Sunshine Village and Lake Louise are the biggest ski resorts out of the Banff “big three” in Banff, Canada, but which is the best? In this article I’ll be directly comparing Sunshine Village and Lake Louise in terms of their slopes, villages, prices, accommodation and more so you can decide which is the best option to visit.
Sunshine Village vs Lake Louise
Lake Louise is a larger ski resort compared to Sunshine Village and offers more runs for beginner, intermediate and advanced snowboarders and skiers. However, the snow quality in Sunshine Village is typically slightly better and it is located closer to both Banff and Calgary.
| Aspect of the Resort | Best Resort |
| Beginner Trails | Lake Louise |
| Intermediate Trails | Lake Louise |
| Expert Trails | Lake Louise |
| Snow Quality | Sunshine Village |
| Ski Village | Lake Louise |
| Best Value for Money | Lake Louise |
| Easiest to Travel To | Sunshine Village |
Ski Map and Pistes
Lake Louise is a larger resort compared to Sunshine Village with 4200 acres of skiable terrain compared to Sunshine’s 3500 acres. Both resorts have a similar percentage of beginner, intermediate and expert runs so cater for all ability levels.
The terrain in Lake Louise is often described as being more interesting compared to Sunshine and there are also more trees to provide some shelter from the harsh winds. You can also access trails of all ability levels from pretty much every lift making it a good option for groups of mixed abilities.
Lake Louise is also usually less crowded compared to Sunshine Village.
Here is a link to the piste maps for both resorts:
| Statistics | Sunshine Village | Lake Louise |
| Base Elevation | 5450 feet (1660 m) | 5400 feet (1646 m) |
| Top Elevation | 8960 feet (2730 m) | 8650 feet (2637 m) |
| Skiable Terrain | 3500 acres | 4200 acres |
| Vertical Drop | 3361 feet (1070 m) | 3250 feet (991 m) |
| Total Trails | 120 | 164 |
| Green Circle Trails (Beginner) | 23% | 25% |
| Blue Square Trails (Intermediate) | 46% | 45% |
| Black/ Double Black Diamond Trails (Expert) | 31% | 30% |
| Longest Run | 5 miles (8 km) | 5 miles (8 km) |
| Night Skiing | No | No |
Snow and Weather
Sunshine Village has a longer ski season compared to Lake Louise. Both resorts usually open at the start of November but Sunshine Village usually only closes at the end of May whereas Lake Louise usually closes at the start of May.
- Average Ski Season Dates for Sunshine Village Resort: Early Nov – Late May
- Average Ski Season Dates for Lake Louise Resort: Early Nov – Early May
Sunshine Village typically has better quality snow compared to Lake Louise.
| Month | Temperature in Sunshine Village | Temperature in Lake Louise |
| November | -7°C / 19°F | -7°C/ 19°F |
| December | -14°C / 7°F | -13°C/ 8.5°F |
| January | -12°C / 10.5°F | -14°C/ 7°F |
| February | -12.5°C / 9.5°F | -10°C/ -14°F |
| March | -7°C / 19°F | -5°C/ 23°F |
| April | -1°C / 30°F | 1°C/ 34°F |
| Month | Base Snow Depth Sunshine Village | Base Snow Depth Lake Louise | Peak Snow Depth Sunshine Village | Peak Snow Depth Lake Louise |
| Nov | 81 cm (32”) | 53 cm (21”) | 97 cm (38”) | 26 cm (26”) |
| Dec | 112 cm (44”) | 81 cm (32”) | 127 cm (50”) | 109 cm (43”) |
| Jan | 135 cm (53”) | 112 cm (44”) | 178 cm (70”) | 142 cm (56”) |
| Feb | 157 cm (62”) | 119 cm (47”) | 213 cm (84”) | 168 cm (66”) |
| Mar | 183 cm (72”) | 135 cm (53”) | 241 cm (95”) | 188 cm (74”) |
| Apr | 165 cm (65”) | 122 cm (48”) | 241 cm (95”) | 185 cm (73”) |
| May | 137 cm (54”) | 84 cm (33”) | 208 cm (82”) | 137 cm (54”) |
Village, Restaurants and Other Activities
The amenities in Sunshine Village itself are reasonably limited compared to the village in Lake Louise. However, Sunshine Village is closer to Banff town so gives you easier reach of more activities, bars and restaurants.
| Activity | Available in Sunshine Village | Available in Lake Louise |
| Dining | 10 locations | 12 locations |
| On Slope Dining | No | Yes |
| Cinema | None | 5 cinemas |
| Spas/ Massages | Yes | Yes |
| Dog Sled Tours | Yes | Yes |
| Fat Biking | Yes | Yes |
| Ice Fishing | No | Yes |
| Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides | Yes | Yes |
| Ice Skating | Yes | Yes |
| Helicopter Skiing | Yes | Yes |
| Snowmobile Tours | Yes | Yes |
| Snowshoe Tours | Yes | Yes |
| Ice Climbing | Yes | Yes |
| Cave Tour | No | Yes |
| Golf Course | No | Yes |
| Tubing | No | Yes |
Ski School
The ski school lessons and prices are similar in Sunshine Village and Lake Louise. The prices in Lake Louise tend to be a few dollars less for private sessions and a few dollars more for group sessions so there really isn’t much in it between the two resorts.
Prices are based on the most up to date info at the time of writing and are subject to change. Please check the resort websites for up to date prices. Note that not all lessons are listed below. There are child and adult group and private sessions available at both resorts.
| Lesson Type | Sunshine Village Price | Lake Louise Price |
| 1 Hour Private (Adult) | $160 | N/A |
| 2 Hour Private (Adult) | $325 | $319 |
| 3 Hour Private (Adult) | $425 | $419 |
| 5 Hour Private (Adult) | $699 | N/A |
| 6 Hour Private (Adult) | N/A | $699 |
| Half Day Group (Adult) | $149 | $154 |
Accommodation
There are plenty of accommodation options in Lake Louise. Within the resort, there are 10 places you can stay ranging from the grand Fairmont Chateau hotel to the more casual and secluded Bakes Creek Mountain Resort.
In Sunshine Village there is only one on-mountain accommodation option, Sunshine Mountain Lodge. This gets booked up very quickly and is quite expensive. Another option is to stay in Banff town itself which is lively and a great place to be based during your stay.
You can stay in Banff if you are planning on staying in Lake Louise however it is further away so staying in the village is usually the preferred option.
Location and Traveling
Sunshine Village is closer to Calgary, Banff and Mt. Norquay compared to Lake Louise making it a slightly more accessible location.
| Location | Distance from Sunshine Village | Distance from Lake Louise |
| Calgary | 1 hour 30 minute drive | 2 hour drive |
| Calgary International Airport | 1 hour 45 minute drive | 2 hour 15 minute drive |
| Banff | 20 minute drive | 40 minute drive |
| Mt. Norquay | 25 minute drive | 45 minute drive |
Additional Costs
The cost of day passes and equipment rental is slightly cheaper in Lake Louise compared to Sunshine Village. The difference between the cost of equipment rentals and adult day passes in Sunshine and Lake Louise is quite minimal, but child day passes are a fair bit cheaper in Lake Louise.
*Prices are based on the most recent ski season at the time of writing and are subject to change. Please check the resort websites for up to date prices.
Remember you can also get some deals to ski at the “big 3” (Sunshine, Lake Louise and Mt. Norquay) if you want to ski at multiple resorts during your stay.
| Ticket Price Day Lift (Peak Season) | Sunshine Village | Lake Louise |
| Adult | $136 | $129 |
| Teenager | $106 | $99 |
| Child | $53 | $39 |
| Senior | $106 | $99 |
Standard Adult Equipment Rental Prices
| Equipment Rental (Daily) | Sunshine Village | Lake Louise |
| Skis and Poles/ Snowboard | $46 | $44 |
| Boots | $21 | $20 |
| Helmet | $14 | $13 |
| Skis, Poles/ Snowboard and Boots | $57 | $55 |
High Performance Equipment Rental Prices
| Equipment Rental (Daily) | Sunshine Village | Lake Louise |
| Skis and Poles/ Snowboard | $66 | $59 |
| Boots | $26 | $25 |
| Helmet | $14 | $13 |
| Skis, Poles/ Snowboard and Boots | $72 | $70 |
Child (12 and under) Equipment Rental Prices
| Equipment Rental (Daily) | Sunshine Village | Lake Louise |
| Skis and Poles/ Snowboard | $29 | $28 |
| Boots | $12 | $12 |
| Helmet | $14 | $13 |
| Skis, Poles/ Snowboard and Boots | $36 | $35 |
Which Resort is Best?
Both Lake Louise and Sunshine Village are amazing ski resorts and I’d advise that you visit both if you get the opportunity during your stay.
In terms of the best resort, I think that the slopes and village are better in Lake Louise, and it offers slightly better value for money. However, the snow quality in Sunshine Village is slightly better and it is closer to Banff giving you access to more activities, restaurants and bars.
Check out my comparison between Lake Louise and Mt. Norquay and my comparison between Sunshine Village and Mt. Norquay.
