From the magic carpet to double black chutes, there is something for every ability. Best of all, there are dedicated chairlifts for beginners and intermediate skiers (so you won't accidentally find yourself in advanced terrain with a young child.)

The resort has two terrain parks as well which are definitely a hit with youth! The easier one is found off the North Run (from the Blue Chair) and the more advanced one is found off the Huckleberry Chair.

The resort also offers individual pricing for the beginner/intermediate chairlifts! You can pay a discounted price for just the Green beginner Chair or for just the intermediate Huckleberry Chair. 

There's something for every kind of skier at Castle Mountain Resort!

Castle Mountain for Beginners

There is not a "lot" of beginner terrain at Castle Mountain but if you have mixed levels in your family, each person will be able to find something that works for their abilities at this resort.

True beginners can start off on the magic carpet until they are ready to advance to the "green chairlift." The Green Chair then accesses three short gentle runs at the bottom of the hill. This area is always full of families with young children and is very well used.

From the green chair, beginners have options off both the Huckleberry Chair or off the Sundance Triple Chair (the Blue Chair) where the North Run gently winds its way down the mountain.

I actually love the North Run off Sundance and spend a lot of time cruising my way down here when I visit Castle.  It is essentially a winding road down the mountain with one bypass section to avoid a steepish pitch.

Unfortunately, beginners can't access the top of the mountain until they're able to handle steeper terrain so Sundance will be as high as it gets for many families.

The Huckleberry Chair has two green runs, Buffalo Flats and Tumbleweed. While I wouldn't  recommend them for true beginners, they are lovely for an advanced beginner who has mastered the Green Chair and can easily make it down the North Run off the blue chair. That would be your progression for Castle Mountain before moving up to blue runs.

As of  2026 Castle also has a brand new high speed quad chair, the Stagecoach Express. Do not even attempt to ride this chair as a beginner. The map may show one green run, but I can assure you there is no easy skiing/riding off this chair.

Cruising down the North Run at Castle 

Castle Mountain for Intermediate Skiers and Snowboarders

A true "intermediate" skier will want to start off on the Huckleberry Chair, a fabulous learning environment where nearly every run is groomed, and you won't accidentally find yourself on a black run.

The Huckleberry Chair is also great for teenagers who want a bit of independence. Set them free here for a couple of hours and you won't have to worry about them getting lost, sneaking into the double black chutes, or getting injured in the trees somewhere. 

From the Huckleberry, progress to the North Run (mentioned above) or "Easy Street" both off the Sundance (blue) chair. Easy Street is basically a cat track that accesses other runs such as "Sundown" and "Dawn" a solid intermediate combination. 

Intermediate skiing off the Huckleberry Chair

Once you're comfortable on the Huckleberry and Sundance Chairs, make your way up the Tamarack Chair (the red chair) to the top of the mountain where the views (and hopefully not the winds) will blow you away on a clear day. If it's a windy day, stick to the terrain lower down.

From the top of the Tamarack Chair, you'll find yourself on the Skyline Traverse,  the easiest way down. And honestly, this is pretty much a green run aside from the steep pitch at the top. Make it down that pitch, and the rest is a winding road down to the bottom of the red chair. - For the easiest way down onto the traverse, go left off the top of the chair and loop down to the traverse. This avoids the steep pitch from the chairlift.

For more of a challenge, take the Skyline Traverse to "Bandito" "Harkers Highway" or "High Noon." Each one has a short steep pitch but spits you back out on the Skyline Traverse lower down.

Cruising down the Skyline Traverse to great intermediate terrain 

New Intermediate/Advanced Terrain on the Stagecoach Express (2026) 

The opening of the high  speed Stagecoach Express quad chair marks the resort’s first major terrain expansion in nearly two decades, just in time for their 60th anniversary this year. It also opens up 21+ new runs for intermediate to advanced skiers in terrain previously reserved for cat skiing. There's now 100+ runs to ski and ride at Castle with options for all abilities.

The Stagecoach Express chair is located above the Huckleberry Chair.  Ride up the Huckleberry chair and then ski down a short run to the Stagecoach base. Once at the top, you'll find a large area to explore.

Trust me, it’s a major game changer for the resort! I’d almost say it feels like the resort has had its terrain doubled. My family skied most of the new Stagecoach terrain in a recent visit and thoroughly enjoyed the wild backcountry flavour of it. 

There were enough groomed runs for me to ski, but you won’t find “pretty manicured terrain” in Stagecoach. This is “get out there and go explore!” terrain. Pick a powder day and I’m pretty sure you won’t leave the Stagecoach lift all day.

Check out the new terrain on the resort map. Intermediate skiers should start with "Giddy Up," and "Boundary Road" to "Dirty Dozen" and the "Paradise Bowl." These will receive regular grooming.

And while the map may show a green "Mountainside Road," I can assure you that there is no beginner terrain off Stagecoach. You should be able to ski any of the groomed runs off the blue and the red chairs before advancing to this chairlift. The blue runs off the Stagecoach chair are all quite steep and, would be black at many resorts.

Castle Mountain's brand new Stagecoach Express Chair

Explore terrain previously reserved  for cat skiing

Castle Mountain for Advanced Skiers and Snowboarders

Ready for more of a challenge and you've successfully tackled the intermediate terrain at Castle? Check out these tips below for progressions:

• Try the Ambush Glades off Sidewinder (Huckleberry Chair)
  
  
• Take Easy Street to Mouse Trap and Jelly Roll, a groomed black run (Sundance Chair)
  
  
• Try some of the black runs off the North Run. They are all quite short and spit you back out on the road lower down. (Sundance Chair)
  
  
• Drop down off the Skyline Traverse into the bowl under the Tamarack Chair (Deputy, Sheriff, or Outlaw) are all good choices here) - and you'll end up back at the bottom of the Tamarack Chair. (Tamarack Chair)
  
  
• Try skiing in the Huckleberry Bowl (the opposite direction along the Skyline Traverse) - my boys really love this bowl with its gentle angle. Alternately, try the Tamarack Bowl located right beside the Huckleberry Bowl. (Tamarack Chair)
  
  
• On a powder day, try Drifter, the first chute you'll come to just before you go through the gates into the double blacks. (Tamarack Chair)
  
  

Adventure awaits when you ski into the chutes at Castle!

Castle Mountain for "Extreme" Skiing and Snowboarding 

Once you're comfortable skiing black terrain at Castle, it's time to go play in the double black chutes off the top of the Tamarack Chair.

My husband and son have a favourite run here called "Lone Star" - with a 600 meter fall line, a consistent 37 degree angle, and the longest continuous fall line descent in Canada.

Note that falling on some of the steep black pitches (Drifter or Lone Star for example) isn’t an option when conditions are firm. A fall could land you in the ER. You must be able to stop any fall to control your slide or you’ll go a long ways!!! And there are canyons to fall into on both Lone Star and Drifter.

Skiing Lonestar is an unforgettable experience!

Castle Mountain Resort Planning Tips

Below are some miscellaneous notes to help you with planning a trip to Castle Mountain.

• The resort offers half day skiing starting at 12:30pm if you leave Calgary in the morning but still want to get a few hours of skiing in that day. 
  
  
• Kids 5 and under are free (as they are at most resorts)
  
  
• Get free or discounted skiing if you have a Lake Louise Plus discount card. You can claim one of your free days at Castle. 
  
  
• Bring two-way radios to use for communicating between family members spread out around the ski hill. Our radios worked very well at this resort (and we appreciated having a method of sending message without cell coverage.)
  
  
• Fill up with gas in Pincher Creek. The small gas station in Beaver Mines is not always open.
  

Contemplating options off the Skyline Traverse at the top of the mountain

Read More about our Adventures at Castle Mountain Resort

Read about our first trip to Castle Mountain (The visit when we almost contemplated moving to South Calgary to make Castle our home hill.)

Read: Epic Family Ski Weekend at Castle Mountain Resort

That guide was also updated for a second version below.

Read: Big mountain skiing, small hill charm at Castle Mountain Resort 

The skyline traverse off the red summit chair

For more information, please visit the Castle Mountain Resort website. 

Disclaimer: Our recent trip to Castle Mountain Resort was hosted. As always, all words and opinions are my own. 

A Family-Fun Winter Guide to Everything Cool at Kananaskis Village

Winter is magical in Kananaskis and there is no shortage of fun to be had at Kananaskis Village.  Staying overnight at the Kananaskis Mountain Lodge is the dream, but regardless, most of our favourite activities around the village are accessible to day users (including the fancy Nordic Spa at the lodge.)

Winter is magical at Kananaskis Village

Hiking, skating, skiing, and more at Kananaskis Village (Photo: Troll Falls Hike)

Below are our top ten favourite things to do in winter at Kananaskis Village as a day user or as a guest of the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge.

1. Go Skiing or Boarding at the Nakiska Ski Area 

Nakiska Resort is a great ski hill and we feel very comfortable here as a family. Not only is it the closest hill to Calgary for day trips, it's also small and easy to navigate. Lift lines are reasonable (especially mid week if the kids have a PD day,) and Kids' World, the beginner learning area with a magic carpet lift, is only $10 per person to use (free for kids under 6.) 

This is where my son learned to ski and we've enjoyed blending a few hours of skiing with an hour at the tube park. When we get tired of the crowds at the hill, we make our way down to Kananaskis Village for a cup of Starbucks coffee in the Lodge and some time spent in front of the fireplace relaxing.

Enjoying a family-friendly ski hill close to Calgary!

Pro tip: Arrive early. We always arrive by 8:30, take a duffel bag of clothing into the lodge, get dressed and ready to go without rushing or stressing, and then we're at the front of the lift line for 9:00. Most people don't even start arriving until 9 or much later, so you'll enjoy a good hour of skiing with no lines or crowds. (And you'll get the fresh corduroy or powder.) 

We also like that you can leave your shoes and a duffel bag inside the lodge on little shelves built under the tables in the cafeteria. There are plenty of hooks too for hanging a small backpack with your lunch, water bottles, etc. Just don't leave anything valuable in your bags and obviously, I'm talking about "small" duffels and backpacks! Don't try to bring in a large hockey bag on wheels!

Read more: 5 Reasons to make Nakiska your Local Ski Hill this Winter 

Nakiska is glorious on a mid-week PD Day with the kids

Nakiska has a great tube park for family fun!

2. Go Skating on the Village Pond

The Village skating pond is always ready to go for the season by Christmas. It is located right beside Kananaskis Outfitters (where you can rent skates should you need) and is a fun little place for kids to skate. 

Skating on the Pond at Kananaskis Village

If you want to play a game of hockey as a family, there is also a larger rink with boards surrounding it back by the sledding hill at the Village.

Also in addition to the skating pond, there are usually large piles of snow surrounding the pond that provide hours of entertainment for young children.

Kids will happily play here all day!

3. Go Sledding on the Village Hill 

There is a small sledding hill at Kananaskis Village tucked back in beside the hockey rink and the playground. Combined with an hour or so on the skating rink, it's a great way to spend half a day at the village.

Note the sledding hill is quite steep (and narrow) so it is perhaps best suited for slightly older children.

Kananaskis Village has a great sledding hill! 

4. Go Cross country skiing on the Village Trails

There are approximately 12 km of trails in the immediate Village area, all groomed and trackset through the winter season. Descend to Ribbon Creek and you have another 20+ km of trails.

Our favourite short loop is the 3 km Terrace Loop which is relatively flat and great for beginner skiers. Once the kids can do this loop, try lengthening it with a climb up Kovach and Aspen to the meadow on the Aspen trail for a 6 km loop. There is a very exciting descent down to the village at the end on the Kovach Trail if you ski the loop counter clockwise.

Easy skiing near Kananaskis Village

For another easy option, try skiing the Bill Milne Trail which is a great family-friendly option free of any large hills as long as you stay close to the highway. The best section with kids goes from Kovach Pond to the Mount Kidd RV Park.

All trails around the Village allow dogs on leash. For skate skiing, the Bill Milne Trail is the only one with a skating lane.

All trails along with recent grooming for both the Village and Ribbon Creek Trails can be seen on the Nordic Pulse website. 

You can also pick up a trail brochure from the Barrier Lake Visitor Centre or download a map here. 

And as you  puzzle over the map above, the arrows indicate where the top of a big hill is. The big part of the arrow is the top. They do not indicate that you need to ski a particular direction.

Beginner-friendly skiing on the Bill Milne Trail

Need to rent skis:

If you need to rent equipment (or just want some suggestions on which trails to ski,) pop into Kananaskis Outfitters. You can also call ahead if you want to book a ski lesson.

Out for a Christmas ski on the Bill Milne Trail

Ski Trails for intermediate/advanced skiers around Ribbon Creek: 

If you have capable youth who are comfortable with climbing and descending some steep hills, check out the Skogan Pass Trail and the Sunburst Loop to the Hummingbird Plume Lookout site. 

You'll be climbing 600 metres to reach the top of Skogan Pass, so it's a workout, but very exhilarating on the way down! The Sunburst Loop is shorter (with less height gain) so it's a good alternative if you only make it part way up the Skogan Pass Trail before realizing that you've had enough climbing.

Both trails are groomed and trackset throughout the winter. The parking lot for these trails is at Ribbon Creek, just a short drive down the road from the Village. (The link goes to Google Maps.)

Hummingbird Plume Lookout Site on the Sunburst Loop

Skogan Pass is a big climb, but allows for a very fun descent!

Another fun loop I enjoy combines the Hidden, Ribbon Creek, Link, Kovach, and Terrace Trails for an intermediate 8 - 12 km loop (starting either from the Ribbon Creek parking lot or from Kananaskis Village.)

Note with the Ribbon Creek Trail you will be taking the SKI trail and not the snowshoe trail. The ski trail climbs above the creek at the beginning. You'll start out on the Hidden Trail from the Ribbon Creek parking lot until you reach the first junction.

Also, I recommend the Ribbon Creek Trail be climbed from Hidden so that you can enjoy the big hilly section going downhill to the creek with its large S-turns. That would mean you should do the loop counter clockwise. If you start at Kananaskis Village, start out on the Terrace Trail, skiing down to Ribbon Creek.

Ribbon Creek is a beautiful ski trail

A few sections of the Ribbon Creek loop are also shared with hikers.

See the full winter map here (with skiing, hiking, and fat biking trails.)

Dark blue trails are supposed to be skier-only. Light blue trails are shared for skiing, hiking, and fat biking.

Easy skiing along Ribbon Creek on the lower section

5. Go for a Hike to Troll Falls and the Upper Falls 

The hike to Troll Falls has long been a family favourite in the Kananaskis Village area. The hike is short at 3 km round trip and it's a great trail if you want to pull kids in a sled. 

Troll Falls is a great destination for a family hike

Once you reach Troll Falls, you can also follow the signed trail to the Upper Falls where you'll reach an amazing frozen waterfall (Marmot Falls) where you can walk behind the ice. The extension is only another kilometre return.

Marmot Falls is incredible in winter!

For the truly adventurous, keep climbing along Marmot Creek on an easy-to-follow trail until you reach a third waterfall. This one is a double two-tier waterfall and is also very beautiful. The full hike to both waterfalls is no more than 2 km return from Troll Falls.

The true "Upper Falls" above Marmot Falls

You won't need snowshoes for this hike as the trail is always well packed down and easy to walk on. Ice cleats or spikes come in handy though (especially if you want to climb to the Upper Falls.)

Note the Troll Falls trail is a shared trail with skiers, so please stay off of the ski tracks and move to the side if you see skiers coming down a hill towards you.

Read more:

Read: Chasing Frozen Waterfalls in Kananaskis! Troll Falls and beyond to the Upper Falls

Standing behind frozen Marmot Falls

6. Hike the Multi-Use Trail System around the Village and Ribbon Creek

The Ribbon Creek Trail is a beautiful hike or snowshoe, and kids love all the bridges along the trail. When it's frozen you can sometimes hike in the creek itself as well.

The trail is shared with skiers halfway along so please stay off the ski tracks.

To make a loop from the Ribbon Creek parking lot (Google maps link,) follow the Ribbon Creek Trail until you reach the junction with Link (another shared ski trail.) Return to the parking lot on Link, Shinrin and Studless (winter hiking and fat biking trails.)

Trying to ski down the Ribbon Creek snowshoe trail

The full Ribbon Creek loop is 6 km and all hills are quite gentle. 

Note if you want to use a sled, stick to just the Ribbon Creek Trail and return the same way. Shinrin and Studless are narrow and not suitable for sleds.

See the full winter map here (with skiing, hiking, and fat biking trails.)

Light blue trails are shared for skiing, hiking, and fat biking. Pink trails are for snowshoeing or fat biking (and will be more narrow.)

There are also hiking trails up by the Village, but I think the Ribbon Creek Trail is the prettiest option.

The trail network around Ribbon Creek is great for a family winter hike

7. Sign up for a Guided Evening Stargazing Tour

Kananaskis Outfitters runs daytime snowshoe tours from the Village that are perfect for the whole family. Alternately, sign up for an evening stargazing tour (appropriate for families with youth 12+.) 

"In an open meadow, your group will pause to relax and take in the night sky; you are welcome to bring a camera and tripod to try out some astrophotography or to just hang out with the group, peek through the telescope and chat about astronomy."

Visit the Kananaskis Outfitters website for dates, pricing, and more information.  

Stargazing at Kananaskis Village 

8. Rent Fat Bikes for a Ride around the Village (or join a tour to a frozen waterfall)

You can rent fat bikes from Kananaskis Outfitters in the Village and then head out on the multi-use winter trails for a self-guided adventure. You can even bring your older children because the Outfitters has 24" youth fat bikes available to rent.

Call ahead to reserve your gear so that you don't arrive to find the bikes already signed out for the day.

For trail suggestions, it's best to talk to the Outfitters when you pick up your bikes. 

Family-friendly fat biking around Kananaskis Village

Personally, I like the multi-use Bill Milne Trail (shared with cross-country skiers) which is groomed and blessedly flat once you reach the lower section. From the village, you'll descend ~100 metres of height to reach Ribbon Creek, but after that the trail is perfectly flat. 

Note children may struggle with the climb back up to the Village at the end, so be careful how far you ride on the flat part. Save some energy for the end.

Another easy beginner-friendly outing is to Troll Falls on a mult-use trail (shared with skiers and hikers.) The 3 km round trip trail has a couple of hills but they aren't that big. Unfortunately, this is another one where you'll have to start by riding down to the trailhead on the upper section of the Bill Milne Trail.

Easy riding on the groomed Bill Milne Trail

Join a Guided Tour to Troll Falls: 

Families with strong cyclists 14+ can sign up for a guided tour to Troll Falls. I suspect you'll be starting and ending at the Village, so make sure you have youth who can climb at least 100 metres (which doesn't sound like much, but mountain biking is harder when you add snow to the adventure.)

More information on renting bikes or joining a guided tour can be found on the Kananaskis Outfitters website. 

Family Fat Bike Adventure to Troll Falls

9. Go For Coffee at the Lodge and Hang out by the Fireplace

No matter where we go play in Kananaskis, we often stop off at the Village on the way home to grab a coffee and hang out by the fireplace in the lodge. 

The large fireside room is magical at Christmas

There's a great café in the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge and they serve Starbucks Coffee along with other grab and go items for lunch. My son is partial to their large cookies too.

The lodge is especially magical at Christmas, and we always like looking at the gingerbread house creations.

Every year the lodge creates amazing gingerbread houses or villages

Now THIS is a gingerbread house!

10. Plan a Visit to the Kananaskis Nordic Spa (adults only)

The Kananaskis Nordic Spa is one of my favourite places in all of Kananaskis. I ask for a gift card every Christmas and I love my day trips here. Sometimes I come with a group of girlfriends for a day or else I let me husband tag along and we leave our son behind for this glorious adventure. 

The spa is truly a magical experience and one visit will never be enough.

"Spanning 50,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor space, the Spa features a Relaxation Lodge, five outdoor pools, five steam and sauna cabins, an exfoliation cabin, fireside lounges, massage treatments, and the Two Trees Bistro."

Cameras aren't allowed at the spa so I'd suggest visiting the link above to see a full collection of professional photos.

And note that the spa is not included in stays at the Kananaskis Lodge unless you purchase a special spa package. All guests must also be 18+ (trust me it's at the top of my son's list for birthday gifts when he turns 18!)

Prepared for a magical day at the Nordic Spa

Disclaimer: This story was not paid for or sponsored. All words and opinions are my own.