BANFF'S OLDEST SKI AREA
Visit Mount Norquay Banff
Mount Norquay opened in 1926, making it the oldest ski area in Canada. The mountain sits directly above the Banff townsite, 6 kilometres from Banff Avenue and visible from the main street, with 190 skiable acres spread across 60 trails and a 497-metre vertical drop. Norquay is the only resort in the Big 3 to offer night skiing, and its five-route Via Ferrata brings summer climbers onto the north face above the treeline.
How Canmore Travel fits in: We provide private guided tours and transfers to Mount Norquay from pickup locations in Canmore, Harvie Heights, and Banff. We do not sell tickets to third-party attractions.
What to Ski, Climb, and Explore at Mount Norquay
Canada's oldest ski area rewards guests who know what it does best: expert cliff-band terrain, Friday and Saturday night skiing, and a summer Via Ferrata season above the Banff townsite. The guide below covers the mountain by activity and season.
Skiing and Night Skiing at Norquay
Norquay's 60 trails span 190 acres, split roughly evenly between beginner, intermediate, and expert terrain. The mountain's standout advantage in the Big 3 is its Friday and Saturday night skiing program: runs illuminated under lights from December through March, with views of the Banff townsite and valley lights below. The expert-side North American chair serves cliff-band terrain at the upper mountain above 2,000 metres.
The north-facing side of Norquay concentrates the mountain's expert skiing: sustained steeps, chutes through cliff bands, and technical lines well above 2,000 metres. The North American Chair, an original 1946 installation, is proposed for replacement under the Vision 100 plan with a two-station gondola from the base to an expanded Cliffhouse. That proposal remains under Parks Canada review as of the 2026 season.
Skiing and Snowboarding
Expert Terrain
Expert terrain, north face. SkiBig3 pass valid at Norquay.
Norquay's 38 intermediate and beginner trails run across the Cascade base area, with wide groomed cruisers and a maintained terrain park. The compact 190-acre layout keeps lift lines short compared to Sunshine Village or Lake Louise. Norquay is included in the SkiBig3 pass alongside Sunshine Village and Lake Louise; many multi-day guests start here before moving to the larger resorts.
Skiing and Snowboarding
Intermediate and Beginner Terrain
22 beginner runs, 16 intermediate runs. SkiBig3 pass covers all three Banff resorts.
Norquay is the only resort in the Big 3 with night skiing. Select runs open under floodlights on Friday and Saturday evenings from December through March until 9 PM. Night lift tickets are sold separately and are not included in the SkiBig3 pass. The Lone Pine Pub at the base lodge stays open through the evening sessions.
Skiing and Snowboarding
Night Skiing
Night skiing: Fridays and Saturdays, December to March. Check banffnorquay.com for the current season schedule.
Via Ferrata in Summer
When the ski runs close, Norquay's north face becomes a Via Ferrata destination. Five routes of varying difficulty follow fixed cables, iron rungs, wooden ladders, and suspension bridges on exposed rock above the treeline, guided by ACMG-certified mountain guides. It is one of the few Via Ferrata experiences within Banff National Park, and the only one directly above a major Rocky Mountain townsite.
Five Via Ferrata routes run from introductory level (Explorer) to multi-pitch technical (Ridgeline Traverse). All routes use permanent fixed hardware: steel cables, iron rungs, and wooden suspension bridges installed on the north face above the treeline. ACMG-certified guides lead every outing; no prior climbing experience is required for the beginner routes. Participants stay clipped to the cable throughout and learn to move on rock progressively.
Via Ferrata
The Five Routes
ACMG-certified guides. Half-day and full-day formats. Book directly at banffnorquay.com.
Norquay's sightseeing chairlift runs in summer for guests who are not climbing. The chair reaches the Cliffhouse Bistro at 2,133 metres with a panoramic view across the Bow Valley, the Banff townsite, and the surrounding peaks. The bistro serves food and drinks on an outdoor terrace. Summer operations typically run from late June through September; check current dates at banffnorquay.com before visiting.
Via Ferrata
Summer Sightseeing Chair and Cliffhouse Bistro
Cliffhouse Bistro at 2,133m. Sightseeing chair booking separate from Via Ferrata.
The Mountain's Story
Mount Norquay holds a century of ski history above the Banff townsite. Its founding in 1926 predates most of what visitors recognize as modern Banff: the gondola on Sulphur Mountain, the Upper Hot Springs bathhouse, much of Banff Avenue itself. The 2026 season is the mountain's 100th anniversary, and the Vision 100 plan outlines what the next century looks like.
Norquay opened in 1926, making the 2026 season its 100th anniversary. It was the first ski area in Banff National Park and among the first in western Canada. The original runs were cut by hand. The North American Chair was added in 1946 and has operated continuously since. The centennial prompted the Vision 100 improvement plan, which proposes a two-station gondola from the base to an expanded Cliffhouse, pending Parks Canada approval.
History
A Hundred Years of Skiing
Source: banffnorquay.com / Norquay 100 Vision documentation. Gondola under Parks Canada review as of 2026.
From the Cliffhouse terrace and the sightseeing chair summit, the Banff townsite appears framed between Mt. Rundle to the southeast and Sulphur Mountain to the south. The Bow Valley stretches toward Canmore in the east. Individual buildings on Banff Avenue are visible from the summit in clear conditions. These are among the most directly accessed elevated views above a Canadian mountain town from any ski area in the country.
History
Views Over Banff and the Bow Valley
Summit elevation (Cliffhouse): 2,133m. Views of Mt. Rundle, Sulphur Mountain, Bow Valley, and Banff townsite.
When to Visit Mount Norquay
Norquay runs two distinct seasons: a ski and snowboard season from November through April, and a Via Ferrata and sightseeing season from June through September. The transition months of May and October are quiet; the mountain face is visible but neither season is operating at full capacity.
Full terrain open, snowmaking across 85% of the mountain, and night skiing running on Friday and Saturday evenings. The expert North American side is in best condition during this window, and the Lone Pine Pub fills after evening sessions. Weekdays at Norquay are noticeably quieter than at Sunshine Village or Lake Louise.
Peak Season (January to March)
Full terrain open, snowmaking across 85% of the mountain, and night skiing running on Friday and Saturday evenings. The expert North American side is in best condition during this window, and the Lone Pine Pub fills after evening sessions. Weekdays at Norquay are noticeably quieter than at Sunshine Village or Lake Louise.
Early and Late Season (November to December and April)
Norquay typically opens in early November using snowmaking on core runs. April brings spring corn snow and the final weeks of the night skiing season. A SkiBig3 spring pass often delivers the best value during this window. Norquay typically closes in mid-April, earlier than Sunshine Village's late-May date.
Via Ferrata Season (June to September)
October brings early snow to Norquay's upper slopes while Banff Avenue still holds autumn colour below. The mountain face is visible from the townsite throughout the shoulder season. The Via Ferrata season typically closes before October, and ski operations restart in early November.
Shoulder Season (October)
Ready to Visit Mount Norquay?
Norquay is 6 kilometres from Banff townsite, but no direct public transit runs between Canmore and the mountain. Canmore Travel provides transfers from convenient pickup locations across Canmore, Harvie Heights, and Banff.
Note: Canmore Travel does not sell lift tickets or Via Ferrata bookings. Those are purchased directly at banffnorquay.com.
