Cross-country skiing is a great way to savour the vivid alpine scenery of the Canadian Rockies. When snow and ice transforms the landscape, cross-country skiers of every style and level can get out and explore the sights well away from the Trans-Canada Highway.
Skiers can pick up Nordic trails close to the town sites of
Banff,
Jasper and
Lake Louise or head high into backcountry in search of exhilarating ungroomed cross-country ski trails.
The Canadian Rockies has a wide selection of specialist Nordic centres and wilderness lodges on the east and west side of the range.
Top cross-country ski destinations in the Canadian Rockies include:
› Yoho National Park
› Canmore
› Kananaskis Country
› Jasper National Park
› Banff
› Lake Louise
Yoho National Park
Yoho National Park on the western side of the Canadian Rockies in British Columbia has 400km of backcountry trails. The cross-country ski trails are accessible from the hamlet of Field in the middle of Yoho and ski rentals are available from Emerald Lake within the park or Lake Louise which lies 27km to the east.
Canmore
Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park is a legacy of the 1988
Calgary Winter Olympic Games. Situated just a few kilometres west of the town of Canmore, the centre provides resort facilities and more than 65km of groomed and trackset trails. Canmore Nordic Centre is a regular host for international cross-country and biathlon events and for less than $10 a day, you can enjoy access to the same trails.
Kananaskis Country
Cross-country skiers visiting Kananaskis Country are spoilt for choice. The region situated west of Calgary offers hundreds of kilometers of trails through the provincial parks of Peter Lougheed, Sheep Valley, Spray Valley and the Evan Thomas Provincial Recreation area.
Cross-country ski rentals, tours and guides are available in the town of Canmore or at the Canmore Nordic Centre.
Jasper National Park
Jasper National Park in the northern Canadian Rockies offers 300km of cross-country ski trails. There are a number of easy trails around Jasper’s most famous landmarks including Maligne Lake, Athabasca Falls and Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge.
Lessons, rentals and cross-country ski guides are available from the town of Jasper.
Banff
Loops and trails start south of the town centre, from Lake Minnewanka, the Cave and Basin National Historic Site, and along the Bow River.
Lake Louise
Lake Louise has around 70km of groomed and backcountry trails. There are a number of trailheads around Chateau Lake Louise, at Bow River, along the Great Divide and close to Moraine Lake. The 11km backcountry trail to the famed Skoki Lodge is reached via the
Lake Louise Ski Area access Road.
Cross-country skiing across the Canadian Rockies is usually available from December to March.
Tips: When skiing backcountry always checks avalanche bulletins and trail conditions at the
Parks Canada.