Visit Panorama Mountain Resort

The Top of the World zone at Panorama's 2,395-metre summit is the resort's most dramatic terrain, open bowls, couloirs, and sustained steep pitches that overlook the Columbia Valley far below. The summit chair accesses this high-alpine zone and is the starting point for Panorama's longest runs, which descend nearly the full 1,322-metre vertical to the base village in a single sustained pitch. On a clear day the view from the top encompasses Lake Windermere, the Columbia River, and the Rockies on the eastern horizon. For expert skiers, the Top of the World zone is the primary reason to make the drive from Canmore, terrain of this quality and scale is rare within two hours of the Alberta mountain corridor.

Below the summit bowls, Panorama's lower mountain terrain is well-suited to intermediate skiers looking for long, sustained descents on well-groomed blue runs. The Skyline and Mile 1 zones offer consistent intermediate skiing through Purcell Mountain forest, with the ski-in/ski-out village visible below as a natural navigation anchor. The sheer vertical of the mountain means intermediate runs here feel longer and more rewarding than comparable-grade runs at smaller resorts, a cruising run from mid-mountain to the village base covers significant terrain without the abrupt pitch changes that interrupt flow at more compact ski areas. Beginners are well served by the lower mountain learning zones adjacent to the village.

The Panorama Bike Park opens in late June and runs through mid-September, using the same lift infrastructure as the ski operation to carry riders and bikes to the upper mountain. Trails range from beginner flow lines through the lower forest to technical expert descents on the steeper upper mountain terrain. The gondola operates for sightseeing visitors who want the mountain views without the bike, the ride to the summit provides the same Columbia Valley panorama in summer that skiers see in winter, with the addition of wildflowers, dense green Purcell forest, and the lake visible on the valley floor. Bike rentals and lessons are available at the resort.

Panorama's Via Ferrata route operates through the summer season on the mountain's rock faces, offering guided fixed-route climbing for guests without prior climbing experience. The route uses iron rungs, cables, and platforms bolted into the cliff to create a safe but genuinely exposed mountain climbing experience. Harness, helmet, and kit are provided. Hiking trails through the surrounding Purcell terrain extend from the resort village into the adjacent forest and subalpine zones, with options ranging from easy valley walks to half-day summit hikes. The Purcell Mountain terrain here feels wilder and less travelled than the Banff-area trail network.

The Panorama village is built directly at the base of the ski terrain, with ski-in/ski-out access from most of the accommodation. The village includes a mix of hotel rooms and self-catered condominiums managed through RCR Hospitality, the same operator as Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. On-mountain dining covers a range from cafeteria-style lunch options to sit-down dinner. The outdoor hot pools at the village are open to resort guests and provide an accessible post-ski recovery option without leaving the mountain. For groups staying multiple nights, the village has enough amenity to make the resort fully self-contained.

Panorama sits 18 kilometres up a paved mountain road from Invermere, close enough to combine in a single day, either starting at the lake and heading up to ski in the afternoon, or coming off the mountain for dinner in town. In summer, Lake Windermere's warm, swimmable water is 20 minutes from the resort village. The combination of mountain biking or hiking at Panorama in the morning and paddling or swimming on Lake Windermere in the afternoon is one of the most satisfying Columbia Valley summer itineraries. Invermere's downtown restaurants provide a genuine off-mountain dinner option that adds variety to a multi-day resort stay.

Invermere and Lake Windermere